Handsome Lake Boat Access Campground
Handsome Lake is a first-come, first-served campground only.
Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.
More like this: first-come in Pennsylvania
Amenities & rules
- Vault toilets are available
- There is no potable water Campers need to bring thier own water.
- It is recommended that campers pack in thier own water.
- There are no boat docks at this campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May 1 to October 31 |
| Forest | Allegheny National Forest |
| Booking | No reservations are accepted. First come, first served sites only. |
| Fees | Fees: Daily camping fee - $12.00/site |
| Rules | As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors. These rules are available to you on-line or at any office of the Allegheny National Forest. Please take time to read and understand them. General Topic orders apply across the Forest. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Nearest town | Bradford, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 41.9225° N, 78.9308° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Once on-site, you use a fee envelope and pay tube or you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 3.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Outdoor gear ↗ | 14.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 7.6 miOnoville Marina Park ↗Boat launch
- 11 miBradford Snowmobile Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miHandsome Lake0.3 mi trail · hiking
- 0.3 miSugar Run ↗6 mi trail · hiking · national_recreation_or_other
- 0.6 miHopewell0.05 mi trail · hiking
- 0.7 miJohnnycake2.2 mi trail · hiking
- 1.5 miGowango ↗3.2 mi trail · hiking · national_recreation_or_other
- 1.9 miWhiskey Run ↗0.1 mi trail · hiking · national_recreation_or_other
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Allegheny National Forest begins under a tenth of a mile away, and it is the closest of these.
- under 0.1 miAllegheny National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 740,869 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Warren County CourthouseBuilding · Warren · 12.2 mi
- Woman's Club of WarrenBuilding · Warren · 12.2 mi
- Jefferson. John P., HouseBuilding · Warren · 12.3 mi
Guidebooks for Pennsylvania
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Handsome Lake Boat Access Campground?
No. Handsome Lake Boat Access Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations are accepted. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Handsome Lake Boat Access Campground?
Fees: Daily camping fee - $12.00/site
Source: Forest Service
Is Handsome Lake Boat Access Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 1 to October 31.
Source: Forest Service status
What is the nearest town to Handsome Lake Boat Access Campground?
Bradford, Pennsylvania.
Source: Getting there
What if Handsome Lake Boat Access Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Hopewell Boat Access Campground (0.7 mi, first-come), Hooks Brook Boat Access Campground (2.8 mi, first-come), and Tracy Ridge (3.2 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby