Loleta Recreation Area
This area has been recently nominated and accepted onto the National Register of Historic Places. The area was once a bustling logging town, established in 1889, with over 600 inhabitants. The town had a large sawmill, shingle mill, broom handle factory and a rail connection for shipping products to Sheffield, PA. Once the timber supply was exhausted in 1913, the mills shut down and the town was deserted.
The Federal Government purchased the site in 1925, adding it to the newly formed Allegheny National Forest. In the 1930s, the Forest Service (using CCC labor) reconstructed the mill pond, added a bathhouse, swimming area, picnic shelters, and landscaping. The distinctive quality of CCC workmanship is evident today in the dam stonework and the log construction of the old bathhouse. The camping loops were added in the 1960s.
Trout fishing is good in Millstone Creek. The picturesque Clarion River, about four miles south of the campground, offers excellent fishing and canoeing. A three-mile-long hiking trail, marked with off-white diamonds, starts and ends at Loleta, from the parking lot near the group camping site through the woods around the upper camping loop and comes back in between the upper loop and the group site. Buzzard Swamp offers 10 miles of trail, 5 miles North of Loleta Recreation Area.
Active Alerts
Reservations
Make Reservations HereReservations are accepted for some sites between April 1 and September 4.
- Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance of visit.
- Reservations must be made at least 3 days in advance of visit.
- Go to: Recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777 to make a reservation.
General Information
Camping
Campsites in the upper loop are recommended for tents and small RV's or trailers. The lower loop campsites have electric hookups and will accommodate tents, RV's, or trailers up to 50' long. The lower loop sites are accessible to people with disabilities.
No. of Sites
- Campsites: 38
- Lower Loop: 20 sites
- Double Sites: 5
- Hardened/RV with accessible tables: 12
- With electric: 20 sites
- Upper Loop: 18 sites
- Hardened with accessible tables: 3
- Tent Only: 12
- Lower Loop: 20 sites
- Group: 2
Fire Information: Campfires are permitted as long as fires are maintained in a fire ring and fully extinguished when leaving.
Firewood may be obtained from dead and down trees. Do not bring firewood from home to the Allegheny National Forest. Do not unwittingly spread the emerald ash borer, sirex wood wasp, hemlock woolly adelgid or other firewood borne invasive species. Possession of firewood from outside the area of the Allegheny National Forest is prohibited. Firewood is available at or near camping facilities.
RV Camping
- Pavement Type for Parking: hardened
- Hookup - Water: No
- Size Restrictions: RV's up tp 50 feet
- Hookup - Sewer: No
- Dump Stations: Yes
- Hookups - Electric: some
Group Camping
Two group camping areas are available for groups of up to 50 people. Water, vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings are available at both sites. Group sites must be reserved.
Sugar Camp group site is located on Sugar Camp Run. A bridge crosses the run leading to the parking area. This parking area has access to the Loleta Trail. The site is near the bathhouse and day use area.
Millstone Group site is on East Branch Millstone Creek. The volleyball court is near this site.
- Group Shelter: No
- Group Cooking Facilities: No
- Hookups - Electric: No
- No. of Accessible sites: All facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities.
- Sleeping Shelter: No
- Campground open 04/01 - 10/10.
- Day use area open 05/01 - 10/10.
- Swim and picnic area open 5/26 - 09/04.
Quiet hours 10:00 pm to 6:00 am
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 online or at any office of the Allegheny National Forest. Please take time to read and understand them. General Topic orders apply across the Forest.
Overnight Use:
Single Site: $16 per night
Single Site with electric hook-up: $25 per night
Day Use Fee:
$5 per vehicle per day
$65 per season
Address: 131 Smokey Lane Marienville, PA 16239
Phone: 814-927-6628
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm (Closed on federal holidays)
Office Email: sm.fs.anf@usda.gov
Getting There
Latitude / Longitude
Latitude: 41.40194444
Longitude: -79.08111111
Directions
From Marienville
- Travel south on PA-66 for 1.6 miles
- Turn right onto S. Forest Road
- Travel on S. Forest Road for .7 miles
- S. Forest Road becomes Loleta Road just before West Branch Millstone Creek
- Contine on Loleta Road for 5 miles
Facility and Amenity Information
Accessibility
This is a relatively flat campground. Campsites are rough earth and may be uneven.
Lower Loop:
- Hardened/RV with accessible tables: 12
Upper Loop:
- Hardened with accessible tables: 3
Restrooms
Restrooms are available at this site.
Water
Potable water is available at this site.
Drinking water is available from a hand pump.
Picnic Tables
Picnic tables are available at this site.
2 picnic shelters
Recreation Opportunities
Viewing Wildlife Info
Over 70 species of game and non-game fish live in the Allegheny National Forest. Over 300 species of mammals, including raccoon, gray squirrel, snowshoe hare, red and gray fox, beaver, mink, and muskrat as well as game species such as white-tailed deer, black bear and wild turkey.
For information on species common to Pennsylvania, and the Allegheny National Forest visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website for game and nongame species information.
When you see wildlife, please remember:
- never feed wildlife
- don't interfere with mating, predation or other natural behaviors.
- keep a respectful distance
- preserve habitat by following "leave no trace" principles.
- leave young wildlife where you find them.
If you think you've found a sick or injured animal, please call the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Picnicking - Single Info
There is a large grassy area for setting up games.
Trout fishing is good in Millstone Creek. The picturesque Clarion River, about four miles south of the campground, offers excellent fishing and canoeing. A three-mile long hiking trail, marked with off-white diamonds, starts and ends at Loleta.
Amenities:
- 2 picnic shelters
- cooking grills
- volleyball court
- swimming beaches
- bathhouse
- changing rooms
- flush toilets
- hot showers
Reservation Info
None
Sleeping Shelter
No
Fishing - River/Stream Info
Trout fishing is good in Millstone Creek. The picturesque Clarion River, about four miles south of the campground, offers excellent fishing and canoeing.
Difficulty Level: Intermediate