Chapman State Park

Chapman State Park is an 805-acre piece of land that lies directly adjacent to the Allegheny National Forest. Containing a lot of recreational facilities in an otherwise wild piece of forest, Chapman State Park tends to attract a lot of locals in addition to regular out-of-state visitors. Hiking is a great idea when visiting Chapman State Park, with 14 miles of varied and unique trails to explore. 

Because of how wild these trails tend to be, park officials strongly urge visitors to bring a map, compass, and supplies like food and water to avoid any hardships or unexpected issues. The largest of these is Game Lands Road, a six-mile stretch with flat, rocky surfaces great for a long run with your canine, provided you keep them on a 6-foot leash or shorter. 

Most of the trails inside of Chapman State Park are part of broader backpacking trails that travel through adjacent public lands. Because of this, keep in mind that it is always possible to come upon campers along these routes. Speaking of camping, there are a few different options available for overnight visitors to Chapman State Park. There are 82 prepared campsites, all of which have water on-site. 

All of these sites contain modern restrooms, as well as an RV dump station. Camping is usually available in spring until the end of the year. For backpackers, there are free first-come, first-serve sites along a lot of the trails. These lack any sort of plumbing, so make sure to come prepared. If you'd like something a little more luxurious, there are also camping cottages that can be rented for a nominal fee. 

These can sleep up to five, and contain all the modern amenities you've become accustomed to. Canines are allowed on the campgrounds provided they stay on their leashes. Dogs cannot enter any of the permanent structures, which include the bathroom facilities and camping cottages. 

Within Chapman State Park is the 68-acre Chapman Lake, which offers excellent fishing for both coldwater and warm water fish. No rental equipment is available, and fishing hours vary by season. Make sure to check with the Pennsylvania DCNR website for more information. Canines are allowed to accompany fishers provided they stay leashed up.