Outdoor Recreation

June 12, 2023

Volunteers still needed for IRONMAN 70.3 at Bald Eagle State Park

The first IRONMAN competition in Pennsylvania is almost here, and volunteers are still needed to help make this event a success! Volunteers are needed June 29 - July 2 at Bald Eagle State Park and Beaver Stadium, among other places along the journey. Athletes will take on their race with a 1.2-mile swim in Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir at Bald Eagle State Park, a scenic 56-mile bike ride through the beautiful rolling hills of Centre and Clinton Counties, and a 13.1-mile run on the campus of Penn State University.

June 7, 2023

PA Wilds artisan designs maps for West Creek Recreation Trail, Elk County

Taking a hike, bike or even a cross-country ski journey in Elk County? New maps, created by a local PA Wilds artisan, at trailheads on the West Creek Recreational Trail in Elk County will offer travelers the ability to get to know the trail and how to best use it.

June 6, 2023

Down Life’s Crazy Road: East Brady

It’s called the “Playground of the Allegheny” for good reason. East Brady, 54 miles northwest of Pittsburgh at the border of Clarion and Armstrong counties, has been a summer getaway for campers and boat enthusiasts along the Allegheny River for generations. Pittsburgh area families for years have escaped the hustle and bustle of the city on weekends and holidays to enjoy the more peaceful natural vista that East Brady offers.

May 30, 2023

Stay protected with free sunscreen while exploring some of PA’s state parks

Don't get burnt! Once again for the summer, free sunscreen is being offered in battery-operated dispensers for visitors at state park beaches and swimming pools throughout Pennsylvania, including Bald Eagle, Black Moshannon, Chapman, Clear Creek, Hills Creek, Parker Dam and Sizerville State Parks in the PA Wilds.

May 24, 2023

Planning a trip to the PA Grand Canyon? Here’s what you need to know for summer 2023

While the Pine Creek Valley and the PA Grand Canyon landscape within the PA Wilds region will be just as picturesque as ever, ongoing renovations at one of the state parks mean that you’ll want to see the views of the PA Grand Canyon from a different perspective this year. You’ll also need to visit the PA Wilds Conservation Shop mobile unit in a new location for this summer if you’re looking to pick up some special souvenirs to celebrate your trip.

May 12, 2023

Share your big fish photo! PA Great Outdoors’ Big Fish photo contest open until end of June

Want to show off your big fish? If you've snapped a photo of a fish you caught while angling in Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors region (part of the Pennsylvania Wilds that includes the counties of Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest and Jefferson), that photo could win you some great prizes! Whether you live in the region or have taken a photo while traveling here, you're invited to enter the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau's Big Fish Photo Contest!

April 24, 2023

The Hickory Creek Wilderness: Hike, fish, enjoy

In 1984, the United States Congress designated 8,663 acres in Warren County as the Hickory Creek Wilderness. For hikers, the Hickory Creek Trail, which runs through the wilderness, is a rolling, 12-mile loop of easy-to-moderate difficulty that can be completed in approximately five hours. In addition to hiking the area, writer Ralph Scherder shares his experiences of fishing in the streams of the Hickory Creek Wilderness.

April 21, 2023

“Leave No Trace” at your fishing spots this trout season

Trout season is underway, and many people will be headed out to go fishing on the lakes and streams in the Pennsylvania Wilds this year. We ask that anglers help to leave their fishing spots the same as or even better than they found them.

April 10, 2023

ATV permits available and season dates set for ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot in PA Wilds

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced that permits for the ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot in the northcentral region of the state are now available for purchase. This year’s pilot riding area will center upon Potter and Tioga counties, but will also include parts of Clinton and Lycoming counties, in the PA Wilds Dark Skies and I-80 Frontier landscapes. The pilot riding area will open for use on Friday, May 26, 2023, and will remain open until, Sunday, September 24, 2023.

April 7, 2023

Oooh that smell! Collecting ramps or wild leeks

Some people are revolted by the smell and flavor of onions and garlic but to others, it’s the sweet perfume of spring. I’m talking about the love-it-or-hate-it smell and taste of ramps or wild leeks, Allium tricoccum. Ramps, like onions, are a member of the amaryllis family. These potent, pint-sized onion relatives are popular Appalachian table fare as evidenced by the numerous “leek-fests” or “stink-fests” around the region. Leek popularity is growing with the upscale restaurant crowd and farm-to-table culinary circles.