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Kiasutha Campground sits on the Kinzua Arm of the Allegheny Reservoir in northwest Pennsylvania, offering countless water activities.
Visitors enjoy the large, grassy beach for swimming and relaxing. A boat ramp and dock allow visitors to enjoy the vast lake for boating, and a paved trail leads to an accessible fishing pier. Campsites offer a variety of views and conditions, from shaded forest to views of the reservoir, primitive walk-in camping or RV camping with electric hook-up. Some sites are back-in and some are pull-through for easier access.
There are about 90 reservable family campsites, each containing a picnic table, fire ring and tent pad. The loop roads are paved. Amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, hot showers, a dump station and amphitheater.
The beach and picnic area have a capacity of 900 people. The grounds also include a playground, parking facilities and a bathhouse. Firewood, ice, interpretive services and 24-hour campground attendants are offered at the site.
The Allegheny National Forest covers nearly half a million acres and is populated primarily with black cherry, maple and other hardwoods. The Kinzua Dam, built in 1965, impounds the Allegheny River to form the 25-mile-long Allegheny Reservoir. Since Kinzua Creek flowed into the Allegheny RIver, a part of it is also impounded, creating the Kinzua Arm. It is a little narrower than the main Allegheny Reservoir, allowing for a little more intimate connection between water and shore, and is not as subject to weather as the more open main reservoir. This campground sits on forested hills off the Longhouse Scenic Byway, a 29-mile loop that circles the Kinzua Creek Arm of the Allegheny Reservoir.
The Kinzua Dam and Bridge are within driving distance.
From Kane, Pennsylvania, take State Highway 321 north for 10 miles, then turn onto Longhouse Scenic Drive and continue for a mile to the campground.
From Warren, Pennsylvania, take State Highway 59 east for 13 miles, then turn south on Longhouse Scenic Drive and continue for 10 miles.
When I was little, my mother and myself would go out there camping it was awesome.. If I was not stuck in arkansas I would be back there.
The cleanliness, lack of litter, grafeti tell you about the caliber of people that come to and maintain the area. Truly a magical peaceful place that has not been abused by the masses. The locals will actually reciprocate a good morning and make eye contact with you. Great job by the Forestry service here. You have to pay use the beaches but it weeds out the scum.
Very nice place to visit. Beautiful scenery everywhere. Swimming, wading, hiking, boating or just sit around the camfire. Too bad that the facilities have gotten to such a state of disrepair. Toilets and showers are removed instead of fixed, at least the ones left are kept clean. Most of the sites that once had electric have the hookups covered and are no longer in use.
Loved the campground we were right by the water, will definitely be going back again!
We had a great time here! Ended up staying an extra night, and just reserved another weekend later this month.
There are a few waterfront accesses if you aren't in a site on the reservoir. There is also a clean beach with a cement ramp into the water (no rocks, predictable depth). There is a decent boat launch/dock, and the whole bay is no wake so kayaks do fine.
Facilities are kinda...."rustic" hah. Showers are not very good. Electric was out of service for most sites. The playground is closed and looks haunted. I saw a project summary for a future update/upgrade to the whole campground that would solve these issues. Hopefully they get started soon.
Ice is $2 per bag. Firewood is $10 for 12 pieces. Some was wet. Bring a splitting axe and grab the large chunks, double your wood.
The closest store is Paul's trading post, like 5 mins away. They have a variety of necessities, propane fills, and some rentals. Support local business hehe. Beyond that Kane is 10 mins away (~15 min total). .
There was barely 1 bar of Verizon service at the site. But as you get closer to the water bars improve. I got 3 bars down at the beach.
Some sites are smaller/larger from what they appear in the pictures. Choose carefully. We stayed in #86 which looks large in the picture, but is kinda smallish, graveled, and on slight slope. Everything fit though. Next trip we reserved #70 which looks small in the picture, but is actually huge and flat.
Overall it was a great experience!
