Allegheny National Forest Chapter - North Country Trail Association

Southern boundary of the Allegheny National Forest to the Pennsylvania/New York state line

Throughout the year there are many opportunities to hike the NCT or get involved in activities with other Allegheny National Forest (ANF) Chapter members. You can enjoy the Trail with friends and family, or join a guided hike. With almost 100 miles of the North Country Trail in the ANF, there are always new places to explore. Each member can bring their own skills and interests in helping to maintain trail or promote trail events. Trail work days are held once or twice a month on weekends. On those days members enjoy time together accomplishing bigger projects. Members can volunteer to maintain a section of trail, or get involved with planning and promoting the Trail and Chapter events. Our Chapter sponsors the Allegheny 100 Hiking Challenge each June. The A-100 event challenges hikers to traverse 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles in 50 hours. Other Chapter events include monthly hikes, the NCNST Day celebration in September and a National Trails Day event in June. For those interested in geocaching, there are over 100 caches placed along the Trail through the ANF, approximately one per mile. A pathtag is awarded for bagging 50 caches. Finally, a completion patch is awarded by the NCTA ANF Chapter for logging all all NCT miles in the ANF. See a list of section completers here.

ANF Completion Patch

The Pennsylvania Trail Council of the NCTA encourages everyone to get out and enjoy the beauty of the North Country Trail in the Keystone State, and is sponsoring a Hike 50 Challenge in 2022. A commemorative patch and certificate of completion are available to those who hike 50 miles on the NCT in the state during the calendar year. There is not a unique miles requirement, nor do participants need to hike in the different NCTA Chapter’s ranges to qualify for this award. (Out-and-backs and multiple hikes on the same mile of Trail will qualify for the award!) Please use #PAHike50 to share your adventures on social media. When finished, send along a photo or two and fill out the PA Hike 50 Completion Form.

Key Data

Chapter Trail Section

The Trail passes through approximately 97 miles of the ANF as it travels across the Allegheny Plateau. Its northern terminus is the PA/NY border and its southern terminus is the ANF border, 3 miles north of Route 66. This section has much to offer: Scenic views of the Allegheny reservoir, beautiful hemlock valleys, rock cities, fascinating evidence of past and present logging and oil industries, and many opportunities to view wildlife, including bear, deer, coyote, fishers, bobcats, songbirds, grouse and eagles. Varied habitats and terrain, along with frequent camping sites, make the NCT through the ANF a great destination for a day hike or a backpacking trip.

There are many special places along the ANF section. In Tracy Ridge, the Trail runs on the eastern side of the Allegheny Reservoir, allowing for many scenic views and much solitude. The Trail passes through the Tionesta Scenic Area where remnants can be found of an old growth forest that was mostly destroyed by a tornado in 1985. The Trail now highlights the rebirth of this forest. Rock cities dot the terrain on many of the ridgelines. The most scenic of these are found in the popular Minister Creek valley.

Connect and Get Involved

Resources

Use the Report Trail Condition form to alert NCTA and the Chapter to poor trail conditions. Visit the Trail Alerts page while planning your adventure.

Suggested Hikes

Solitude: 23.3 miles. Route 346 at Willow Bay (N 41° 59.075’ W 078° 54.145’) to Route 321 at Chapel Bay (N 41° 48.684’ W 078° 52.295’). This section follows the eastern side of the Allegheny Reservoir allowing for many scenic views and varied terrain. The hiker passes through rock cities and lovely hemlock lined creek valleys. The Tracy Ridge area is a large roadless tract allowing for solitude and tranquility. This area also offers the opportunity to hike a loop by connecting to the Tracy Ridge (Allegheny National Forest) trails. Great camping is found along the shore of the lake at Tracy Run, Johnnycake Run and Handsome Lake campground. Beautiful camping spots and the Hammond Run Shelter are also located farther south along Sugar Run, Hammond Run and Chappel Bay’s Hemlock Run.

Rebirth: 22.6 miles. Route 321 at Red Bridge (N 41° 45.972’ W 078° 52.657’) to Route 666 at Henrys Mills (N41°38.158’ W 079° 02.569’). This section begins with a climb to a meadow holding sweeping view of the Kinzua Arm of the reservoir. It continues across Gibbs Hill to the Gibbs Spring shelter about 1 mile north of Route 6. After crossing Route 6, the Trail passes through beautiful forest and interesting rock formations to the Tionesta Scenic Area. The remnants of this old growth forest were mostly destroyed by a tornado in 1985 and the Trail highlights the rebirth of the forest. The Trail continues through Cherry Run with a large rock city near its headwaters and great camping at the rock city, at the Cherry Run Shelter and at its junction with the East Branch of the Tionesta Creek. The last segment of Trail shows fascinating evidence of past and present oil and gas industries, including the foundation of a rod house just before the stunning switchback leading down into Henrys Mills.

Valleys: 15.7 miles. Route 666 at Henrys Mills (N 41°38.158’ W 079° 02.569’) to Forest Road 116 (N41°40.274’ W 079° 13.584’). The Trail switchbacks up to an old railroad grade that was used in the early 1900s to transport timber to sawmills. An old rail car can be seen abandoned alongside the trail. Evidence of early equipment used for oil pumping is also visible here. Rolling hills take you through the scenic Upper Sheriff, Lower Sheriff, Fool’s Creek and Minister Creek valleys. A shelter is located on the Upper Sheriff and great camping is also found at the Lower Sheriff and Minister Creek valleys. Minister Creek valley, a proposed wilderness area, is a popular hiking destination with many beautiful rock cities.

Stidge: 14.0 miles. Forest Road 116 (N 41°40.274’ W 079° 13.584’) to Route 666 Tionesta Bridge (N 41° 32.697’ W 79° 15.323’). This section contains the least elevation change along the NCT in the ANF, but is among the most beautiful. It follows scenic hemlock lined creek valleys, passes over a tributary of Coalbed Run on the famous “stidge” (staircase bridge) and has a gushing spring, located on a 0.1-mile connector trail. The Queen Creek shelter is located 1.5 miles south of Forest Road 116. Other camping is located along Coalbed Run, Beaver Run and East Fork. There is an Army Corps of Engineers Campground at the Tionesta Creek Bridge.

Beaver: 18.4 miles. Route 666 Tionesta Bridge (N 41° 32.697’ W 79° 15.323’) to Route 66 (N 41° 25.153’ W 79° 12.635’). This section starts by following Forest Road 127 for about a mile to another camping area along the Branch Creek. It then goes through a young forest regrowing since the 1985 tornado. Here it passes through a beautiful rock city. Next the Trail parallels Four Mile Run before climbing over the ridge into Guiton Run. Several spots offer views of the Salmon Creek valley. The picturesque Little Salmon Creek valley shows evidence of past beaver activity and nice camping by the bridge. Other camping is located in the Four Mile valley and at the Amsler Spring shelter. After the shelter, the Trail crosses up and into the scenic Coon Creek valley and passes through State Game Lands #24 before arriving at the Route 66 trailhead.

Chapter Maps and Guidance

Additional Local Resources

Shuttle services, Allegheny Outfitters Outdoor Store
U.S. Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest (Offices in Warren, Bradford, and Marienville)
Chapman’s Dam State Park
Geocaching
Warren County Visitors Bureau
Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry
Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau
Kane Area Development Center
Tionesta
Marienville
Bob’s Trading Post (and restaurant), Kane
Cougar Bob’s Kellettville Tavern (and restaurant), Tionesta
Paul's Trading Post, Kane