Outflow Recreation Area
Half of Forest County, where Tionesta Lake is located, is preserved as public lands. The region is known as one of Pennsylvania's best big game regions and is home to a remarkable variety of wildlife. Campers come to the Outflow Recreation Area Campground to enjoy the forested area along Tionesta Creek. The area is ideal for fishing, hunting as well as scenic hiking. Tionesta is a culturally rich region with a long history. The Seneca Indian tribe named this area "where the water separates the land." Nearly a century ago, narrow gauge railways dotted the surrounding countryside, hauling out virgin timber from the hillsides.
More like this: electric hookups in Pennsylvania · reservable in Pennsylvania · big rigs in Pennsylvania · pets allowed in Pennsylvania · group sites in Pennsylvania
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗



Site mix
| Tent-only | 16 |
| Standard with electric | 5 |
| Standard, no hookups | 4 |
| group shelter electric | 1 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
26 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | 1 | Standard | No | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 202 | 1 | Standard | No | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 203 | 1 | Standard | No | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 204 | 1 | Tent only | No | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 205 | 1 | Tent only | No | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 206 | 1 | Tent only | No | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 207 | 1 | Tent only | No | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 208 | 1 | Electric | Pull-through | 30/50/20 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 209 | 1 | Electric | Pull-through | 20/30/50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 210 | 1 | Electric | Pull-through | 20/30/50 amp | Yes / Yes | 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 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water |
| Max vehicle length | 99 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Site Outflow Shelter is listed accessible |
Each campsite has picnic table and fire ring *Available starting Memorial Day Weekend - Water, flush toilets, and showers. dump station located nearby* To Labor Day Weekend
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Pittsburgh take I-79 North. Merge onto I-80 East exit 116a toward Clarion for 9.8 miles. Take the PA-8 exits 29 toward Barkeyville. Turn Left onto Pa-8/State Route 8 for 16.4 miles. Turn right on US-62 and follow US-62 for 34 miles. Turn right onto 36 South in to Tionesta.
| Nearest town | Tionesta, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 41.4801° N, 79.4431° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Fisher and Father ↗ | 16.5 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 26.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 39.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Outflow Camping Area Campground Tour Confluence, Pennsylvania
Trails nearby
- 4.4 miAsl #21 German Hill ↗13.9 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
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 5.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 5.7 miAllegheny National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 740,869 acres
- 13.5 miHickory Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 8,633 acres
- 13.7 miAllegheny Islands Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 372 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
Tionesta Lake winds its way through the rugged hills of northwestern Pennsylvania. Surrounding public areas include the Allegheny National Forest, Cooks Forest State Park, Cornplanter and Clear Creek State Forests, the state fish hatchery and state game lands.
Recreation
In-season hunting, fishing, boating, hiking and water skiing, are all available from Tionesta. Visitors interested in wildlife viewing are likely to spot white-tailed deer, porcupine, wild turkey, osprey and opossum.
Nearby
Tionesta Creek Road, which winds through the Tionesta Creek valley upstream of the dam, is an excellent scenic drive with spectacular views. The nearby Allegheny National Forest also makes a great day trip.
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 Outflow Recreation Area?
Sites at Outflow Recreation Area are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Outflow Recreation Area?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Outflow Recreation Area have?
27 sites, including 16 tent-only sites, 5 standard sites with power, 4 standard sites without power, and 1 group shelter electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Outflow Recreation Area?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Outflow Recreation Area have hookups?
Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Outflow Recreation Area?
Each campsite has picnic table and fire ring *Available starting Memorial Day Weekend - Water, flush toilets, and showers.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Outflow Recreation Area?
Yes, pets are allowed at Outflow Recreation Area. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Outflow Recreation Area?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Outflow Recreation Area?
Site Outflow Shelter is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Outflow Recreation Area?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Outflow Recreation Area?
In-season hunting, fishing, boating, hiking and water skiing, are all available from Tionesta. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Outflow Recreation Area?
Tionesta, Pennsylvania. Tionesta Creek Road, which winds through the Tionesta Creek valley upstream of the dam, is an excellent scenic drive with spectacular views.
Source: Getting there




