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Pennsylvania Wilds - A Region of Enormous Potential
Within the northcentral part of Pennsylvania you will find more than two million acres of public lands set aside for the public’s enjoyment. Teeming with wildlife and offering unlimited recreation opportunities, this 12-county region includes some of the most wild and scenic areas in the Northeast. This is the Pennsylvania Wilds:
- More than 1.6 million acres of state forest and game lands
- 27 state parks
- the 500,000-acre Allegheny National Forest
- 8 wild areas, and 24 natural areas that cover about 150,000 acres
- the largest elk herd in the Northeast
- hundreds of miles of backpacking trails, bike paths, trout fishing streams
- the darkest skies in the East at Cherry Springs State Park
There are over 6.5 million total acres in the region. Roughly 80 percent of that land, 5.2 million acres, is forestland. The 2.1 million acres of public land in the Pennsylvania Wilds is the largest block of public land between New York and Chicago. The southern portion of the Wilds is accessible from Interstate 80, the busiest east-west interstate in the United States. To the north it is accessible from Pennsylvania Route 6, rated one of America’s most scenic drives by National Geographic magazine. The region has approximately 660,000 residents.
A Plan for Enhancing and Protecting the Region
The Commonwealth is developing a strategy to encourage the growth of tourism and related-businesses in Northcentral Pennsylvania based on these significant outdoor experiences. The goal is to enhance the visitor experiences in this region, while protecting and conserving these treasured natural resources. The focus includes improvements to the natural resources, infrastructure and visitor services of the region.
To help guide this strategy, in 2003 Governor Edward G. Rendell established a cabinet-level task force to coordinate state agency involvement in the Pennsylvania Wilds. The task force, led by Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis, has begun a planning process to examine outdoor recreation resources, the region’s lumber heritage, opportunities for private concessions to support tourism; public facilities and staffing needed to support the Pennsylvania Wilds; and opportunities to stimulate purchase of Pennsylvania wood products and other local goods and services through tourism.
Benefits to the Region and State
The public lands within the Wilds represent a potential for economic gain for local communities, many of which have struggled to thrive since railroading, oil and other industries have disappeared. Investments and improvements and a renewed focus on this region will create more vibrant and livable communities. Tourists traveling to the region will spur the need for overnight accommodations, guided serves, eateries and outfitters. Local citizens will enjoy the benefits from investments made in public lands’ infrastructure and environmental improvements. Development of a wood product industry will provide merchandise to travelers and create value-added jobs in local communities.
Elk Watching
A core attraction in this region is the wild elk herd that roams an 835-square-mile area of mostly forested and mountainous land in parts of Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Centre and Clearfield counties. Pennsylvania Wilds has its roots in an early study based on elk watching opportunities of the region. The “Elk Watching and Nature Tourism Plan” recommended several initiatives to support elk watching in these counties. The first, most visible of these to be completed is the Elk Scenic Drive - a 127-mile route through the region, with distinctive signage. Twenty-three viewing sites along the Elk Scenic Drive are being established to promote safe and easy visitation and distribute travelers across the region. The sites provide parking and alternatives to viewing elk and other wildlife along the area's highways. Each site has been chosen because of its outstanding wildlife viewing potential and scenic beauty.
Future Plans for the Wilds
Other initiatives under consideration or development for the Pennsylvania Wilds include:
- a gateway visitor center, with appropriate lodging along 1-80 at SB Elliott State Park
- a wildlife viewing/visitor center at Sinnemahoning State Park
- an elk viewing center near Benezette in Elk County
- clean up of the acid mine drainage in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River to improve fishing and water sport opportunities
- incentives to encourage the growth and establishment of nature tourism and related businesses in the region
- ways to encourage the development of locally-made products, with a special emphasis on those made of Pennsylvania hardwoods, to capitalize on the markets expected from increased visitation to the region
- a regional marketing partnership of the tourist promotion agencies, representing the 12-county area, called the Pennsylvania Wilds (Formed Fall 2004).
Statistics about the Wilds
State Parks
27 state parks, spanning over 27,600 acres including Bendigo, Black Moshannon, Chapman, Cherry Springs, Clear Creek, Colton Point, Cook Forest, Denton Hill, Elk, Hills Creek, Hyner Run, Hyner View, Kettle Creek, Kinzua Bridge, Leonard Harrison, Little Pine, Lyman Run, Ole Bull, Parker Dam, Patterson, Prouty Place, S.B Elliott, Ravensburg, Sinnemahoning, Sizerville, Susquehanna and Upper Pine Bottom.
State Forests
8 state forest districts with over 1.3 million acres of public forestland. The state forests include Clear Creek, Cornplanter, Elk, Moshannon, Sproul, Susquehannock, Tiadaghton and Tioga. Pennsylvania state forests are the largest certified forests in the country, managed using sustainable forestry practices.
Allegheny National Forest (ANF)
513,000 acres of forestland located in the northwestern Pennsylvania counties of Elk, Forest, McKean and Warren.
Game Lands
The Pennsylvania Game Commission manages over 300,000 acres for hunting and wildlife on over 50 state game lands.
Recreational Assets
- Close to 1800 overnight, public camping sites.
- Over 100 miles on 9 rail trails including the 50 miles accessible on the Pine Creek Trail (12 miles to be completed for a total of 62 miles) in Tioga and Lycoming counties, and the 18-mile Clarion-Little Toby Creek Trail in Elk and Jefferson counties.
- Over 1800 miles of snowmobile trails.
- Over 1500 miles of hiking trails.
- 631 miles of cross-country skiing trails.
- Over 792 miles of equestrian trails.
- 23 designated wildlife watching sites on the 127-mile Elk Scenic Drive.
Water Resources
- 16,000 miles of flowing water, including 213 stocked trout streams totaling 1,370 miles.
- 2,067 wild trout streams, such as 182 with Class A Wild Trout populations and 55 streams designated as Wilderness Trout Streams.
- 16 impoundments with a total of 20,278 surface acres of water.
- 99 boat launches, accommodating a variety of boating opportunities from canoeing and kayaking to pleasure cruising.
- 3 Pennsylvania Water Trails: the West Branch Susquehanna River Water Trail (240 miles), the Clarion River Water Trail (100 Miles) and the Middle Allegheny River Water Trail (85 miles).
Wild and Natural Areas
- 109,000 acres of wilderness on 1 federal wilderness and 7 state wild areas.
- Close to 43,000 acres on 24 natural areas designated by federal (1) and state (23) governments for their significant scenic, historic, geologic or ecological value.
Participating Tourist Promotion Agencies (TPAs)
- Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau, McKean County
- Clinton County Economic Partnership
- Lycoming County Visitors Bureau
- Northern Alleghenies Vacation Region, Warren County
- Northwest Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Forest and Jefferson counties
- Potter County Visitors Association
- Tioga County Visitors Bureau
2007 Pennsylvania Wilds Conference
The 2007 Pennsylvania Wilds Conference was held Sept. 13-14 at the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport. Nearly 300 people attended the event to learn about progress, best practices, tools for success and future plans for the 12-county region. Read a recap of the conference here.
Ed McMahon, a national expert on community planning and design, and renowned nature–based tourism and recreation consultant, Ted Eubanks, delivered thought-provoking plenary presentations that emphasized conserving and appropriately-promoting the many unique cultural and natural attributes of the Pennsylvania Wilds to maximize economic return to the region. Their remarks, as well as those of DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis and DCED Secretary Dennis Yablonsky, were captured by the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN). A copy of those presentations can be obtained from PCN for $132.50 by calling (717) 730-6000 x222. (The copy of Secretary DiBerardinis’s and Ed McMahon’s presentations is $83.50; Secretary Yablonsky’s and Ted Eubanks’ presentation is $49. They may be purchased separately.)
At the end of the conference, participants from each conference track developed a set of recommendations for success. Breakout groups gathered ideas and developed a Top 5 list that was presented to the conference general lunch session and Pennsylvania Wilds leadership. Those recommendations can be found here (MS-Word--74k).
For a flavor of what was discussed at the conference, view the conference brochure (.pdf--606k).
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