A large lake for swimming, boating, fishing, and birdwatching, along with trails, playgrounds, events, and open skies make camping at Chapman State Park a great experience. Chapman State Park offers group camping, three cottages, two yurts, and over eighty campsites. The campground has modern restrooms, showers, and permits pets at designated campsites. The camping cottages sleep five people and have electric, heat, a picnic table, a fire ring and a porch. Cottages 1 and 3 are ADA accessible and cottage 1 allows up to two dogs.
Up to six people can sleep in the yurts in bunk beds and a double bed. Yurt 1 is ADA accessible. Yurts have a stove top, a microwave oven, a refrigerator, a fire ring, electric and heat. For group camping, eligible groups may rent one or both of the specialized areas, each fitting forty campers. Both areas have fire rings, picnic tables and restrooms nearby.
Chapman Lake
The 68 acres of Chapman Lake offer swimming, fishing, and boating. A sand beach opens in late May and remains open until mid-September from 8AM until sunset. By the sand beach is the main picnic area that overlooks the lake. You may reserve five pavilions up to 11 months in advance for a fee, but the unreserved tables are first-come-first-serve. On the western side of the lake there is a boat launch and 45 seasonal mooring spaces. Registered camper mooring spaces are on the eastern shoreline.
Over 450 acres are available during established seasons for training dogs, hunting, and trapping. Dog training is only permitted on the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Allegheny National Forest and State Game Land 29, adjacent to the park, are also open for hunting in designated areas.
Photo by Bill Vargo Photography
Winter Activities
With over 300 miles of snowmobile trails accessible from the park, a seven-acre sledding hill, ice fishing, 4.4 miles of ski trails, and an ice skating pond, there are plenty of activities during the winter. For snowmobiling, there is ample trailer parking, heated restrooms and a warming hut. The snowmobile trails are open from the end of deer season in December until March 31. Many of the trails are groomed, depending on weather conditions. You must have your registration and stay on designated trails.
The sledding area is located on the western side of the park, with lights illuminating the hill at night, weather permitting. Across from the park office is an ice skating rink, which is lit nightly as well.
Ice fishing for perch and trout is popular on Chapman Lake, and cross-country skiing opportunities are also available.
The annual Winterfest is held at Chapman in February.