Willow Bay
Willow Bay is located within the Allegheny National Recreation Area, about 16 miles from Bradford, in northwestern Pennsylvania. It is primarily an accessible family campground that also offers rustic cabins available by reservation year-round. The facility offers modern amenities, including flush toilets and showers, but also provides access to great outdoor recreation opportunities. Most of campsites and cabins can be accessed by vehicle, some campsites are walk-to. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: electric hookups in Pennsylvania · first-come in Pennsylvania · reservable in Pennsylvania · big rigs in Pennsylvania · pets allowed in Pennsylvania · group sites in Pennsylvania
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Walk-in | 32 |
| Standard with electric | 27 |
| Standard, no hookups | 26 |
| Cabins with electric | 13 |
| group picnic area | 1 |
| Host/management | 10 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
99 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | ASPE | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 003 | ASPE | Electric | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | 20 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 005 | ASPE | Electric | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | 20 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 006 | ASPE | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 20 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 007 | ASPE | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 008 | ASPE | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 009 | ASPE | Electric | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | 20 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 010 | ASPE | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 011 | ASPE | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 012 | ASPE | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 60 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 002, 004, 005, 006 and 17 more are listed accessible |
The campground offers dozens of campsites available for tent or RV camping. It is comprised of four loops, some of which have walk-to tent campsites and others have back-in RV sites with electric hookups. Each site offers a table and a campfire ring with grill. Accessible flush and vault toilets, as well as showers and drinking water are provided. Each one-room, 10ft x 12ft cabin contains a double bed and a set of bunks, with mattresses, to sleep up to four or six guests. The cabins have electricity and heat, but there is no running water and no kitchen or bathroom inside. Guests use the campground facilities. Cabins also have access to an outdoor table, campfire ring, and pedestal grill. Each cabin has a covered front porch with a porch swing. Guests staying at the cabin will need to bring their own bedding, including blankets, pillows and/or sleeping bags, as well as their own cooking and eating supplies, food, and other camping equipment. Firewood and ice are available for purchase on-site during Peak Season, April - October.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | January to December |
| Forest | Allegheny National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations are accepted for some single sites and all 11 cabins from March 31 – October 31. |
| Fees | Daily camping fee - $20.00 to $39.00/per site. Daily cabin fee - $60.00 to $100.00/per site. Daily launching fee - $5.00/per vehicle - $1.00/per person. Season vehicle launching/swimming pass - $65.00 (Covers all day-use boat launches) |
| 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
From Bradford, travel west on PA-346 for 16 miles. Willow Bay is located just south of the Pennsylvania-New York border. Follow signs to the Allegheny Reservoir and the campground. From the south, take PA-321 North to PA-346 and turn left. Continue to the campground on the left.
| Nearest town | Bradford, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 41.9878° N, 78.9106° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 3.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Outdoor gear ↗ | 13.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
REVIEW OF WILLOW BAY CAMPGROUND IN THE ALLEGHANY NATIONAL FOREST/PA CAMPGROUND IN FALL /FU
Worth a stop
The Seneca-Iroquois Indian Museum and the Salamanca Rail Museum are popular historic sites that are located just over the state line, in Salamanca, New York. It is about a half-hour drive from the campground and cabin area. The Zippo/Case Museum, located in nearby Bradford, PA, showcases the history and products of the Zippo, Case, and Ronson Companies. It is open 7 days a week except New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day, and admission is free.
- 4.1 miOnoville Marina Park ↗Boat launch
- 9.5 miBradford Snowmobile Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.9 miNorth Country National Scenic ↗95.6 mi trail · hiking · national_scenic_or_historic
- 2.2 miTracy Ridge ↗4.1 mi trail · hiking · national_recreation_or_other
- 2.9 miWhiskey Run ↗0.1 mi trail · hiking · national_recreation_or_other
- 3.1 miTea ↗0.06 mi trail · hiking · national_recreation_or_other
- 3.3 miGowango ↗3.2 mi trail · hiking · national_recreation_or_other
- 3.4 miLand of Many Uses2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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 about 4.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 4.7 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
- Allegany Council HouseBuilding · Jimerstown, Allegany Indian Territories · 13.3 mi
- Bradford ArmoryBuilding · Bradford · 13.4 mi
- Rufus Barrett Stone HouseBuilding · Bradford · 13.6 mi
Natural features
Built in the 1960s by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the campground has an open appearance unlike other Forest Service facilities in the area. The campground was recently renovated and cabins were erected at the site between 2003 and 2011, offering a different kind of experience for visitors to the area. The campground and cabins are situated on the shore of Willow Bay, off the Allegheny Reservoir, which is also called Kinzua Reservoir. The facility is in forested hills, at an elevation of 1,400 feet. Campsites vary from being on grass with no shade, to being nestled in small stands of mature Hemlock trees (location within the campground is mentioned on the site list). Cabins are nestled in the surrounding forest.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy water sports, including boating, water skiing, swimming, and sailing on the 12,080-acre, man-made Allegheny Reservoir. Anglers can find walleye, bass, and musky. A courtesy dock is provided at the boat launch for easier loading and unloading during the summer season. Kayak and canoe rentals are also available on site, first come, first serve basis. The North Country Trail is part of the National Scenic Trail system and can be accessed from the campground and cabin area. It is open to hikers only; no bicycles of any kind, no riding or pack stock, and no motorized travel. The historic trail stretches across seven states and 12 national forests, wandering 4,600 miles through America’s rugged northern heartlands. The area offers excellent wildlife viewing, as well as birding and photography opportunities.
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 Willow Bay?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Willow Bay?
Daily camping fee - $20.00 to $39.00/per site. Daily cabin fee - $60.00 to $100.00/per site. Daily launching fee - $5.00/per vehicle - $1.00/per person.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Willow Bay?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Willow Bay open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season January to December.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Willow Bay have?
109 sites, including 32 walk-in sites, 27 standard sites with power, 26 standard sites without power, and 13 cabins with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Willow Bay?
The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Willow Bay have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Willow Bay?
Accessible flush and vault toilets, as well as showers and drinking water are provided.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Willow Bay?
Yes, pets are allowed at Willow Bay. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Willow Bay?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. 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.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Willow Bay?
Sites 002, 004, 005, and 006 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 21 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Willow Bay?
Visitors enjoy water sports, including boating, water skiing, swimming, and sailing on the 12,080-acre, man-made Allegheny Reservoir. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation