Overview
The North Country National Scenic Trail is one of the great long trails of the eastern United States: 4,800 miles from North Dakota to Vermont, connecting boreal forest and Great Lakes shoreline and Appalachian hardwood country in a single continuous route. The trail's 95-mile passage through Allegheny National Forest is among its most scenic stretches, and the Kellettville Section offers 8 miles of that passage in an accessible day-hike format.
The Kellettville area sits in the southern Allegheny, in Forest County, one of the least populated counties in Pennsylvania, with more acres of public forest than residents. The landscape here is classic Allegheny Plateau: hemlock ravines, rolling hardwood ridges, and the lingering presence of Pennsylvania's oil heritage (this region was the heart of the first American oil boom in the 1860s, and active pump jacks still work the land in places near the trail corridor).
No permit required. Dogs welcome on leash. Car shuttle recommended for one-way hiking; out-and-back from either end is an alternative.
The Route
Miles 0 to 2.0: Kellettville to the first ravine. The blue diamond blazes of the NCT are your guide throughout. From the Kellettville Road trailhead, the trail moves north through a mix of second-growth hardwood and hemlock forest, with the character of an old farm lane in places, wide, slightly sunken, with a corridor of light overhead. Oil heritage appears early: an old derrick foundation, a capped well head, and occasionally a still-active pump jack within sight or sound of the trail. This is working landscape history, and the NCT's passage through it is one of the trail's more distinctive qualities in this section.
The first hemlock ravine appears around mile 2.0, where a small tributary of Tionesta Creek has cut a narrow, V-shaped valley into the plateau. The trail descends into the ravine on a graded path, crosses the stream on a footlog, and climbs back out on the opposite side.
Miles 2.0 to 5.0: The plateau traverse. The middle section alternates between open hardwood ridgetops and hemlock-filled hollows, crossing several small drainages and passing through the most remote terrain on this section of the NCT. The trail blazes are consistent and clear; stay on the blue diamonds. Navigation is straightforward in leaf-off conditions but requires some attention in summer when the trail can be obscured by vegetation in the wet sections.
Wildlife is frequently encountered in this section. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, and ruffed grouse are common. Black bears are present in Forest County; make noise while hiking and store food properly if camping.
Miles 5.0 to 8.0: Approach to the Hickory Creek area. The northern end of the Kellettville Section approaches the Hickory Creek Wilderness boundary, where a connector trail provides access to the Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail (12 miles, moderate loop). The junction is marked with NCT signs. Continuing north on the NCT leads eventually toward Hearts Content Road and the Hearts Content Scenic Area.
The northern endpoint trailhead on Kellettville Road (or its northern connector road, depending on the exact route taken) is the car shuttle pickup point. Confirm endpoint parking with current USFS Allegheny National Forest maps before planning a shuttle.
When to Hike
May and June are the best months for full creek flow and wildflower coverage in the ravine sections. The hemlock ravines are particularly beautiful in May when the forest floor is carpeted with spring ephemerals. Blackflies are present in May; insect repellent helps.
July and August: The hemlock canopy keeps the ravine sections significantly cooler than the open ridges. A summer hike on the NCT in Allegheny tends to be more comfortable than on exposed ridgeline trails in other forests. Bring plenty of water and mosquito repellent for the creek-adjacent sections.
September and October: Excellent fall color on the hardwood ridges. October is the sweet spot: leaf color peaks, insects are gone, and deer activity increases ahead of hunting season. Check Pennsylvania hunting season dates if hiking in late October through November; blaze orange is strongly recommended during firearm deer season.
Winter: The NCT in Allegheny is a capable snowshoe route when snow covers the plateau. The trail is not maintained for winter use, and navigation with obscured blazes requires experience. Go with a partner and carry a map.
What to Bring
Point-to-point hikes require more logistical preparation than loops. Arrange your car shuttle before starting, and make sure both drivers have a clear meeting point. A downloaded topo map (the NCT Association produces excellent paper maps of the Allegheny section, and Gaia GPS has the full NCT route) is important for navigation.
Many hikers carry 1.5 to 2 liters of water for this 8-mile section. Creek water is available in the ravine sections but should be filtered or treated before drinking. The checking conditions guide covers USFS alert resources for fire restrictions and creek conditions.
Trailhead Access
Kellettville is a small village on PA-666 in Forest County, accessible from US-62 south from Tionesta or from the Marienville area via forest roads. The NCT trailhead is on Kellettville Road near the village. Cell service is absent throughout Forest County; plan your navigation before leaving the main highway.
From Tionesta: head south on PA-62, then west on PA-666 toward Kellettville. From Marienville: head north on forest roads toward Kellettville (confirm current road conditions with USFS Allegheny maps).
Nearby
The Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail (12 miles, moderate) connects at the northern end of this section and is the natural extension for a multi-day NCT backpacking trip in the southern Allegheny. The Tionesta Creek Trail (4 miles, easy) provides a flat, easy complement to the NCT's rolling terrain. Learn more about Leave No Trace principles and bear canister requirements if planning an overnight trip in the wilderness sections.