Ridgway Pennsylvania

Elk County Court House, Ridgway PA When you drive into Ridgway, you enter one of Pennsylvania's Hidden Secrets. Built in the late 1800s, buildings and homes display the grandeur of the Victorian Era. A stroll down the streets of town gives visitors a sense of magnificent times gone by.

Throughout the years, Ridgway has maintained it's friendly small-town atmosphere. The area is graced with unique specialty shops, quaint restaurants, charming bed and breakfasts and motels. Whether you live here, or have never visited, you are always welcome.

Welcome to Ridgway

Avoid the hustle and bustle. There is no need to travel any further to enjoy the great outdoors. Nearby resides the largest wild, free-roaming elk herd east of the Mississippi numbering more than 700. Here, in the heart of the Allegheny National Forest, there is an abundance of trails for hiking, biking and cross country skiing; the scenic Clarion River for canoeing, rafting and fishing; and a multitude of outdoor activities.

Wild and Scenic Clarion River

Clarion River in Ridgway Pennsylvania The Clarion River meanders for more than 100 miles past undisturbed forests and steep-sided hillsides, providing spectacular views and a sense of isolation. The Clarion is located in northwestern Pennsylvania and a major tributary to the Allegheny River. The East and West Branches of the river originate in McKean County and flow southerly before merging at Johnsonburg in Elk County. The East Branch Dam located northeast of Johnsonburg controls the headwaters. From the confluence at Johnsonburg, the river flows 95 miles before emptying into the Allegheny just south of Foxburg. From Ridgway in Elk County to the backwaters of the Piney Reservoir in Clarion County, 51.7 miles is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River with recreational and scenic segments. The Clarion has a unique picturesque quality with diverse and mature vegetation, sinuous channels and varying water conditions. This river is truly a wild and scenic waterway.

The Clarion is popular for family canoeing, as well as for trophy brown trout and small mouth bass fishing. Public access locations are available at Portland Mills and Irwin Run Bridge.