The Beaver Meadow Walkway in DuBois

In the little city of DuBois, in Clearfield County along the I-80 Frontier landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds, the Beaver Meadow Walkway is a hidden treasure, allowing locals to enjoy the beauty of nature while walking to convenient places throughout the community. 

Jodi August, the director of the Greater DuBois Area Chamber of Commerce, walks the Beaver Meadow Walkway almost every day!

“I truly love this walkway. I try to get 10,000 steps or more each day since I spend a lot of time in an office environment,” says Jodi. “The Beaver Meadow Walk Way is conveniently located in the center of town and on my way to work.”

“The City workers do an excellent job of keeping the trail and dog park beautiful,” she says. “The grass is always cut, trimming is done, and I believe a local garden club maintains the flower gardens. It’s a safe environment for families to enjoy and within walking distance of most of our baseball fields and playgrounds.

The Beaver Meadow Walkway stretches for about 1.5 miles, spanning from near the DuBois Mall to Liberty Boulevard. The walkway, also known as Beaver Meadow Trail, connects Downtown DuBois (full of shops and restaurants) to the DuBois City Park, Showers Field baseball fields, and the DuBois Mall area. 

At the west end of the trail, there are plenty of parking spaces and easy access just off of Maple Avenue, near Showers Field baseball field. The paved parking lot even has about five designated accessible spots, making it perfect for those with mobility issues to still be able to walk on the walkway. 

The trail surface is mostly flat, with only about a five percent grade at its steepest parts. Most sections of the trail are either paved in asphalt or concrete, making it easier to navigate for those using wheelchairs, mobility equipment, or strollers. 

Benches and picnic tables line the Beaver Meadow Walkway, purchased by volunteers and stamped with plaques in honor or remembrance of those who loved the outdoors and the DuBois community. 

Jodi says walking the Beaver Meadow Walkway is a great way for community members to stay connected with each other. “It’s nice to meet up and see people on the Walk Way.  I’ve bumped into old friends as well as made new ones.  It’s great to enjoy nature and be around happy people.”

The Beaver Meadow Walkway is typically about five or six feet wide in most spots, allowing for plenty of room for people to pass by each other easily in either direction.

One of the highlights of the Beaver Meadow Walkway is the DuBois Dog Park, located less than half a mile from the Shower Field parking lot. The dog park is enclosed in a high fence and has two sections, one for large dogs and one for small dogs. The fence also has a separate fenced-in entrance, making sure that no dogs accidentally escape when another visitor arrives. The dog park has a spigot for fresh water, free dog waste bags, and even agility equipment such as a climbing path and jumping hoops. 

Why is it named the Beaver Meadow Walkway? The trail travels through the Big Beaver Meadow area of the city of DuBois. The Big Beaver Meadow was an important corridor for the Cornplanter (or Seneca) tribe of Native Americans traveling from the West Branch Susquehanna River to the Clarion and Allegheny Rivers. 

“Even though the Walk Way is in the center of town, when you’re on it, it feels like you’re walking in a secluded area outside of town,” says Jodi. “The wildlife on the Walkway is fun to watch too. Beside the regular animals such as ducks, geese, and herons, I’ve seen an eagle, a red fox, a snapping turtle, a snake, and deer through the years.”

The Beaver Meadow Walkway is certainly a treasured spot in DuBois. However, lots of beautiful walking paths exist in towns throughout the PA Wilds. Next time you spot one, make sure to get some steps in, take a walk, and reconnect with nature and your community.