Twin Lakes Recreation Area and Black Cherry Trail


Area Status: Closed
Twin Lakes

This very busy recreation area is located south of Kane, PA off of State Route 321.

Twin Lakes was once the site of factory buildings, stores and row houses owned by the McKean Chemical Company which made wood alcohol. A company splash dam, used to augment water levels for the chemical plant downstream once occupied the site of today's dam. When McKean Chemical Company closed in the 1920s, the US Forest Service acquired the property.

In 1936, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed the present dam on Hoffman Run, creating the swimming impoundment. They built the lower campground, picnic area, pavilion and bathhouse. The "twin" impoundment was never built, as money planned for its construction was diverted to build Loleta Recreation Area near Marienville, PA.

Twin Lakes has upper and lower camping loops.

The day use area is situated around a 10-acre impoundment which is fed by Hoffman Run, a heavily stocked trout stream; no boating is permitted on the impounded lake. A hardened walking path surrounds the impoundment.

 

Black Cherry Interpretive Trail

This trail is a 1.6 mile trail beginning and ending near the lower campground loop. The two loops, one 1 mile loop and one .4 mile loop, circle the campground. The Black Cherry Trail also makes up the eastern end of the Twin Lakes Trail . The trail will take you through a valley with a small stream, that you will cross at one point. The Twin Lakes Trail connects to both the Mill Creek Trail and Brush Hollow Trail systems.

 

View/Print Site Brochure - pdf

At a Glance

Current Conditions: Open 4/1/2023 - 10/31/2023 | For camping reservations please call: 814-389-3019
Operational Hours: Quiet hours 10:00 pm to 6:00 am
Reservations: To book camping reservations, call the Friends of Twin Lakes at 814-389-3019
Open Season: April 1 - October 31
Usage: Heavy
Restrictions: There is a maximum ten-foot clearance underpass located on the Twin Lakes entrance road. Vehicles taller than ten feet should travel northwest from Wilcox using Dahoga Road to avoid the underpass. 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. Applicable Orders for this Site:
  • Twin Lakes Recreation Area
Closest Towns: Kane, PA
Water: None
Restroom: Portable Toilets
Operated By: Friends of Twin Lakes - 814-389-3019
Information Center: Marienville Ranger District
Address: 131 Smokey Lane Marienville, PA 16239
Phone: 1-814-927-6628
Email: sm.fs.anf@usda.gov

General Information

Directions:

From Kane

  • Travel south on SR 321 for 6 miles
  • Turn right (West) on T361 and follow for 0.2 miles
  • Turn right onto Dahoga Rd (use caution as road is narrow)
  • Proceed north 2.5 miles to Twin Lakes Rd FR 191
  • Continue north 2.0 miles to Twin Lakes Campground entrance

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Campground Camping

Amenities:

  • Electricity - lower loop
  • picnic table
  • fire ring
  • tent pad
  • playground - one in each camping loop
  • Day Use/Beach
    • portable toilets
    • beach
    • bathhouse
    • picnic tables
    • pavilions
    • fishing piers
  • Group sites
    • large grassy fields
    • gravel parking areas
    • pavilions
    • picnic tables
    • grills
    • fire rings
    • horse shoe pits
    • vault toilets
No. of Sites
  • Single: 48 sites
    • Double site: 1
  • Group: 2 sites, 50 people or less
Fire Information Campfires are permitted as long as fires are maintained in a fire ring and fully extinguished when leaving.
Sleeping Shelter No

RV Camping

A dump station is available.

Amenities:

  • Electricity - lower loop
  • picnic table
  • fire ring
  • tent pad
  • playground - one in each camping loop
  • Day Use/Beach
    • portable toilets
    • beach
    • bathhouse
    • picnic tables
    • pavilions
    • fishing piers
No. of Sites
  • Single: 48
    • Double site: 1
Pavement Type for Parking hardened
Hookup - Water No
Size Restrictions RVs 28 feet long x 10 feet h max
Hookup - Sewer No
Dump Stations Yes
Hookups - Electric some
Fire Information Campfires are permitted as long as fires are maintained in a fire ring and fully extinguished when leaving.

Group Camping

Two group camping areas limited to 50 people or less are  available.

Amenities:

  • large grassy fields
  • gravel parking areas
  • pavilions
  • picnic tables
  • grills
  • fire rings
  • horse shoe pits
  • vault toilets
No. of Sites 2 group sites
Group Shelter Yes, pavilions are reservable.
Group Cooking Facilities No
Fire Information 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.
Hookups - Electric Yes
No. of Accessible sites All facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities. Toilets and some site furniture are accessible but people with impaired mobility may have difficulty traveling between facilities because of terrain and distance.
Sleeping Shelter No

Lake and Pond Fishing

This campground has an accessible fishing pier.

For native trout fishing, try the Twin Lakes Trail that begins at the Black Cherry National Recreation Interpretive Trail and extends 15 miles westward or the Mill Creek Trail, which traverses 5.6 miles through gently rolling terrain; it can be accessed via the Twin Lakes Trail.

Please note that portions of the Mill Creek Trail are no longer maintained. Mill Creek Trail also connects to the Brush Hollow system and is listed on the Brush Hollow map and brochure.

For information on fishing regulations and season visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website.

Fishing Platform Yes
Accessible Platform Yes

Picnicking

There is a large grassy area to set-up games and short trail around lake.

Amenities:

  • portable toilets
  • beach
  • bathhouse
  • picnic tables
  • pavilions
  • fishing piers
No. of Sites 2
No. of Accessible sites 2
Sleeping Shelter No

Group Picnicking

There is a large grassy area to set-up games and short trail around lake.

Amenities:

  • portable toilets
  • beach
  • bathhouse
  • picnic tables
  • pavilions
  • fishing piers
No. of Sites 2
Group Shelter No
Group Cooking Facilities Grills
Hookups - Electric Yes
No. of Accessible sites 2

Swimming

The swimming area features a hiking trail, playground and accessible swimming beach. The beach has buoys to create a 100' x 60' swimming area with a sand beach.

Amenities:

  • portable toilets
  • beach
  • bathhouse
  • picnic tables
  • pavilions
  • fishing piers