Things to do nearAllegheny National Forest

Allegheny National Forest covers more than 500,000 acres across four Pennsylvania counties, making it the only national forest in the state. The land was heavily logged in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and its recovery over the following decades stands as a remarkable story of ecological renewal. Today the forest is home to one of the largest concentrations of wild black cherry timber in the world, alongside white ash, red maple, and American beech.

Hikers have access to more than 600 miles of trails, ranging from easy riverside walks to rugged ridge routes along the North Country National Scenic Trail. The Allegheny Reservoir stretches through the northern reaches of the forest, offering opportunities for boat tours, kayaking, and swimming along its wooded shoreline. Nearby, East Branch Clarion River Lake provides a quieter setting for fishing and paddling away from the main reservoir crowds.

Camping options run from developed sites with facilities to remote primitive areas deep in the backcountry. The forest also hosts a network of snowmobile and cross-country ski trails that bring a different kind of visitor through the winter months. Allegheny National Forest is a place that reveals its character slowly, and that patience is exactly what makes it worth the trip.