The PA Wilds

09/04/2026

Keystone Trails Association needs your help in the Pennsylvania Wilds!

Be a part of KTA's first Trail Care event at Chapman State Park in Warren County, September 24–27!

Come help refurbish a boardwalk and repair muddy sections along the Nature Trail. Your help will make a direct impact on the trails we all enjoy across the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Stay for the day or the entire weekend! Spend some time paddling around beautiful Chapman Lake or explore the Allegheny National Forest right next door.

Sign up or learn more — link in comments!

Chapman State Park

09/02/2026

Join us in congratulating PA Wilds Planning Team Member of the Year, Candace Hillyard!

Candace has served on the PA Wilds Planning Team since becoming Executive Director of the PA Route 6 Alliance (US Route 6 in Pennsylvania) in 2019. She served as Vice-Chair for two consecutive years, completing her term in December 2025.

As Executive Director of the PA Route 6 Alliance, Candace has led major initiatives throughout the region, including the launch of the Artisan Trail Program, expansion of Makers Markets, façade programs, and continued support for the Heart and Soul Communities in Port Allegany, Mansfield, Tidioute, and Youngsville. She played a central role in securing a Pennsylvania Byway designation for 211 miles of Route 6, a stretch that spans the PA Wilds region. Candace’s efforts have helped elevate PA Route 6’s national visibility—culminating in Route 6 being voted “America’s unofficial favorite byway” in Scenic America’s 2025 Byway Madness competition. Her leadership also supported Heritage Community Plan updates and tourism initiatives that included custom bike rack infrastructure across the four PA Wilds counties that feature PA Route 6, the creation of a Bicycle Friendly Business Program, and development of the six signature bike loops on 6 and the Trans PA Cycle Tour. She has also implemented a series of successful educational workshops and annual meetings.

Candace’s enthusiasm, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to the region have greatly strengthened the work of the PA Wilds Planning Team. We are proud to honor her for her exceptional service and impact.

Learn more about this year's winners and the PA Wilds Champion Awards! https://bit.ly/4xw6TMD

09/02/2026

SAVE THIS FAMILY-FRIENDLY PA WILDS ITINERARY 🌲🛶🥾

📍 PA Wilds, Pennsylvania

Looking for your next Great American Getaway? Explore the I-80 Frontier Landscape of the PA Wilds with peaceful lakes, scenic hikes, rustic cabins, water adventures, and charming Pennsylvania towns.

DAY 1 | BLACK MOSHANNON STATE PARK 🌲
🏡 Check into a rustic cabin
🛶 Canoe on Black Moshannon Lake
🥾 Explore the trails, wetlands, and beautiful lake views

📍 Black Moshannon State Park
Pennsylvania DCNR The Pennsylvania Wilds Happy Valley PA

DAY 2 | BALD EAGLE STATE PARK 💦
🛶 Enjoy water activities at Bald Eagle State Park
🏨 Stay at The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle overlooking the lake
🥾 Hike the family-friendly 1.5-mile Butterfly Trail toward Frog Pond
🏖️ Swim at the beach along Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir
🍽️ End the day with dinner at The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle

📍 Bald Eagle State Park
The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle Pennsylvania DCNR The Pennsylvania Wilds Happy Valley PA

DAY 3 | LOCK HAVEN 🌄
🍳 Breakfast at The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle
🥾 Visit Rox and River Adventure Co in downtown Lock Haven for outdoor gear and local adventure inspiration
🏘️ Explore downtown Lock Haven, local shops, restaurants, and the charm of this Pennsylvania river town

📍 Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
Explore Clinton County, PA Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. Rox and River Adventure Co

Three days. Two beautiful state parks. Cabin stays, lake adventures, hiking, and small-town Pennsylvania. 💚

Sometimes the best Great American Getaway is closer than you think.

Would you add the PA Wilds to your family road-trip list?

SAVE this itinerary for later 📌
SHARE it with a family that loves outdoor adventures 🌲

The Pennsylvania Wilds Visit PA | Pennsylvania Tourism Office Pennsylvania DCNR Happy Valley PA Explore Clinton County, PA

09/01/2026

Today’s the day! 🎉 The Kinzua Skywalk is officially open for the fall season.

From now through Oct. 31, visitors can once again walk above the Kinzua Gorge and take in one of the PA Wilds’ most unforgettable views.

Planning a visit? Weekdays and off-peak hours will offer the best experience. Consider carpooling or riding the Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge Trail, and leave time to explore the visitor center and shop locally made goods at the PA Wilds Conservation Shop.

The Skywalk will close again after Oct. 31 as rehabilitation work continues, so make your fall plans now.

Find everything you need to know before you go at PAWilds.com 🌲

08/31/2026

Some summer nights are worth pedaling for 🚲🏕️

Avid biker Helena Kotala packed her bike and headed into the Allegheny National Forest for an overnight riding and camping adventure.

It’s the kind of summer itinerary that makes room for more miles, a night under the trees and nowhere else you need to be.

Who’s joining you for an overnight ride in the PA Wilds?

08/28/2026

Join us in congratulating Jack Maxwell, recipient of the 2026 PA Wilds Inspiring Youth Champion Award!

The Inspiring Youth Champion Award honors a person or organization that has made outstanding contributions to involve young people in the work to grow the region’s outdoor recreation economy and to conserve its unparalleled natural and cultural resource assets. A sophomore at Duquesne University, Jack Maxwell began his journey with the PA Wilds Center as a Community Connector at the PA Wilds Conservation Shop in Marienville, Forest County, PA, while in high school. Starting in June 2024, his efforts were instrumental in preparing the shop for its debut during the annual Marienville Bigfoot Festival. Since then, Maxwell has demonstrated a strong commitment to building meaningful relationships within the PA Wilds Center organization and throughout the community, including participating in the Woods and Waters Alliance and Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week, where he serves as a summer intern. Through Jack’s partnership with his art teacher and supervisor, in April 2025, the student art exhibition “Where the PA Wilds Things Are,” featuring North Clarion County High School students, was installed at the Marienville Four Seasons Trail Hub. Following the art show, Jack and his teacher collaborated with Cook Forest State Park to install the exhibit in the visitors’ center for a month. He later also collaborated with Meredith Hill to make the exhibit available digitally for those who were unable to attend in person.

Learn more about this year's winners and the PA Wilds Champion Awards! https://bit.ly/4xw6TMD

08/27/2026

Congratulations to Richard Wykoff for receiving the 2026 PA Wilds Outstanding Leader Champion Award!

Wykoff has consistently been key to the critical creation and expansion of many programs. Rich’s continued reach throughout the county and broader PA Wilds region has helped build new pathways to document history, folklore and increase outdoor tourism opportunities. A Clinton County Arts Council board member, Wykoff was instrumental in creating the LH Jams festival that was awarded the PA Wilds Event of the Year in 2023. As a lifelong educator, he also leads the CCAC Summer Art Academy for youth. His work with the Greater Renovo Area Heritage Park includes research into a plan for Tipple Park and potential national historic landmark status. He also spearheaded the development of digital murals portraying Renovo’s involvement in the region’s historical eras. They include Renovo’s Railroad Heritage, Flyboys of WWII, and Lumber Heritage murals. A retired educator, Rich is passionate about developing programming to engage and inspire area youth through the arts, local history and technology.

Learn more about this year's winners and the PA Wilds Champion Awards! https://bit.ly/4xw6TMD

08/26/2026

Volunteers are needed for KTA's Bucktail Path Trail Care weekend in the Pennsylvania Wilds -- September 10-13!

Training and equipment are provided, food and snacks too! Come for one day or the whole weekend! Enjoy free camping at the wildlife hotspot of Sinnemahoning State Park, surrounded by PA's elk herd.

You can help take care of this awesome trail: clear vegetation, construct trail bridges, paint blazes, and more!

Sign up or learn more - link in comments!

08/23/2026

Say hello to PA Wilds Conservation Shop at Kinzua Bridge State Park Community Connector Chloe Goodwill from Smethport. While working at the shop, Chloe has learned that Johnny Cash wrote a song about Kinzua Dam, “for not so good reasons,” she said.

When asked about her favorite memory while working at the shop, Chloe said, “My car getting chased by a baby black bear, thinking my small black car was its mom or something.”

Chloe said her favorite spot in The PA Wilds is “the secluded park bench at (Kinzua Bridge State Park) on my lunch break.” In addition to Kinzua Bridge State Park, Chloe suggests that the PA Grand Canyon and Cherry Springs State Park are must-do’s when visiting the PA Wilds region.

08/23/2026