PA Wilds Center celebrates PA Trails Month at region’s events

Staff participates in Western PA Trails and Greenways Summit, dedication ceremony of Trails at Jakes Rocks as PA Trail of the Year

 

As Pennsylvania as a whole was celebrating PA Trails Month in September, the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship joined in the celebration at a few trails-related events in the rural Pennsylvania Wilds region.

PA Wilds Center staff was excited to attend the Western PA Trails and Greenways Summit on September 4 and 5, which was held in the PA Wilds region this year, in Clarion County. The event brought together trail managers, land stewards, public officials, and other regional stakeholders who are dedicated to preserving and maintaining our region’s valuable recreation assets.

To kick off the Western PA Trails and Greenways Summit, attendees gathered at Lost in the Wilds Brewing in Shippenville, along the Rail 66 Country Trail, on the evening of Sept. 4.

Lost in the Wilds Brewing is a proud member of the Wilds Cooperative of PA (WCO), a network of more than 600 place-based businesses and organizations in the designated 13-county PA Wilds region.

Britt Madera, communications manager for the PA Wilds Center, began the reception with a short speech welcoming attendees to the PA Wilds. She spoke about some of the key outdoor assets that make this place so special and acknowledged how fitting it was to have a trail conference in a region that is teeming with outdoor experiences.

“Much of the work of our nonprofit is based around those public lands and outdoor recreation opportunities. These trails and natural spaces are special to us. They bring in travelers from all over the world, and they make it a joy to live and work here,” Madera said. “This truly is the perfect backdrop for an outdoor recreation conference such as the Western PA Trails and Greenways Summit, and we’re honored to have so many outdoor enthusiasts with us here.”

Prior to meeting up at Lost in the Wilds, participants had a chance to ride along the Rail 66 Country Trail on a 10-mile bike ride or to explore the handicapped accessible Sensory Trail at Cook Forest State Park.

The Summit continued the next day at the Penn West University Clarion Campus, with a variety of presenters.  PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Dunn and Director of Outdoor Recreation Dr. Nathan Reigner both spoke about the importance of outdoor recreation in rural places. Panels throughout the day covered topics such as welcoming and inclusive outdoor spaces, strategic financing for regional planning, water access, long-term asset management, and heritage areas.

Following the summit, the celebration of trails continued, as the Trails at Jakes Rocks trail system was celebrated on Sept. 6 as the Pennsylvania Trail of the Year by the PA DCNR and the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. 

Jakes Rocks is a 35-mile natural surface, stacked-loop trail system located in the Allegheny National Forest, on the northwestern side of the PA Wilds region. Mountain biking is the primary draw, but other types of recreation such as hiking, trail running, and cross-country skiing are also allowed. A recent economic impact analysis found that the Trails at Jakes Rocks draws over 30,000 users annually and generates an estimated $9 million in annual tourism spending.

PA Wilds Center Founder and CEO, Ta Enos, was honored to speak during the dedication ceremony. “The expertise that went into designing the Trails at Jakes Rocks, along with the many volunteers that work diligently to maintain the trails, is nothing short of incredible,” she said. “We’re proud to say that these trails are a star outdoor recreation asset that encourages travelers to visit and explore the Pennsylvania Wilds.”

Other dignitaries at the event included master of ceremonies Jim Decker, President/CEO of the Warren County Chamber of Business & Industry, and Courtney Mahronich Vita, PA Trails Advisory Committee Chair; Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, DCNR; Nathan Reigner, Director of Outdoor Recreation at DCNR; Rich Hatfield, Bradford District Ranger of Allegheny National Forest; Representative Glenn “G.T.” Thompson; State Senator Scott Hutchinson; State Representative Kathy Rapp; Dan Glotz, Warren County Commissioner; Casey Ferry, Warren County Visitors Bureau; and Adam Elms, Representative of the Northern Allegheny Mountain Bike Association.

The Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee designates the Trail of the Year to help build enthusiasm and support for trails across the state, and to raise public awareness about the value of Pennsylvania’s land and water trail network.

The Jakes Rocks Trail Fest was held near the end of PA Trails Month, on September 20-22, 2024. The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship was happy to attend the event and set up an informational booth on Friday morning. The Jakes Rocks Trail Fest is in its 8th year in 2024 and has seen the number of participants grow to a record high of more than 700 people in 2023. The event continues to grow, positively impacting the local economy during the entire weekend. The event is planned to return for its 9th year in 2025.

With more than 1,600 miles of trails in the PA Wilds region, trails and greenways are undoubtedly a draw for travelers in this rural place, providing economic value and quality of life. Learn more about the trails in the PA Wilds and learn more about places where you can celebrate PA Trails Month by visiting PAWilds.com/activity/trails.

 

ABOUT THE PA WILDS

The Pennsylvania Wilds is a 13-county region that includes the counties of Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Warren, and northern Centre. The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to integrate conservation and economic development in a way that inspires the communities of the Pennsylvania Wilds. The PA Wilds Center promotes the region and its 2+ million acres of public lands as a premier outdoor recreation destination as a way to diversify local economies, inspire stewardship, attract investment, retain population and improve quality of life. The PA Wilds Center’s core programs seek to help businesses leverage the PA Wilds brand and connect with new market opportunities, including: the Wilds Cooperative of PA, a network of more than 575 place-based businesses and organizations, and the PA Wilds Conservation Shop, a retail outlet primarily featuring products sourced from the WCO. For more information on the PA Wilds Center, visit www.PAWildsCenter.org. To learn more about the WCO, visit www.WildsCoPA.org. Explore the PA Wilds at www.PAWilds.com. Find regionally made products at www.ShopThePAWilds.com. 

 

Media Contact

Britt Madera | Communications Manager

PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc.

[email protected] | 570-948-1051