Pennsylvania Builds 53 Miles New Trails
The Rothrock Trail Alliance has launched construction on 53 miles of new multi-use, singletrack, natural-surface trail in Centre County. Public meetings were recently held to gather feedback and foster community involvement in trail planning. The initiative will significantly expand hiking, biking, and trail running options with emphasis on sustainable, low-impact recreation.
- The project is a multi-phase effort, with the first 7.5 miles connecting Musser Gap to Pine Swamp Road already completed and open to the public as of July 2025. - Funding for the initial phases includes a $365,700 grant from the Recreational Trails Program for the first 8 miles and a $500,000 grant from the state's Community Conservation Partnerships Program for the subsequent 11 miles. - This initiative represents a significant public-private partnership, with the Rothrock Trail Alliance, a committee of the ClearWater Conservancy, collaborating with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). - The overall vision is to create a 53-mile loop system of sustainable trails that will connect to the existing hundreds of miles of trails within Rothrock State Forest. - Key connections planned in future phases include linking the Hubler Gap area to Whipple Dam State Park. - Applied Trails Research, an outdoor recreation firm, was contracted to professionally design the trail system, focusing on sustainability and accommodating shared use by hikers, bikers, and equestrians. - The project aims to enhance recreational opportunities by adding more beginner and family-friendly terrain to the state forest's trail network. - Economic benefits are a key motivator for such projects; outdoor recreation contributes an estimated $17 billion to Pennsylvania's economy annually.
