The Keystone State
Pennsylvania
Allegheny Forest old-growth, the AT through the ridge country, and 2 million acres of state forest in the Appalachian highlands.
Pennsylvania at a Glance
Allegheny Old Growth
Allegheny National Forest contains more than 120,000 acres of old-growth forest remnants in Tionesta Natural Area, rare in the eastern US
Allegheny Reservoir
The Allegheny Reservoir (Kinzua Dam) provides flatwater paddling and fishing access in the heart of the national forest
Appalachian Ridge
Pennsylvania's Ridge and Valley Province creates a series of long parallel ridges with excellent AT hiking and the 50-mile standing stone Trail
Appalachian Trail
The AT crosses 229 miles through Pennsylvania, including the infamously rocky stretch through the Cumberland Valley
Elk Country
Pennsylvania's Elk County and the surrounding forest contain the largest free-roaming elk herd east of the Mississippi, with over 1,000 animals
State Forests
Pennsylvania's 2.2 million acres of state forest land, the Elk State Forest and Tioga State Forest in particular, offer remote backcountry comparable to the national forest
When to Visit
April through June and September through November. The Allegheny Plateau is accessible year-round but snow and ice are common from November through March. Rattlesnake season (May through September) requires attention on rocky ridge trails.
Top Activities
Gateway Cities
Warren
Northwest Pennsylvania city adjacent to Allegheny National Forest, with the Allegheny Reservoir, Tionesta old-growth area, and the Allegheny River Trail nearby.
Wellsboro
Gateway to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and Tioga State Forest, serving visitors to the Pine Creek Gorge and the Black Forest Trail.
Did You Know?
Allegheny National Forest is the only national forest in Pennsylvania, established in 1923 on cutover timber land that has since regenerated into significant forest.
Pennsylvania's AT hikers know the state for its notoriously rocky trail tread, earning the nickname 'Rocksylvania' among thru-hikers.
The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon (Pine Creek Gorge) drops 1,000 ft over 47 miles through Tioga State Forest, one of the most dramatic landscapes in the East.
The Kinzua Bridge in Allegheny National Forest was destroyed by a tornado in 2003, and the fallen towers have been preserved as a striking exhibit.
Pennsylvania has the highest population of white-tailed deer in the country, at an estimated 1.5 million animals across the state.