Outdoor Recreation

June 7, 2019

Here’s where to swim at state parks in the PA Wilds

There are 29 state parks in the Pennsylvania Wilds, and several provide swimming access, in addition to the beautiful scenery and bountiful other outdoor experiences.

June 3, 2019

Looking for adventure in the PA Wilds? Check out these outfitters.

The Pennsylvania Wilds offers opportunities to participate in numerous outdoor experiences, including hiking, mountain biking, rock-climbing, and paddling. Each provides an opportunity to become immersed in nature and find awe-inspiring views often overlooked or never seen from the roads most traveled. Regional outfitters and guides provide the expertise, equipment and services to help adventure seekers find the perfect spots to explore safely.

May 28, 2019

Bellefonte to host Outdoor Adventure Expo on June 9

Spring Creek will be just one of the recreational assets that will be showcased during Bellefonte’s first Outdoor Adventure Expo, set for June 9 in the community’s Talleyrand Park. The event is meant to showcase all of the outdoor adventure opportunities, vendors and groups that are in the area — and there are a ton of them.

May 2, 2019

Traversing Fred Woods Trail in Elk Country

Fred Woods Trail is a scenic 3-mile loop on top of the hills in Driftwood, PA, a small community that sits on the edge of the Elk Country and Dark Skies landscapes in the Pennsylvania Wilds.  Photographer Samantha Cunningham recently journeyed out to the trail to take a hike with her dog, Sadie, and she captured beautiful photos along the way!

April 7, 2019

The Mid State Trail – PA’s 2019 Trail of the Year – traverses the PA Wilds

This year, the Mid State Trail (MST), Pennsylvania’s longest, most remote and wildest footpath has been named ‘Pennsylvania’s 2019 Trail of the Year’. The 527 km, 327-mile-long trail bisects the state, cutting through the Dark Skies, Pine Creek Valley & PA Grand Canyon, and I-80 Frontier landscapes of the Pennsylvania Wilds, across Tioga, Clinton, Lycoming and Centre counties.

March 15, 2019

Flint, Steel and … Bacon? How to start a primitive campfire.

Survival skills instructor Art Dawes recently headed to the woods for a bit of campfire therapy. His plan was to hike around in the state forest, find a god spot to make a campfire, and then cook the bacon he brought along. Learn about how to start a fire with limited resources and reap the rewards (with a yummy sandwich!).

March 13, 2019

Hiking the West Creek Recreational Trail

The West Creek Recreational Trail in St. Marys, a community located in the Elk Country landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds, runs from St. Marys to Emporium, a borough that flanks the Elk Country and Dark Skies landscapes. Photographer Samantha Cunningham loves hiking the trail, and capturing it along the way!

March 2, 2019

Snowmobiling in Penn’s Woods

Tioga State Forest is hardly the only destination for snowmobiling in our vast state forest system.  Loyalsock, Tiadaghton, Susquehannock, Elk, Sproul, Moshannon, and Bald Eagle state forests also possess ideal “sledding” trails.

February 22, 2019

How to navigate Pine Creek Valley area despite Slate Run Road closure

Slate Run Road in the northern section of Tiadaghton State Forest was the site of multiple landslides in 2018 due to the extremely rainy weather, causing the road to be closed off in 2018. The PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources has released an advisory cautioning travelers to avoid Slate Run Road until further notice. DCNR has also released a detailed detour map to help travelers access the recreational assets and communities within the area.

February 19, 2019

The Old Man, The Bear and Logan Run

"Of many favorite brook trout streams throughout the Pennsylvania Wilds, Logan Run is right up there near the top of my list," says author Ed Byers. "From Tionesta Creek up to the waterfall, Logan Run is a mile-long wild trout stream with beautiful hemlocks and an occasional lush meadow."