The Pine Creek Rail Trail, one of the most popular journeys in the rural Pennsylvania Wilds region, recently got a new parking area in Jersey Shore, called the Whitetail Recreation Area. This means expanded access to the PCRT, allowing more people to enjoy the 62-mile rail trail that runs from Jersey Shore to Stokesdale and traverses through both Tioga and Tiadaghton State Forest lands.
The hard-packed stone on the Pine Creek Rail Trail makes for a fairly easy ride or hike, and the trail has a small grade, around 2%. The PCRT is a fun family day hike or bike ride, and good exercise for all ages.
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn visited Tiadaghton State Forest on June 21 to celebrate the completion of the Whitetail Recreation Area parking project in the PA Wilds.
Image: DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn speaking at the Whitetail Recreation Area ribbon cutting
“Visitors from all over the Commonwealth come to the Tiadaghton to spend time on the popular Pine Creek Rail Trail, and this upgraded parking area is critical to expanding access to the trail and surrounding community,” Dunn said. “Investments in forest infrastructure are a tremendous boost to recreation tourism and the local economies supported by public lands.”
Image: Bicyclists on the PCRT. Photo by Allison Schanbacher.
Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2024-2025 budget includes $8.5 million for additional investment in parks and forests that will make Pennsylvania a premier destination for exceptional trail experiences, benefiting the economic competitiveness of communities, tourism, and public health.
The $1 million project was completed in April with myriad improvements, including:
- Additional parking that now accommodates 38 vehicles
- Lifting the parking site to mitigate flooding impacts
- Removal of an unused building; a new concrete restroom
- A storage building for Pine Creek Rail Trail maintenance
- A new trailhead information pavilion to share information about the recreation opportunities on the trail.
Native plants and trees were added to the area to highlight natural beauty and to replace invasive species that were removed.
“I am happy to be here today celebrating this important project and the opportunities it provides to bring visitors, old and new alike, to the Pine Creek Rail Trail,” Tiadaghton District Forester Tom Casilio said. “We look forward to seeing the impact of the new parking area this summer and for years to come.”
Image: Tiadaghton District Forester Tom Casilio speaking at the Whitetail Recreation Area ribbon cutting
State forests like the Tiadaghton and the Pine Creek Rail Trail offer fantastic outdoor experiences that truly make Pennsylvania — The Great American Getaway.
Outdoor recreation adds $17 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy, supporting 164,344 jobs, and accounting for 1.8 percent of the Commonwealth’s gross domestic product, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Tiadaghton State Forest is named for a Native American term originally describing Pine Creek. Most of Tiadaghton State Forest’s 146,539 acres reside in Lycoming County, some tracts extend into Tioga, Potter, Clinton, and Union counties. It is one of eight state forests located in the Pennsylvania Wilds region.
Image: Ribbon cutting at the Whitetail Recreation Area in the Tiadahgton State Forest. The recreation area connects to the Pine Creek Rail Trail.
Visit the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ website for more information about Tiadaghton State Forest and check out the department’s Calendar of Events for events on public lands.
Want to learn more about what other places you can explore around the Tiadaghton State Forest and the Pine Creek Rail Trail? Visit the Pine Creek Valley and PA Grand Canyon landscape page of the PA Wilds website.
About DCNR:
Established on July 1, 1995, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is charged with maintaining and protecting 121 state parks; managing 2.2 million acres of state forest land; providing information on the state’s ecological and geologic resources; and establishing community conservation partnerships with grants and technical assistance to benefit rivers, trails, greenways, local parks and recreation, regional heritage parks, open space, and natural areas. DCNR’s mission is to conserve and sustain Pennsylvania’s natural resources for present and future generations’ use and enjoyment. Learn more at DCNR.pa.gov.
