Explore a New Trail in 2023
Explore a New Trail in 2023
The Allegheny National Forest Region of Pennsylvania Invites You to Take On New Adventures in the Coming New Year
A new year brings the excitement of new beginnings, the fun of exploring new locations, and the joy of new experiences. Welcome 2023 at First Night Bradford, followed by First Hike at the Kinzua Bridge State Park. Then embrace your spirit of adventure as you explore the nearby Allegheny National Forest Region in Pennsylvania.
FIRST NIGHT BRADFORD
A full day of fun awaits families and couples at First Night Bradford, PA. One fee allows participation in the events throughout the day and evening, including the Gazebo Drop and fireworks display at midnight on Festival Way.
A 2023 First Night Bradford button acts as your admission badge to all the events on New Year’s Eve. Adults and children aged six and up will need to purchase a $6.00 admission button; children under six are free. The buttons are available New Year's Eve at the Bradford Regional Chamber office from 9:00am-5:00pm and at the door of all performance events except the Bradford Public Library and the Horse & Carriage Rides as they are free to the public.
Families with children are invited to begin their New Year’s Eve fun at 11:00am by attending Jeffer’s Magic Show at the Bradford Public Library with a scheduled balloon drop at noon. This free event also includes a popcorn treat and a bag of candy for children (while supplies last.) The Bradford Public Library is located at 67 W. Washington Street, Bradford, PA. For more information call 814-362-6527 or email program@bradfordlibrary.org.
Horse and Carriage rides are available along Main Street in Historic Downtown Bradford from
4:00-8:00pm. This is a free event - no button is needed to participate.
The day features a wide variety of entertainment venues such as First Skate at Callahan Park Ice Skating Rink, First Bowl at Byllye Lanes, Rock & Roll Pet Store, Bwana Jim Animal Show, Sparkle the Clown Princess-Balloon Animals, Fair to Fiddlin’, Dennis Regling Puppeteer & Illusions, In Jest with Nels Ross. Bring in the New Year on Festival Way with Live Entertainment and the Block Party from 10:30pm-12:30am with Trigger Happy the Band, the Gazebo Drop and fireworks. For more information go to firstnightbradford.org.
FIRST HIKE AT THE KINZUA BRIDGE STATE PARK
Begin 2023 with a guided hike at the Kinzua Bridge State Park on January 1. Meet at noon at the overflow parking lot next to the General Kane trailhead for a guided hike along a 1.6-mile hiking trail. This trail is named for Thomas Leiper Kane, the man who is responsible for the building of the Kinzua Viaduct in 1882. It is common to see a multitude of birds and animal tracks along the trail. Dress for the weather. The trail difficulty is rated easy. The park is located at 296 Viaduct Road, Mt. Jewett, PA. For more information call the state park at 814-778-5467.
MARILLA WINTER TREK
Join in the fun at the Marilla Winter Trek on Jan. 21 from noon-4:00pm. Hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, or enjoy a fat bike ride on the trails at the Marilla Reservoir. The Tuna Valley Trail Association (TVTA) will offer a guided hike leaving at noon from the Marilla Bridge. Bring your hiking boots, cross-country skis, and fat bikes to enjoy the Marilla Trail System. Free shuttles to the top of Marilla Springs Trail, a 3.6-mile linear, moderate to difficult trail, connecting back to the Marilla Bridges Trail will be provided in cooperation with the Willow Creek Snowmobile Club.
A bonfire, hot dogs, s’mores, and hot chocolate at the gazebo will be provided by the trail association. All ages are welcome. The event is free, and the public is invited to attend. Donations are appreciated. The TVTA is a nonprofit trail association which has built and maintains over 40 miles of public use trails in the valleys surrounding Bradford, PA.
A new Fisher X-CC package valued at $400 donated by The City Garage Ski Shop of Ellicottville, NY, and a custom Case Marilla Knife will be raffled off to raise funds for continued trail maintenance. Tickets are available on tunavalleytrail.com. The ticket for the raffle winner will be pulled at 3:00p, the day of the event.
Marilla Reservoir is located along Rt. 346, five miles west of the City of Bradford. For more information and advance raffle tickets please visit tunavalleytrail.com.
GLIDE INTO 2023 AT THE CALLAHAN PARK ICE SKATING RINK
Remember the thrill of ice skating? Plan an ice skating adventure with your family and friends. The Callahan Park Ice Skating Rink is fully enclosed, making it a fun activity even on the chilliest of winter days. The rink is open for public skating on Tuesday and Wednesday from 6:00-8:30pm, Friday from 6:00-9:00pm, Saturday from 1:00-4:00pm and then again from 6:00-9:00pm, and on Sunday the rink is open from 1:00-4:00pm and then in the evening from 6:00-8:30pm. The rink is open seasonally from the first week of November to the first week of March.
The rink features rental skates, both children and adult sizes, for a fee of $3. The admission fee for children and seniors is $4, and for adults $5. Ice skating training aids, which slide very easily on the ice, are available for beginners. A concession stand is on-site and locker rooms are also available.
A party room is available for rent; rental prices include admission and skate rentals for up to 16 people. Reservations are needed to reserve the party room. The Callahan Ice Skating Rink is located at 64 Poplin Avenue, Bradford, PA. For additional information or to reserve the party room, please call 814-368-8190.
ADVENTURES IN THE ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST
Plan new trail adventures in 2023! Some of the best cross-country ski trails in the Allegheny National Forest Region include the Westline Cross-Country Ski Trail, the Kinzua Valley Trail, and the two sections of the Knox & Kane Rail Trail, the TAMED section near Kane, and the MJ2KB section near Mt. Jewett, PA.
The Westline Cross-Country Ski Trail offers 9.8 miles of rugged forestland trails. The trailhead is located 11 miles south of Bradford, PA via Rt. 219, State Route 59, and via Forest Road 455. Facilities at the trailhead include hardened parking and informational signage. The trail system consists of several loops of varying skill levels: Short Circuit Loop (1.5 miles - easy); Inside-Out-Loop (1.5 miles - more difficult); Ledges Loop (1.6 miles - more difficult); Boo-Boo’s Delight Loop (1.1 miles - more difficult) and Thundershower Trail (4.1 miles - most difficult).
During the winter you can experience the solitude and beauty of the 10.5-mile Kinzua Valley Trail for hiking or cross-country skiing. Located along the banks of the scenic Kinzua Creek, the surface is crushed limestone. A trail head can be easily accessed from the village of Westline, or traveling south from Rt. 219, turn right onto Westline Road, watch for the signage and the red roof of the wooden covered bridge for trail access. From Kane, travel Rt. 321 north, near Red Bridge Campground, watch for the trail head signage. Difficulty level is moderate.
KNOX & KANE RAIL TRAIL
There are two sections of the Knox & Kane Rail Trail currently open for winter cross-country skiing and hiking in McKean County. Plans for late fall in 2023 include trail construction which will link these two sections of trail.
The Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge Trail (MJ2KB) is a 7.5-mile section of trail from the Kinzua Bridge State Park to Lantz Corners. The trail head parking is at the state park at 296 Viaduct Road in Mt. Jewett, PA. A second trailhead is located behind the Borough building in Mt. Jewett off Route 6. The MJ2KB trail is open for equestrian, snowmobiling, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing. Difficulty level is easy.
The Trail Association of the McKean/Elk Divide (TAMED) trail begins across from Kane Country Club, traverses through Kane, and then extends south to Lamont, PA. This 8-mile trail is open for mountain biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing. The surface is compacted crushed limestone. Trailhead parking is along Route 6 beside the old Knox & Kane Depot.
Plan new adventures for 2023: For more information on all the things to see and do, trail maps, restaurants, and lodging options in the Allegheny National Forest Region of northwestern Pennsylvania, please call 800-473-9370 or click online to order a free print copy of the ANF Visitors Bureau’s Adventure Guide & Map on VisitANF.com.