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Submission
This rustic campground is located on the east bank of the Allegheny Reservoir just east of Elijah Run Boat Launch on Morrison Bay a branch off of Kinzua Bay of the Allegheny Reservoir. It is accessible by boat via the Allegheny Reservoir and/or the Morrison Hiking Trail. The closest boat launch is Elijah Run directly west of the campground (access from the Longhouse National Scenic Byway- Forest Road 262).
From downtown Warren to Elijah Boat Launch Travel south on Route 6/Crescent Park Drive for 2 miles. Turn left/east onto Route 59. Travel east on Route 59 for 9.8 miles. Turn right onto Longhouse National Scenic Byway Travel on Longhouse National Scenic Byway for 4.4 miles. Turn left to enter the site.
Great boat or hike in campground, 38 sites. Decent bathrooms $12 a night
Paddled in from the Elijah Boat Ramp and set up in site #8, the only one on the water I found that I could set up my hammock. Nice and quite, campground was very clean. Keep in mind that there is no running water at Morrison, vault toilets only. If you have a water filter drinking and cooking water is on hand from the reservoir.
Absolutely beautiful, around 4-6 miles going in although it's pretty rocky terrain so prepare some tylenol. Fire pits and picnic tables up by the, water plenty of trees. Highly worth the walk.
Normally I'm very adverse to staying at an established campground in favor of dispersed or even stealth camping, and it's always because so many campgrounds give so much space to RVs and place the tent camping too close that I just assume that's going to be the case.
This nice little place, however, makes it quite impossible for that to happen. Accessible only by boat or hiking trail, you'll only be among other tent campers here. It's the actual retreat into the forest you want, but with the only amenity being the most forgivable and welcome: toilets, if rather primitive vault toilets.
The view of the Allegheny is absolutely gorgeous as well, especially if you're willing to get up early to watch the sunrise over the hills.
If I had to find any gripe it would be that I like to hang my food 200' away from my tent as a habit, but the individual lots were too small for that. I picked the lot with the most space to let me get as close to that as possible, though. Still little to complain about, as everything's remain untouched aside from a knocked over bug spray can I forgot about and left sitting on a rock, and for an established campground the lots were still much larger than average, with thick brush between them for privacy.
Overall I'd find it an extremely easy place to recommend for anyone who wants to truly get away for a night and doesn't mind the trek.
NO FRESH WATER AT CAMPGROUND! All spigots have been removed.
Fourth and final stop of my canoe camping trip. Numerous nice, level sites, but many were already occupied. I did find one gem under a big maple tree that provided wonderful shade on the hot day. This campground is different. Very spread out, and a lot of overgrown trails crisscrossing between sites. But again, the running theme of sites neglected the closer you get to the outer limits of the campground, persists. Some were comical, with just a site number post on an overgrown trail.
Scrounging for firewood is severely slim pickings, as a lot of the perimeter has impenetrable undergrowth, and everywhere else is picked clean. I was about to go make a canoe trip to collect firewood, but found some left over at a site. It was really damp, but I was able to dry it out sufficiently by make-shifting the fire grate into a drying rack.
Excellent water can be had at the head water to Morrison Run, but it's probably going to require a boat ride to get there. I think it might be pretty swampy between the campground and the stream.
