ATV Trail Connector Pilot Area Opening In PA This Month

HARRISBURG, PA — An ATV Regional Trail Connector opening in Pennsylvania’s north central region will provide opportunities for riders to traverse miles of roads and trails open to all-terrain vehicles. The area will be open July 16 - Sept. 26 this year, and will re-open Memorial Day Weekend of 2022.

This pilot program by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will connect ATV trails in Potter and Tioga counties, as a response to increased interest in ATVs and in an effort to contribute to local economies. The DCNR recently lifted a moratorium on new ATV trails in the state that had been in place since 2003.

“We recognize the need to be responsible stewards of the state forest lands and DCNR will be looking closely at the impacts of increased use in the pilot area,” said DCNR Parks and Forestry Deputy Secretary John Norbeck.

Officials hope the connector pilot program will not only enhance the experience of ATV riders, but stimulate local businesses.

“Through this pilot program, we are hopeful to determine the feasibility of strategically connecting regional riding opportunities while also serving the larger community,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said.

This ATV Regional Trail Connector pilot program is in response to growing ATV purchases, registrations, and public demand for increased riding opportunities in Pennsylvania. The pilot was developed in collaboration with public and private partners, the DCNR said, to respond to this demand while also affirming the value of state forests.

To gauge the impact of the ATV pilot, the Bureau of Forestry will implement a monitoring program to evaluate the trail’s impact on local communities, ecological values, other state forest users and recreational values, Bureau of Forestry operations, staffing and law enforcement capacity, public safety, and adjacent public lands and natural resources.

The monitoring program will also evaluate the effectiveness of the special permit, the adequacy of funding for continued operation of the trial, and the need for additional education, outreach, and trail marketing.

In addition to this year’s season, officials expect to reopen the pilot program on the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend in 2022 and to stay open for the full DCNR summer trail riding season. This also incorporates a planned connection to the Tiadaghton State Forest and the Haneyville ATV Trail System in Lycoming and Clinton counties.

The categorization of trail routes now open to ATVS in the Connector program are as follows:

• 208 miles of township roads (currently designated open to ATVs)
• 11.8 miles of PennDOT roads (previously not designated open to ATVs)
• 11.7 miles of state forest roads (previously not designated open to ATVs)
• 1.93 miles of state forest snowmobile trails (previously not designated open to ATVs)
• 45.5 miles of existing state forest ATV trails (previously designated open to ATVs)

ATV riders will need to purchase a Regional ATV Connector Pass permit to use the designated PennDOT and State Forest ATV Connector Roads, the cost of which will serve to offset implementation and management of the program.

Permits for the remainder of the 2021 season will cost $20 for Pennsylvania-registered ATVs and $30 for non-Pennsylvania-registered ATVS. Full 2022 season permits will cost $40 for Pennsylvania registered ATVs and $60 for non-Pennsylvania registered ATVs.

Permits are available for in-person sales at the Tiadaghton, Susquehannock or Tioga State Forest district offices from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturdays.

Permit applications can also be sent by mail to Penn Nursery, 137 Penn Nursery Road, Spring Mills, Pennsylvania 16875. Permits will be processed according to the date they are received, and will be postmarked within three to five business days of receipt.

DCNR will be gathering public input throughout the two-year trail period via webinars, surveys, comment cards, public meetings and advisory committees. They encourage feedback by email at RA-NR-ATV-Pilot@pa.gov, and plan to publish a report on the pilot project for stakeholder input and further evaluation by December 2023.

Read more about the ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot on their website.