Pope Haven Campground

The Great Outdoors

Motorhome camping at Pope Haven Campground is a good base for visiting Bucktooth State Forest, which sprawls across 2,248 acres to the east of Randolph. It’s a popular destination for hiking and hunting, with the North Country Scenic Trail passing through its borders and across a rocky outcrop known as the Cat Rocks. Anglers might have some luck fishing in the West Branch Bucktooth Run while snowshoeing and skiing are both possible during the winter months.Just to the south lies the Allegany State Park, which forms part of the Allegheny Highlands forests ecoregion. It’s been nicknamed "the wilderness playground of Western New York” and is divided into two main sections, with the Red House Area in the northeast most easily accessible for Randolph campers. Admire its Tudor-style Administration Building and explore the natural history museum inside, then relax along the shores of Red House Lake. If you want to get active, you can embark on a hike to Thunder Rocks or soak up the views across the rolling hills from the Stone Tower.To the south of Pope Haven Campground, Allegany State Forest connects to the Allegheny National Forest, which sprawls across more than 500,000 acres in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Just across the border in Pennsylvania, it’s another recreational hub for fishing, boating, hiking, mountain biking, and ATV driving is permitted. If you’re going as far as the Allegheny National Forest, allow yourself time to visit the Kinzua Bridge State Park and its spectacular gorge and Skywalk.Drive in the other direction from Pope Haven Campground, and you’ll arrive at the Harris Hill State Forest, which is renowned for its hiking and mountain biking trails. There are around 15 miles of singletrack to explore, as well as a skills loop just by the parking area. Visiting during the winter months? Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are also possible.

Exploring the City

If you’re camping at the Pope Haven Campground, you can shop for groceries in the supermarkets of nearby Randolph. There’s also a gas station here if you need to fill up your Franklin RV rental and a couple of local eateries if you want a break from cooking or need to grab lunch on-the-go. Alternatively, you can pick up baked goods and farm-grown fruit and vegetables from one of the numerous Amish shops that dot the rural roads. Handcrafted wooden furnishings and quilts are also for sale, with a map available at the camp store to help you explore.Camp in an RV near Randolph and spend a day touring Salamanca, which lies just 30 minutes’ drive to the east. It’s home to the Salamanca Rail Museum that occupies a beautifully restored passenger depot that was constructed in 1912 by the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway. Browse the old artifacts and photographs on display that detail the three railroads that served the region: the Erie, the Baltimore and Ohio (BR&P), and the Pennsylvania Railroads. Wander through the authentic lobby to see the period-furnished ticket office and the brick-walled baggage room, as well as the multi-windowed "Ladies Retiring Room.”Salamanca is also home to the Seneca Iroquois National Museum, which is also known as the Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center in honor of an influential Seneca language and culture teacher, Richard Johnny-John. The museum showcases the rich history of the Seneca Native American people who are known as “The Keepers of the Western Door” as the western-most of the Iroquois Confederacy’s six nations. Artifacts, traditional handicrafts, and artwork are presented in the building, which also hosts cultural presentations, children’s plays, and concerts.Whether you want to explore the hiking and mountain biking trails of southwest New York or discover its Native American history, book an RV in Cattaraugus County and start planning your next vacation.