The Allegheny Reservoir is the second largest lake located partially in Pennsylvania, while the remaining portion of it crosses the border towards New York. This lake was built in 1965 as a result of the completion of the Kinzua Dam, which was part of the US Army Corps of Engineers project for better flow control of the Allegheny River.
The 7,647 acres long Allegheny Reservoir is situated in the famous Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania and is one of the major attractions of the area. In New York State, it is surrounded by the Allegany State Park and the Allegany Indian Reservation of the Seneca Nation.
The lake is 24-miles long and offers a very vivid setting that is perfect for vacationers. The reservoir itself and the National Forest System surrounding it provides one of the largest outdoor recreation opportunities in northwestern Pennsylvania. The high-end infrastructure of the recreation areas provides visitors with paved campsites, pressurized water systems, electric service, and sewage treatment plants.
Recreation facilities at the various campgrounds also provide well-maintained utilities such as picnic areas, swimming beaches, flush toilets and hot water showers, and shoreline fishing opportunities and fishing piers. The Army Corps maintains the reservoir. However, the recreation areas surrounding it at the Pennsylvania shore are maintained by the Allegheny National Forest.
Allegheny Reservoir is about an hour's drive away from Warren, PA. Approaching from that direction, head south on Market Street towards Pennsylvania Avenue West and follow it on to PA-59 East and PA-321 North towards Aspen Loop in Corydon Township. From here head to Hemlock Loop in Mead Township and you’d find yourself at your destination.
The US Army Corps of Engineers does not manage the recreation areas at Allegheny Reservoir, and thus, there are no COE campgrounds available here. However, there are a number of recreation areas that provide RV campsites right on the shores of the Allegheny Reservoir, as well as in the shaded forested areas surrounding it.
Campgrounds closest to the Reservoir are The Dewdrop and the Kiasutha Campground.
The Dewdrop has a large campground with 64 RV campsites. Every campsite includes a picnic table and a fire ring. The campground also provides drinking water, flush toilets, and a dump station. Visitors can also find firewood, ice, and interpretive services at the campground.
Kiasutha offers 90 RV campsites. Twelve of these campsites come with electric hookups, while twelve more come with full-service campsites that provide water and sewage hookups. These family campsites are reservable and include a picnic table and a fire ring, and each campsite has paved loop roads leading to them.
Other amenities include drinking water, flush toilets, hot showers, dump station, and an amphitheater. The beach area of the Allegheny Reservoir in this campground can host up to 900 people. The campground also includes parking facilities, a bathhouse, and a playground. Visitors can also find firewood, ice, and interpretive services at the campground.
The state record for the biggest amount of walleye caught in both Pennsylvania and New York was here by the Allegheny River. Anglers love this reservoir for its variety of fishing opportunities. Some of the local fish species include walleye, musky, smallmouth bass, brown trout, and muskellunge. There's also northern pike, crappie, channel catfish, white bass, bullhead catfish, and yellow perch. Kiasutha recreation area also provides a paved trail that leads to an accessible fishing pier.
The Allegheny Reservoir could be seen filled with boats for as far as your eyes can see. All the recreation areas found at the shores of the Reservoir provide boat launching facilities. Willow Bay boasts a courtesy dock and offers pontoon, fishing boat, and pleasure boats for rentals. Red Ridge and the Dewdrop also offers boat launches, and Kiasutha provides a boat ramp and a docking area for boating enthusiasts.
Allegheny Reservoir has a huge beach area. The Dewdrop Recreation area has no beach area, so if you specifically want to swim, head towards the Willow Bay recreation area where near the picnic/boat launch area is a well-kept swimming spot. There are, however, no lifeguards so swim at your own risk. Kiasutha Recreation Area has a campground that sits on the large creek off the Reservoir and offers a very beautiful grassy beach for swimming and relaxing. The swimming beach also has ample parking space for locals and road trippers.
Allegheny Reservoir allows the chance to experience what is known as ‘flat’ water windsurfing. These waters may look calm and dead, but rest assured, there are natural currents that will propel you along in your watercraft but aren’t strong enough to make waves, which makes Allegheny Reservoir the perfect place to learn windsurfing. The 130-foot courtesy dock and a two-lane concrete plank boat launch at Kiasutha make it easy for windsurfers to take to these vast waters.
Since Allegheny is situated in the Allegheny National Forest, it goes without saying that wildlife in the area is plentiful. The National Forest offers the perfect habitat for animals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish species to thrive, resulting in a diversity of flora and fauna in the region.
More than 300 species of mammals call the forest their home, including gray squirrel, snowshoe hare, beaver, red and gray fox, raccoon, muskrat, and minks. Game species such as black bear, white-tailed deer, and wild turkey are also found here in abundance.
Allegheny Reservoir Kayak Trail is a must for all those that enjoy kayaking or canoeing. The trail is a more than nine-mile-loop located near Bradford, Pennsylvania. The loop is lightly trafficked and is suitable for all skill levels. The best time to use this trail is between the months of April until October, as it offers the best water levels and scenic views. Most visitors use this trail for canoeing and whitewater kayaking.
