EXPLORE PA : Trails in the ANF
EXPLORE PA : Trails in the ANF
Celebrate 100 Years in the Allegheny National Forest Region of Pennsylvania
Timberdoodle Flats is an easy, family-friendly, interpretive trail in the ANF. Photos / Allegheny National Forest
Looking for adventure? The massive trail systems in and around the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) offer just the experience you are seeking. Beginners will enjoy the easy 1-mile loop trails and interpretive trails for birding. For more experienced hikers and bikers there are trails up to 10 miles with a rating of moderate, plus multi-day backpacking trails. The granddaddy of all trails within the ANF is the North Country Trail at 96.8 miles. Jakes Rocks and Morrison Trail both offer great mountain biking opportunities, while the three trails at the Kinzua Bridge State Park range from easy to more difficult. All the trails mentioned are located nearby in northwestern Pennsylvania. In addition, this year marks the 100th year anniversary for the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) so two very special trail activities have been created to help visitors explore the ANF!
CENTENNIAL HIKING CHALLENGE
Hike 100 Miles to Commemorate 100 Years
If you are an avid hiker looking to explore the trails within the Allegheny National Forest, this hiking challenge is for you! Hike 100 miles of the best and most beautiful trails in the Allegheny National Forest in honor of the ANF Centennial. Begin your challenge by downloading your trail log from www.fs.usda.gov/detail/allegheny/learning/history-culture. It is recommended to choose from the trails listed on the website, but you can choose others from within the Allegheny National Forest, making sure they add up to 100 miles.
As you are hiking, remember to mark the date, trail name, and miles hiked on your log. When you complete 100 miles, bring your hiking log to the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, 80 E. Corydon Street, Bradford, PA, or one of the ranger stations in Bradford, Marienville, or Warren, PA to receive your commemorative camping mug (while supplies last).
The hiking challenge ends Sept. 24, 2023, just in time for the ANF Centennial Celebration at Twin Lakes which will include food, music, guided hikes and more.
ANF CENTENNIAL GEOCACHE TRAIL
This commemorative geocache trail has been created to offer an opportunity to connect the American public to the outdoors, to encourage families to explore the national forest together, and to provide educational and recreational opportunities for the users of the trail. If you are new to geocaching, it is like hunting for buried treasure except you are using a GPS unit and clues found online, and the treasure is a variety of items or codes contained within the hidden cache.
For this geocache, you will be retrieving a specific code. The first step in enjoying this trail is to register on www.geocaching.com. Once registered, participants will be able to retrieve the coordinates and other location information. The next step is to pick up your passport from the ranger stations or download if from www.pennsoil.org. Then follow the instructions to be eligible for an ANF Centennial Souvenir Token trackable on geocaching.com.
KINZUA BRIDGE STATE PARK TRAILS AND UPCOMING RACES
The Kinzua Bridge State Park is widely known as the home of the Kinzua Sky Walk - “one of the top 10 most scenic skywalks in the world” - but it also offers three distinct trail experiences. The General Kane Trail is an easy family-friendly trail through a hardwood forest; it has very little change in elevation making it a fun activity to do with children. The Kinzua Creek Trail is the most challenging trail at the park; it is a steep hiking trail down the side of the gorge. At the bottom of the gorge, you can see the massive steel towers twisted and lifted from their foundations during the tornado of 2003. It is recommended to wear hiking boots and to take water with you for the hike back up. The third trail, the Knox & Kane Rail Trail, has been selected as the “2023 Pennsylvania Trail of the Year.” This section of the trail links the park to Mt. Jewett and Lantz Corners. It is open for hiking, biking, and equestrian use.
The Kinzua Half Marathon & 5K are held on the section of the Knox & Kane Rail Trail which runs from the park to Mt. Jewett. A portion of the registration fee is donated to the MJ2KB Trail Group which maintains this trail. A professional timed race, the Kinzua 5K will be held on Saturday, July 29th from 7:00-10:00pm. The Kinzua Half Marathon will take place Sunday, July 30th from 8am-noon. Races are open for ages 10 and up. Runners can sign up for the Tornado Double which includes both races. Registration and pricing information is available at www.runsignup.com.
MOUNTAIN BIKING AND GRAVEL RIDING IN THE ANF
There are miles and miles of gravel forest service roads open for biking. The best way to find which roads are open yearly is to purchase an open road map from the Allegheny National Forest at one of their ranger stations. Two developed mountain biking trails exist in the ANF. The Trails at Jakes Rocks are an exciting, stacked loop mountain biking trail system. This 30+ mile trail was developed in partnership with Trail Solutions, a sister company of the International Mountain Biking Association, a world-renowned trail development company. Morrison Trail is a 10.8-mile loop trail passing through open hardwoods, mountain laurel, and large rock formations. The trailhead parking lot is located along Route 59, 17 miles west of the City of Bradford.
In addition, mountain biking is approved for both sections of the Knox & Kane Rail Trail - the section from the Kinzua Bridge State Park to Lantz Corners, and the section from Kane Country Club to Kane and south to Lamont. The missing section between Lantz Corners and the Kane Country Club should be linked by October when the new trail construction is completed.
PLAN YOUR ADVENTURE
To help plan your adventure, downloadable maps and detailed trail information can be found, along with places to stay, food and beverages, at VisitANF.com. Bike rentals are now available at Lantz Corners Getaway near the Knox & Kane Rail Trail. For personalized assistance, call the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau at 800-473-9370.