Geocaching & Letterboxing

Do you miss the days of treasure hunting as a child? Want to plan an exciting outdoor adventure for your family? Geocaching is a fun and energizing activity for all ages.

You will need a GPS and a list of cache coordinates for the Allegheny National Forest. The caches may have notes or small items inside. The Forest Service does not provide, contribute to, or monitor these caches. A common courtesy when geocaching is to leave something in the cache for the next person to find.

Allegheny National Forest geocaching policy

Geo-caching is a permissible dispersed recreation activity on most areas of the Allegheny National Forest.
No soil disturbance is permitted for any geo-cache placement on the Forest. Caches should be covered with leaves or woody debris if the geo-cacher chooses to screen the cache at the site.
We ask all geo-cachers to remove their cache if the site receives a large number of visits by others as evidenced by a well-worn trail or path.
We ask that all caches be removed after one year regardless of site activity and moved to a new location or removed from the National Forest.
Areas where geo-caching is not permitted include: Hickory Creek and Allegheny Islands Wilderness; Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas; Hearts Content Scenic Area and all developed recreation sites.
If you place a new cache you must register it. Provide the exact location of the cache, along with a short description of what it looks like.

Geocaching & Letterboxing Areas

Allegheny Reservoir
Lush green forest surrounds the 7,647-acre reservoir that spans the border between Pennsylvania and New York. In Pennsylvania, the reservoir is completely surrounded by the Allegheny National Forest; and in New York State by Allegany State Park and the Allegany Indian Reservation of the Seneca Nation.

At normal summer pool level the reservoir is 27 miles long, 14 miles in Pennsylvania and 13 miles in New York, with 91 miles of shoreline, and a maximum depth of 130 feet.

Despite how busy the reservoir can get in the summer, there are still places where you can experience the solitude and quiet of the forest. Amenities range from large campgrounds with electric hook-ups, showers, and flush toilets to boat-in campgrounds with simple outhouses.

The reservoir draws people from all over for the quantity and quality of the water activities it has available.

The walleye, trout, bass, pike and muskellunge are there and waiting for a fight. Several record breaking fish have been caught in the reservoir. In the winter you can head out onto the ice for a little ice fishing. If you want to look, but not fish, stop by the dam and peek over the edge. The fish like to gather in the eddies at the edges of the reservoir near the dam. Please do not feed the fish.

The Kinzua Point Information Center boasts an impressive view of the reservoir. Two popular trails nearby include the Jakes Rock Extreme Mountain Biking Trails, and the shorter Rimrock Hiking Trail. After your ride or hike you can head over to the Kinzua Beach and cool off in the chill waters of the reservoir.

And no trip the the reservoir is complete without driving on Longhouse National Scenic Byway and up to the overlooks at Jakes Rocks and Rimrock to take in the endless view of the reservoir against the backdrop of the forest.

Scroll down to find out more about the activities available on the reservoir.

History of the Reservoir

The reservoir was created in the 1960s when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed the Kinzua Dam on the upper Allegheny River. The reservoir water level and water surface is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Only a few private landowners exist on the New York shoreline. The Allegheny Reservoir is unique because very little private commercial development exists along its shoreline. The majority of the existing developed recreation sites on the PA portion of the Reservoir are operated and maintained by the Allegheny National Forest.
Morrison Hiking Trail
Bradford Ranger District
The Bradford Ranger District covers the northern half of the Allegheny National Forest. Highlights of this area include the Allegheny Reservoir, Wild and Scenic Allegheny River and Hearts Content.

Hidden gems found on the district are the Old Powerhouse, Timberdoodle Flats Interpretive Trail and Hall Barn Wildlife Viewing Area.
Marienville Ranger District
The Marienville Ranger District covers the southern half of the Allegheny National Forest. Highlights of this area include the Penoke, Marienville and Timberline OHV trails, Wild and Scenic Clarion River and Buzzard Swamp.

Hidden gems on this district include the Little Drummer Trail, Laurel Mill Trail and Beaver Meadows.
Beaver Meadows Hiking Trail & Day Use Area
Twin Lakes Hiking Trail

Geocaching & Letterboxing

Allegheny National Forest geocaching policy

Geocaching & Letterboxing Areas

History of the Reservoir

Alerts & Warnings

Recreation Areas

Recreation Activities