Tioga-Hammond Lakes Recreation Area — Hotel in Tioga Township

Been coming here for years, and it's mostly great. The lake is nice, clean campsites, friendly staff, and decent rates on the sites. Can't comment on any fishing, but we love hanging out here for swimming and boating sports.

The tent sites leave a lot to be desired, though. They have outhouse style bathrooms with no running water which are absolutely disgusting... It seems like they are rarely cleaned... The most annoying part is that there is electric at the outhouse, and running water from a well/spigot literally across the road from it, but they won't upgrade the bathroom to a normal one. Yet, the RV park, which has water and electric to most every site has a nice full bathhouse with showers and everything. It basically forces anyone staying longer than a day or two to load everyone up in the car, make a 10 minute drive (at 10 miles an hour) to the bathrooms.... Really annoying.

The groundskeeping of the tent site is kind of poor. They keep cutting down trees on campsites, but leave unkempt trees and bushes along the water, blocking the view, but removing campsite shade. Some tent sites are huge, well maintained, leveled off and nice... Others are mainly a gravel driveway with little or no grass (please get rid of the stupid stone gravel everywhere) no level place for your tent, and nowhere to hide from the elements (wind, shade, etc.). I see people needing to put their tents or campers right on the road just to find a decent spot to set up...

The final thing I want to point out is how they handle trash and recycling. It is great that they have separate bins for trash and recycling (despite only trash bins at the tent sites)... But they want you to not only separate your recycling into glass (clear, brown and green) and then plastic, and metals... PLUS they expect you to rinse them... At a campsite... With no running water... So, of course, all the recycling ends up in the trash bins, completely defeating the purpose.

It's time for this place to seriously consider a few minor upgrades that would have a large impact on...

I posted that we didn't go much so it was a treat. Well, the last two years we have camped primarily between Ives Run and Tompkins which is a sister campground run the Army Corp of Engineers. Both are beautiful places and we typically alternate between the two. If you have a senior pass , the pricing can't be beat. We absolutely love it especially when some private places cost a night, what it cost us for a weekend and they don't offer that much more. Of course there are exceptions as far as things to do, but you pay for it. These Pa campgrounds, especially Ives are such beautiful places, Ives is more manicured that Tompkins but it's a nice change to go there too. It's more rustic but very nice in its own right. Ives has a bit more going for it in my opinion but it all depends on what you like. Both have the water activities, both have primitive to full hookup sites, hiking, etc. Again Ives Run has a bit more going for it in the hiking, playground for kids, etc .. both have swimming, boating, kayaking, places to ride bike, etc... Ives is bigger and has some absolutely beautiful picnic area...

The Tioga-Hammond Lakes area including State Game Lands #37 is a large, beautiful and special area. There is so much to do with regards to the outdoors. Naturalists will love the large spectrum of flora and fauna. The game lands holds some special birds and butterflies. I actually found a Cypress Tree in the southern end of Hammond Lake. This area presents an array of activities from fishing and boating to camping, sight-seeing, demonstrations and hunting. The surrounding country is beautiful and inspiring. Highly recommended for a family day trip, even to those from...