Shenango River Lake
Hermitage, PA
Reservations for this campground are handled through Recreation.gov
Reservation SiteThe Mahaney Outflow Rec Area Day Use offers one group picnic shelter (Riverview Shelter) that can accommodate between 42-56 people, depending upon the use of 6-8 people per table. Electric is available at the shelter with a paid reservation only, grills are available on site, and flush toilets and drinking water are provided at the restroom adjacent to the shelter (seasonal). A children's playground and small hiking trail are located on site. The Shenango Dam and Outflow are just a short walk from this location where you can view the concrete gravity dam as well as fish the outflow and river. The Mahaney Rec Area is just a short distance away featuring a disc golf course and access to the lake for fishing and a paved boat ramp.
Shenango Lake stretches 11 miles up its namesake river, covering over 11,000 acres. The shore is lined with a northern hardwood forest of shady and colorful trees such as black cherry, beech, maple, and hemlock. Deer, turkey and other small game animals are plentiful, with excellent opportunities to observe osprey and eagles in the area.
The Shenango Water Trail provides 7.5 miles of scenic river corridor for paddlers, with three access points between Kidds Mill Park and Big Bend. Life jackets must be worn on all canoes and kayaks. The historic Kidds Mill Covered Bridge features the unique "Smith-Truss" design from the 1800s. Remnants of the Erie Extension Canal can be found nearby in Sharpsville below the Shenango Dam. The Shenango and Mahaney Recreations Areas feature restoration chestnut tree orchards that are managed through a partnership with the American Chestnut Foundation for research and education, with the goal of developing blight resistant American chestnut trees.