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Camping reservations 1-877-444-6777
Ranger Station
222 Liberty St., Warren. (814) 723-5150
More than a half-million acres of outdoor recreation! Includes a marina, 6 boat launches, 6 canoe access sites, a marina, 11 picnic areas, 4 beaches, and more than 600 camp sites.
The 12,080-acre Allegheny Reservoir is 27 miles long with 90 miles of shoreline. Segments of the Allegheny and Clarion Rivers have been designated as National Wild and Scenic rivers. Hickory Creek and Allegheny Islands are nationally designated wilderness areas.
 Clarion / Little Toby Creek Trail
- A
Wild and Scenic Experience!
Ridgway & Brockway
(814) 772-7657
http://pavisnet.com/tcrtt/
One of the most
scenic rail-trails in Pennsylvania stretches19
miles from Ridgway to Brockway. Get away from
the hustle and bustle of modern life and enjoy a
real wilderness experience! You will enjoy
unparalleled natural beauty winding along the
Clarion River and Little Toby Creek. Spectacular
river vistas, mountain scenery, and wildlife
await you along this easily accessible
corridor. Experienced hikers, mountain bikers
and cross country skiers will appreciate the
length and variety of the trail, while novices
will love the easy grade! Lumber era history
abounds along the trail, including remains of
ghost towns, old logging dams, railroad bridges,
quarries and a “stone crusher”. For a great
picnic lunch, make your way about halfway down
the trail and take in the scenery at Swinging
Bridge.
The entire
trail is surfaced with crushed limestone. This
is a non-motorized recreational trail. Horses
are also not allowed at this time. The majority
of the trail is located on Pennsylvania State
Game Lands, so plan to wear orange during spring
and fall hunting seasons.
Trailheads are
located in Ridgway on Water Street (behind
Ridgway Record on Main Street) and in Brockway
at Taylor Park, 7th Avenue.
For more information or a map contact Tricounty
Rails to Trails at PO Box 115, Ridgway, PA 15853
 Cross
County Skiing
Ridgway is just a few minutes away from
three exceptional cross county skiing
opportunities on public lands.
Laurel Mill
This 14.6 kilometer (9.1 mile)
groomed trail system is located in the
Allegheny National Forest, just a few
miles from Ridgway. There is accessible
parking, a warming hut and restroom at the
trailhead. Trails are well marked and
range from easy to difficult. The
trailhead parking lot is located three
miles west of Ridgway on Township Road
307, often called Spring Creek Road.
Follow Main Street west out of Ridgway.
Brush Hollow
This extremely scenic trail along Big Mill
Creek is a favorite among local skiers,
and offers three loops of ungroomed trails
totaling 12.4 kilometers (7.6 miles). The
trailhead offers accessible parking and a
restroom, and is located ten miles north
of Ridgway on State Route 948.
Clarion-Little Toby
Rail Trail
If you want a perfectly flat trail
for skiing, this is the spot for you! A
19-mile ungroomed trail, with unbeatable
scenery. See description under
Clarion/Little Toby Creek Rails to Trails.
Trail maps for
Laurel Mill and Brush Hollow can be found
on
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/allegheny/recreation
/snowpage/ski.html
 Geocaching
Treasure Hunting In The 21st Century
J. R. R. Tolkien said ‘Not all those who
wander are lost.’ And lots of folks have
been having a great time wandering around
the Great Outdoors Region lately because of
the newest craze called Geocaching.
For those of you new this type of outdoor
adventure, Geocaching is a treasure hunt for
the 21st century. Armed with a GPS receiver
(Global Positioning System), a set of
coordinates tells you the location of a
“cache.” A GPS unit is an electronic device
that can determine your approximate location
on the planet. Coordinates are normally
given in Longitude and Latitude. A typical
cache is most likely a strong box that can
contain almost anything like small toys,
cd’s, or trinkets hidden by other geocachers.
All caches contain a log to record your
accomplishment. Some even have a disposable
camera, so you can take your picture and
leave it so the owner of the cache can
record it.
Most cache’s have a difficulty rating
associated with them. Caches in the Wilds of
Pennsylvania range from easy to very
difficult.
The ultimate geocaching adventure would have
you trekking through some of the most
beautiful woodlands in the nation. Have your
adventures during the day and stay overnight
in one of our cabins, campgrounds, B&B’s or
hotels.
Log on to
geocaching.com website, type in the zip
code of the area you want to visit and it
will list all caches in the area.
Some zip codes for the Great Outdoors region
include:
- Benezette 15821
- Johnsonburg 15845
- Ridgway 15853
- St Marys 15857
Laurel Mill Golf Courses
230 Bonifels Lane
Ridgway, PA 15853
814-772-1015
Formally Elk County Country Club. Mountain top
location, 9-holes with scenic views surrounds
this course equipped with a lounge. The fairways
are tree lined, and the greens are medium in
size and speed.
Bicycling continues to ride on a crest of
popularity that makes it one of Western
Pennsylvania’s most popular individual and
family recreational activities. The bike
trails found in our state parks and other
areas in the Great Outdoors feature a
variety of lengths, terrain and scenic
views. An added bonus is that you can take
advantage of the many resources, facilities
and activities found within each park.
Bikers of all skill levels will find
something to enjoy on Pennsylvania trails.
With a terrain that ranges from steep and
challenging to gentle and pleasant, Western
Pennsylvania is a biker's paradise.
Pennsylvania is also firmly committed to the
"Rails-to-Trails" concept. Over
800 miles of former railroad rights-of-way
have been converted to rail-trails for
biking and hiking throughout the state, with
more on the way. For even more on
Pennsylvania's biking trails, visit
www.pedaling.com
to search for trails in Western
Pennsylvania.
While in
Ridgway enjoy any of the following trails:
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Bear Creek is a 16-mile ride that follows
a 3-mile section of Bear Creek. It has
lots of great scenery however some
sections have heavy brush and the trail
can be somewhat obscured. From Ridgway
take State Route 3002 (Laurel Mill Road)
west for 15½ miles to the parking lot at
the Bear Creek Recreational Facility.
Download Printable Trail Directions (PDF)
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Brush Hollow is approximately 6 miles and
is located just west of Big Mill Creek
along PA948 north of Ridgway. Primarily
intended for cross-country skiing, the
trail is also open to hikers and mountain
bikers year-round.
Download Printable Trail Directions (PDF)
- The Clarion/Little Toby is an 18-mile
trail from Ridgway to Brockway open to the
public for hiking, bicycling and
cross-country skiing. The route follows
the wild and scenic Clarion River and
winding Toby Creek, crosses a swinging
bridge, and passes through several old
ghost towns. Bike rentals are available
at the Clarion/Little Toby trailhead in
Ridgway. More than four miles on either
end is surfaced with original ballast in
between. The northern trailhead is located
on Water Street, one block off Main
Street, in Ridgway. Taylor Park, 7th
Avenue Extension in Brockway, provides
access to the southernmost trailhead.
Download Printable Trail Directions (PDF)
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Game land
Ride -
Elk County This
is an enchanting, historical ride whose
attractions include laurel tunneled
single-track, caves, scenic overlooks,
boulders to climb and a stretch of one of
the finest rail-trail this country can
boast.
Download Printable Trail Directions (PDF)
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Little Toby
West - Elk County - Except for one
long climb, this is an easy tour of the
Little Toby valley and State Game land
food plots.
Download Printable Trail Directions (PDF)
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Mill Creek trail has a natural and gravel
surface extending 5.6 miles from Brush
Hollow to Twin Lakes trails of the
Allegheny National Forest. Access is
available on Rt. 948, 10 miles north of
Ridgway.
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Ridgway
Race Course - Elk County - This is a
very demanding course. Some consider the
Ridgway ride as one of the best races in
the state. It begins with a long, hard,
paved climb that is followed by 14 miles
of difficult pipelines and forest roads.
Download Printable Trail Directions (PDF)
N of Ridgway on Forest Rd. 232, 1 mile S of Rt. 948 & Rt. 66 intersection
(814) 772-7388
38 miles of interconnecting trails traverse scenic forested hills of the
Allegheny National Forest. Connects to the Marienville ATV Trail. Camping is permitted along the trail and at the Twin Lakes Recreation Area. Beginner/ intermediate level. Motor bikes, mountain bikes and snowmobiles also permitted.
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Timberline ATV Trail
