The PA Wilds is filled with endless opportunities to explore via bicycle, from scenic rail trails like the Pine Creek Rail Trail and Clarion Little-Toby Trail, to thrilling purpose-built mountain bike trails such as Jakes Rocks, to thousands of miles of gravel and dirt roads. Cycling, in particular off-road cycling, has grown in recent years with more participants than ever taking to the trails to discover the joy of two wheels. E-bikes have made the sport even more accessible, lowering the physical barrier for using bikes for both transportation and recreation.
Not only is cycling beneficial for individuals’ physical and mental health, it is an economic driver too. Cyclists travel to ride new places, and they spend money to do so. A 2019 economic impact study of the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile multi-use path stretching between Pittsburgh and Cumberland, MD, showed that cyclists contributed $121 million annually to the local economy. Jakes Rocks (recently named Pennsylvania’s 2024 Trail of the Year) near Warren, PA, generates an estimated $9 million per year and draws more than 25,000 visitors annually.
With all its woods, waters, open spaces and endless opportunities for adventure, PA Wilds is well-positioned to take advantage of all of these benefits, both for the well-being of its residents and the economic impact of bicycle tourism. But first, it is important to understand what the region already offers and what could be improved upon in order to fully realize its potential – while also preserving what makes the Wilds so special.
With this in mind, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) is currently undertaking an effort to assess the cycling opportunities and infrastructure in the PA Wilds, including existing and planned/proposed trails; gravel/low-volume roads and mapped routes; cycling-related events; complimentary outdoor recreation opportunities; related amenities; and current efforts to market existing assets. PEC will also identify the potential for greater connectivity and assess the potential impact of projects via a gap analysis.
The process includes reviewing past and current planning efforts and the status of ongoing projects, cataloging and mapping existing assets, and public engagement through interviews and surveys. The effort will continue through this fall and winter, with a final report expected in summer 2025. The report will identify implementable projects that would further the goal of making the PA Wilds a top-tier cycling destination as well as expand cycling opportunities and access for local residents.
If you are familiar with cycling in the PA Wilds, we would love your input! Take a moment to fill out our survey and spread the word. The survey will be open through the end of December 2024.
Further questions and comments can be directed to Helena Kotala, Program Manager for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, at hkotala@pecpa.org.
Helena Kotala is an outdoors lover, writer, map-maker, and a Program/Mapping Manager for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council based near State College, PA. She’s happiest in the woods and enjoys many different forms of human-powered outdoor movement, including cycling of all forms, trail running, and canoeing. A central PA native, she loves exploring her home state and the vast breadth of experiences to be had relatively close to home. More of her stories can be found at helenakotala.com or on Instagram @helenakotala.
Author: Guest Contributor
The Pennsylvania Wilds is home to more than 2 million acres of public land, 50 state game lands, 29 state parks, 8 state forests, 2 National Wild & Scenic Rivers, abundant wildlife, hundreds of miles of land and water trails, some of the darkest skies in the country, and the largest elk herd in the northeast.
The PA Wilds team is grateful to share the many stories of this region through the words and images of our talented guest contributors.