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South Shore Recreation Area
USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Lawrenceville · Pennsylvania · Cowanesque Lake
| Agency | USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Area | Cowanesque Lake |
| Location | Lawrenceville · Pennsylvania · Cowanesque Lake · 41.97444, -77.20889 · Map |
| Sites | 3 public sites counted from the federal listing — 2 group shelter electric; 1 group shelter nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 2 of 3 sites (up to 15 amp where reported) Water hookups at 2 of 3 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 3 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 3 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Not reported in the federal data |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | All reservations must be made on www.recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777 prior to arrival. Shelter Weekdays-$40.00 (Reservations can be made as well as first come first served) Shelter Nonelectric Weekends $75.00 Shelter Electric Weekends $100.00 |
| Check-in / out | In 8:00 AM · Out 9:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 3 sites, as reported |
| Accessible sites | 3 marked accessible in the listing |
| Accessibility | N |
| Amenities, as reported | Cell service reportedFlush toiletsWater spigots |
| Phone | 570-835-5281 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-02-25.
From the official listing
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.
Directions, from the listing
From US 15 South, take the Lawrenceville Exit. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto State Route 49. Recreation Area will be on the right approxmately 5 miles.
From US 15 North, take the Lawrenceville exit. At the bottom of the ramp turn left. Recreation area will be on the right approximately 5 miles.
Nearest federal campgrounds
1 mi straight-line · Lawrenceville PennsylvaniaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersLawrence Recreation Area
2 mi straight-line · Tioga PennsylvaniaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersIves Run
6 mi straight-line · Tioga PennsylvaniaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersLambs Creek Recreation Area
12 mi straight-line · Tioga PennsylvaniaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersEast Branch Campground
77 mi straight-line · Wilcox Pennsylvania
Trip Card — South Shore Recreation Area
Lawrenceville · Pennsylvania · Cowanesque Lake
| Agency | USACE · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Location | Lawrenceville · Pennsylvania · Cowanesque Lake |
| Fees | All reservations must be made on www.recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777 prior to arrival. Shelter Weekdays-$40.00 (Reservations can be made as well as first come first … |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | Electric at 2 |
| Max RV | Not reported |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 3 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234689 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.