Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Allegheny National Forest officials have issued an update on the closing of a section of the Allegheny Snowmobile Loop. The section between Westline and The Willows restaurant is closed due to a right-of-way issue with a private landowner. The issue has not been resolved so that section of the trail will remain closed for the rest of the winter season. Bradford District Ranger Tony Scarndina says the forest service is currently working with the snowmobile community and other partners to find a solution, and he is optimistic that the issue will be resolved for next year’s snowmobile season.

The Allegheny National Forest (NF) has approved the Rimrock Trail Project, which will create a low-impact, non-motorized interpretive hiking trail between Kinzua Beach and Rimrock Overlook. In addition, the trail will include an information kiosk at Kinzua Beach, a handicap accessible observation deck near Kinzua Beach, and an interpretive tree house that will be flush with the earth’s surface below the Rimrock Overlook. District Ranger Anthony Scardina stated, “I am pleased to be moving forward with this project, which was presented as a citizens’ proposal to the Forest Service through the efforts of the Pennsylvania Kinzua Pathways and designed by students and teachers through the Warren County Career Center. This project is a great example of community involvement, and its benefit to the area was made apparent by the positive comments received from the public.” Implementation of the project will begin immediately, and it is expected that the trail will be open May 28, 2010, for Memo...

WARREN – The Allegheny National Forest wishes to clarify the current situation at the Birdsall Edey Girl Scout Camp. Forest officials announced that the Camp remains open as they work in cooperation with the Girl Scout Council on concerns regarding the condition of some facilities on site. Forest Supervisor Leanne Marten and Bradford District Ranger Tony Scardina expressed that, “the Council and the Forest Service agreed that we must ensure the health and safety of the caretakers, girl scouts, and boy scouts that utilize the site. As a result, a few buildings of concern on the site will not be used as we work with the Council on how to resolve these issues. Although we do not view many of these problems as imminent or absolute health and safety hazards, the potential health and safety issues were great enough to warrant precautionary measures.” The Forest Service and the Girl Scout Council will meet in the near future to continue working together on these matters.

The US Forest Service has decided to cancel the Willow Creek ATV Trail Expansion Project. The project would have added between 24 and 43 miles of new trail at a cost of about $40,000 per mile. Bradford District Ranger Tony Scardina recommended the cancellation saying, “It is important to focus on the maintenance and improvement of the recreation facilities and trails that we currently have." Forest Supervisor Leanne Marten added that expanding the trail at this time would not be responsible use of public funds.