Outdoor Recreation in Johnsonburg / Wilcox

Allegheny National Forest
Camping reservations
1-877-444-6777
Ranger Station
222 Liberty St., Warren. (814) 723-5150
More than a half-million acres of outdoor recreation! Includes a marina, 6 boat launches, 6 canoe access sites, a marina, 11 picnic areas, 4 beaches, and more than 600 camp sites.

The 12,080-acre Allegheny Reservoir is 27 miles long with 90 miles of shoreline. Segments of the Allegheny and Clarion Rivers have been designated as National Wild and Scenic rivers. Hickory Creek and Allegheny Islands are nationally designated wilderness areas.

Bendigo State Park
Glen Hazel Rd., Johnsonburg
(814) 965-2646
Small 20-acre park with peace & tranquility. Located in a valley on the bank of the East Branch of the Clarion River. Picnic area, stocked trout stream & swimming pool.

Photo of East Branch Dam

East Branch Lake
East of Wilcox. US Army Corps of Engineers.
(814) 965-2065
41 campsites for trailers & tents. Picnic area, Shady Ridge Nature Trail, fishing and unlimited horsepower boating. Two boat launches.

Elk State Park
8 miles W of Wilcox on State Rt. 1006.
(814) 965-2646
Main attraction is the 1,160-acre East Branch Lake. Unlimited horsepower boating. The lake and streams are stocked with both warm & cold water species of fish.

Picnic areas, camping, hunting, fishing, ice fishing and iceboating.

Geocaching
Treasure Hunting In The 21st Century
J. R. R. Tolkien said ‘Not all those who wander are lost.’ And lots of folks have been having a great time wandering around the Great Outdoors Region lately because of the newest craze called Geocaching.

For those of you new this type of outdoor adventure, Geocaching is a treasure hunt for the 21st century. Armed with a GPS receiver (Global Positioning System), a set of coordinates tells you the location of a “cache.” A GPS unit is an electronic device that can determine your approximate location on the planet. Coordinates are normally given in Longitude and Latitude. A typical cache is most likely a strong box that can contain almost anything like small toys, cd’s, or trinkets hidden by other geocachers. All caches contain a log to record your accomplishment. Some even have a disposable camera, so you can take your picture and leave it so the owner of the cache can record it.

Most cache’s have a difficulty rating associated with them. Caches in the Wilds of Pennsylvania range from easy to very difficult.

The ultimate geocaching adventure would have you trekking through some of the most beautiful woodlands in the nation. Have your adventures during the day and stay overnight in one of our cabins, campgrounds, B&B’s or hotels.

Log on to geocaching.com website, type in the zip code of the area you want to visit and it will list all caches in the area.
Some zip codes for the Great Outdoors region include:

Benezette 15821

Johnsonburg 15845

Ridgway 15853

St Marys 15857

Hiking/Mountain Bike Trails

Biking in the Great Outdoors

Bicycling continues to ride on a crest of popularity that makes it one of Western Pennsylvania’s most popular individual and family recreational activities. The bike trails found in our state parks and other areas in the Great Outdoors feature a variety of lengths, terrain and scenic views. An added bonus is that you can take advantage of the many resources, facilities and activities found within each park.

Bikers of all skill levels will find something to enjoy on Pennsylvania trails. With a terrain that ranges from steep and challenging to gentle and pleasant, Western Pennsylvania is a biker's paradise.

Pennsylvania is also firmly committed to the "Rails-to-Trails" concept. Over 800 miles of former railroad rights-of-way have been converted to rail-trails for biking and hiking throughout the state, with more on the way. For even more on Pennsylvania's biking trails, visit www.pedaling.com to search for trails in Western Pennsylvania.

While in the Johnsonburg / Wilcox region you can enjoy the Twin Lakes Trail, which is 14 miles on Rt. 321 northwest of Wilcox.

Twin Lakes Recreation Area
8 miles SE of Kane, Rt. 321 to Forest Rd. 191
Recommended RV and trailer camping no more than 28' long and 10' tall due to space restrictions and railroad underpass. Features 50 family campsites with picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad. Some electric sites. Modern toilets and shower houses, dump station and playgrounds. Two group tenting areas are also available.

Swimming beach, bathhouse, fishing piers, picnic tables, pavilions, playground and hiking trails around the lake are located in the day use area.