CLEARFIELD, PA — Pennsylvania added six ATV connector routes in Elk and Potter counties Wednesday, expanding two regional trail networks as the state seeks to channel growing outdoor recreation activity into rural communities and businesses.
The routes connect with the Elk County Trail of Dreams and Northcentral Regional ATV Trail and were approved through a new Pennsylvania Department of Transportation process allowing municipalities and regional trail organizations to seek ATV designations for public roads.
Five of the routes are in or connect with Fox Township, Elk County. They include South Kersey Road (Route 2007) between Boone Mountain Road and Chicken Hill Road and Irishtown Road (Route 2007) between Old Shawmut Grade Road and Brown’s Road.
The Elk County additions also include Brandy Camp Road (Route 2011) between Route 219 in Horton Township and Cuneo Road in Fox Township; Toby Road (Route 2003) between Kylers Corner Road and Hogback Road; and all of Kylers Corner Road (Route 2013) in Fox Township.
In Potter County, the designation covers Branch Road (Route 144) between Button Hollow Road in West Branch Township and Bridge Street in Galeton Borough, connecting riders with the Northcentral Regional ATV Trail.
PennDOT said it evaluates proposed connector routes using safety, traffic volume, crash history, posted speed limits and roadway characteristics. The designations are intended to close gaps between portions of larger regional trail systems rather than establish standalone riding areas.
ATVs may use designated connector roads only during daylight hours and during the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ riding season, which runs from the Friday before Memorial Day through the last Sunday in September.
“PennDOT developed a way to partner with local governments to help riders travel safely and efficiently while they support our rural economies,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said.
The state said more than 278,000 ATVs are actively registered in Pennsylvania. DCNR invested $1.4 million in 2026 to expand ATV access and improve trail infrastructure statewide.
The connector expansion comes as Pennsylvania places greater economic emphasis on outdoor recreation. The industry reached $20.4 billion in 2024 after growing by $1.5 billion that year, according to figures provided by the administration.
Outdoor recreation supports approximately 177,000 jobs and generates $9.5 billion in wages statewide, according to the administration. It said the industry has added $3.5 billion and about 12,000 jobs during Gov. Josh Shapiro’s tenure.
Pennsylvania’s recreation network includes 6,500 local parks, including 125 state parks, more than 14,000 miles of trails and over 84,000 miles of waterways.
DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said expanding ATV access is intended to support rural communities and businesses while balancing recreational use with the agency’s conservation responsibilities.
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