Partake in a great hiking adventure or witness breathtaking vistas and landscapes within our State Parks and other areas throughout the Great Outdoors Region which covers six counties including:  Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest and Jefferson.  Our land mass is equivalent to the size of Connecticut so the opportunities are endless.  The Allegheny National forest boasts over 600 miles of trails; let your outdoor adventure begin.

Numerous trails in the area are ideal for a day of hiking and enjoying the Great Outdoors. They include:

• Beartown Rocks in Clear Creek State Park, Jefferson County is 6 miles begin at the beach parking area at Clear Creek State Park off of PA949 approximately 4 miles east of Sigel.  Download Printable Trail Directions (PDF)Directions
• Brush Hollow is approximately 6 miles and is located just west of Big Mill Creek along PA948 north of Ridgway.  Primarily intended for cross-country skiing, the trail is also open to hikers and mountain bikers year-round. Download Printable Trail Directions (PDF)
• Clear Creek State Park Trail in Jefferson County is 5.2 miles long.  The trailhead begins at the beach house parking area. Download Printable Trail Directions (PDF)
• Cook Forest State Park Trail in Forest County is about 6 miles long and begins from the parking area at the Log Cabin Inn Visitor Center on Vowinckel Road, 1 mile north of the junction with PA 36 in Cooksburg. Download Printable Trail Directions (PDF)
• Buzzard Swamp offers 12 miles of trail accessible at Forest Rd. 157 just one mile south of Marienville on Loleta Rd. Download Printable Trail Directions (PDF)
• The Mill Creek Loop is 16 miles long and connects Brush Hollow & Twin Lakes Trails located on Rt. 948, 10 miles north of Ridgway.
• Minister Creek is 7 miles long and is on Rt. 666, 18 miles northeast of Tionesta.
• The Twin Lakes trail is 14 miles on Rt. 321 northwest of Wilcox.
• Not far from the wild and scenic Allegheny River and the Allegheny River Islands Wilderness near Tionesta, backpackers can trek on former Native American territory on the 12-mile Tionesta Dam Trail.   

For the backpacker or serious hiker there are many longer trails:

• Near Clearfield, the Quehanna Trail system constitutes 75 miles of pathways in the state's most undeveloped region. Access is available at Parker Dam and S.B. Elliott State Parks as well as the Quehanna Highway off of Rt. 555 at Medix Run.
   
• Two trails in historic Cook Forest State Park combine for more than 200 miles. The extensive Baker Trail's 140 miles connects to the North Country Scenic Trail. Covering nearly 90 miles, the North Country Scenic Trail crosses the Allegheny National Forest extending to New York State. Both trails can be accessed off of Rt. 36 in Cook Forest.
   
  • The Baker Trail is a 140-mile trail in western Pennsylvania extending from the Allegheny National Forest to the Pittsburgh area. The Baker Trail was built and is being maintained by Pittsburgh Council of American Youth Hostels and by dedicated volunteers. A portion of the trail is also used by the North Country Trail. From the north of Cook Forest State Park, take Jack’s Hollow Road left to Maple Creek Road; turn right, cross the bridge over Maple Creek, and make a left off Maple Creek Road at the yellow blazes. Southbound at the park, turn right at Maple Creek Road, cross the bridge over Maple Creek, turn left on Jack’s Hollow Road; in about 200 yards, turn right and follow the yellow blazes into Cook Forest State Park.
    
    Follow the blazes at all times. Various shelter areas are available along the trail, tent-camping is also possible at the Cook Forest State Park Campground (Cooksburg), and anywhere in the Clear Creek State Forest.
    
    Road sections of the Baker Trail are not always well-marked. Maps are available at the Crooked Creek Lake recreation area office.
     
• The Bucktail Path is a 30-mile stretch from Sizerville State Park to the village of Sinnemahoning.

Pennsylvania is a leader in developing former railroad right-of-ways into user-friendly trails for hikers and bikers.  Numerous Rails-to-Trails are available such as:

• The Clarion/Little Toby is an 18-mile trail from Ridgway to Brockway open to the public for hiking, bicycling and cross-country skiing. The route follows the wild and scenic Clarion River and winding Toby Creek, crosses a swinging bridge, and passes through several old ghost towns.  Bike rentals are available at the Clarion/Little Toby trailhead in Ridgway.  More than four miles on either end is surfaced with original ballast in between. The northern trailhead is located on Water Street, one block off Main Street, in Ridgway. Taylor Park, 7th Avenue Extension in Brockway, provides access to the southernmost trailhead. Download Printable Trail Directions (PDF)

• Mill Creek trail has a natural and gravel surface extending 5.6 miles from Brush Hollow to Twin Lakes trails of the Allegheny National Forest. Access is available on Rt. 948, 10 miles north of Ridgway.
• The Kellettville to Nebraska Trace is a 12.2-mile grass and dirt hiking trail along scenic Tionesta Creek. The trail can be accessed off of Rt. 36 in Tionesta and Rt. 666 in Kellettville.

For additional Rails to Trails information visit our friends at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.  http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/

The Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau can provide you with an Outdoor Discovery Map of the Pennsylvania Wilds Region.  Please call (814) 849-5197 to request a copy.