South Shore Recreation Area

Cowanesque Lake, PA · ≈22.1 mi to Elmira
Sites
3
Max rig
No RV sites
Pull-through
N/A
Hookups
None
ADA
To town
22.1 mi
Signal

✓ Best for

  • Groups up to 100 people
  • Day hikers and picnickers
  • Fishing day-trips
  • Boating enthusiasts

✕ Not ideal for

  • Overnight camping
  • RVs of any size
  • Campers needing hookups

Connectivity

Best bet: T-MobileUsable 5G — good enough to stay connected · 3 of 3 carriers reach here
Verizon5G
AT&TLTE
T-Mobile5G

What's here

2 Group Shelters2 separate group reservations · Drive-In access · largest capacity: 100 people
1 Group Shelter (no Hookups)Reserved as one unit · Drive-In access · largest capacity: 100 people
Rig compatibility

Will your rig fit?

This is a day-use area — no overnight camping of any kind (tent, RV, or otherwise) is available here.

Amenities & features

Amenities
Drinking waterFlush toiletsGrillsPets allowedPicnic tablesTrash collection
Activities
BoatingCampingFishingHiking
CampIntel Score

How we score

We score what we can verify.
Tight for big rigsRig fit
Straightforward accessAccess
Basic amenitiesConvenience
Verdicts come from our Rig fit, Access & Convenience sub-scores — each built only from verifiable Recreation.gov data.

Where it is

Nearest town: Elmira, ~22.1 miGet directions ↗

Nearby campgrounds

Closest options, ranked by score.

Photos

Photos: USACE

Overview

Overview South Shore Recreation Area is located on the south side of the Cowanesque Lake along State Route 49, just five miles west of Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. The area is easily accessible from Route 15 and offers a great location for boating, picnicking and fishing. Recreation Cowanesque Lake offers a variety of outdoor activities including boating and fishing. A variety of native fish inhabits the area's streams and lakes. The North and South Tailrace areas provide access for fishing below the dam. The fields and forests around the lake are popular destinations for hunters looking for large and small game species that inhabit the eastern hardwood forests. Many miles of hiking trails circle the lake, including the Mid State Trail, which travels through the recreation area. It links the trails at Cowanesque and nearby Hammond Lake into a long path that extends all the way through Pennsylvania from Maryland to New York. Facilities The recreation area offers three group shelters. The Iroquois and Oneida Shelters have electric and water hookups; the Mohawk Shelter has water hookups only. All three sites are fully accessible and comfortably accommodate groups of up to 100 people in a lovely lakeside setting. Natural Features Cowanesque Lake is situated in the Endless Mountains region of Pennsylvania, along the Allegheny Plateau in the Appalachian Mountains. The surrounding land paints a scenic picture of rolling terrain and open fields.

Managed by US Army Corps of Engineers · Primitive campground