Allegheny National Recreation Area - camping, kayaking, and fishing

Allegheny Reservoir at Willow Bay

On my trip to the Allegheny National Forest area in May 2012 staying at Kiasutha campground on the western shore of Kinzua Bay, a southern branch of the Allegheny Reservoir, I checked out other campgrounds along the Allegheny Reservoir.  

Willow Bay Recreation Area and campground caught my eye so I planned a trip back in July this time securing a tent site right on the water.  Willow Bay campground attendant allowed me to drive through the campground to check out the sites but since the tent sites were off the road 150-200 yards nestled in the woods right on the water it was hard to tell which were the premium sites.  

Tip #1:  Call and ask questions!  You'd also be surprised what information the campground attendants volunteer to share too!  

So I called the campground directly and was overwhelmed by the assistance of the campground attendant!  I told her I was bringing kayaks and wanted to tent camp right on the water and just wake up and paddle.  On her rounds that afternoon, she walked the tent area and wrote down the best level sites for my needs and called me back.  She even left a fishing map with my name on it at the entrance for when I would arrive 3 weeks later.  The campground map online and the website to register are not particularly helpful as it is hard to tell which sites are right on the water.  

Best sites at the Deer Grove area (tent sites) are, in order, 102, 99, 95, 93, 90, 89.  Best sites at the Hemlock Loop area (electric sites, mostly rvs) are, in order, 68, 66, 70, 64, 62.  

Campsite #95

Tip #2:  Secure your food not just in tubs and coolers but put heavy rocks on top and perhaps wrap them in tarp and put heavy rocks on top.  

We learned this after the first night of raccoons opening the clasps on our tubs and stealing our bread.  Also remember, even after a late night of heavy drinking, to take your garbage to the bear-resistant dumpsters.  Otherwise, you may wake up to not just raccoons but a black bear visiting your campsite like we had.  Yes, a black bear was hanging out with us and even sat in my Jeep Wrangler as I had the doors off and he was looking for food.  Very minor damage but I have several clues that he was there!  Bears did not show up when the place was heavily populated and I believe because there were quite a few dogs around.  Instead, these smart creatures waited for our last night to scare the crap out of me.  My friend, still thinks I saw a raccoon, but a raccoon does not 'talk' like this bear nor can a raccoon poke a hole through a nalgene water bottle or scratch a short but deep gouge in my Jeep dash.  

In addition to admiring the destructive remnants of the mammals, we also fished and caught white bass and small mouth bass.  They were not big enough to filet so we threw them back.  Also out fishing and kayaking one morning, we got caught in a thunderstorm and torrential downpours riding it out for about an hour on land hovering in the pine tree grove snacking on cheese, crackers, and canned margaritas.  After the rain lightened up, we decided to get back in the yaks and fished the small inlet catching a few small mouth bass.  

Other things to do in the area include dining at Docksiders Cafe Restaurant located at the Kinzua Wolf Run Marina off of route 59 east of Warren, PA and southwest of Bradford, PA.  Bring your dog and they will seat you outside and bring your pooch a big bowl of ice water!  Natural must see attractions include:  Rimrock Overlook, Jakes Rocks, the Kinzua Dam, and a great dog (and kid) swimming hole/boat launch/osprey nest/fishing spot off route 321 just north of route 59.  If you have more time I highly recommend going to the Kinzua Bridge State Park Sky Walk.   The Morrison Loop Trail which includes the Rimrock loop and the Morrison loop is also very beautiful traveling for miles along a small creek for the latter loop.  When I went there in May 2012 the mosquitos and black flies were horrible even with bug spray.  It was hard to fully enjoy the scenery on my 5.5+ mile trek with my boxer along the shorter Morrison loop as these bugs were so bad.  Perhaps another season I'll head back to hike the longer Rimrock loop and maybe even camp at the Morrison campground which is a hike or boat in only site.  

It is absolutely worth the 5+ hour drive for me to reach the Allegheny National Forest and recreation area.  I cannot wait to visit again.  Perhaps kayaking down the scenic Allegheny River again and camping on one of the 7 Wilderness Islands.