Allegany State Park Quaker, Salamanca, New York

Campground Review from Danielle

I live about 40 minutes away from this campground, and I tent camped there in July 2006.

Allegany State Park is a gorgeous campground, very clean with very informative staff. It is broken up into 2 areas: Red House and Quaker, both are very nice. My family camps here at least once per summer, and my kids think it is heaven on earth. We camp at other locations in NY, and this is one of our favorites.

Pros: There are plenty of hiking trails, a clean lake to swim in, clean showers/toilet areas, the campsites are varied, and plenty of friendly people. Well-stocked store, though a bit pricey. Very family-oriented campground.

Cons: Not necessarily bad, but Allegany SP does have a large bear population. Know your bear safety, and do not leave anything out in the open. The bears will usually come out at dusk. They have been known to break into vehicles with coolers in the back seat, so put your items in your trunk. Dispose of all of your meal scraps and garbage as soon as you've finished eating, and you shouldn't have a problem. Oh, and make reservations early. The campground fills up quickly.

Nearby attractions: Seneca Allegany Casino (I-86, exit 20), Seneca Native American Museum (also exit 20), the Salamanca Antiques Mall (exit 20 off of Broad Street.) All within about 15 minutes from the state park.

The electric sites get reserved very quickly, as do the cabins. We've camped on both electric and non-electric, and other than some small creature comforts, we didn't really miss not having electricity.