SABINSVILLE, PA — Pennsylvania has approved seven new ATV connector routes in Tioga County, expanding the Northcentral Regional ATV Trail system by 7.5 miles as state officials seek to strengthen outdoor recreation tourism and improve access between trail segments and nearby communities.
The new routes, announced Thursday by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, were approved under a recently established process that allows municipalities and regional trail organizations to request ATV route designations on state roadways.
The expansion connects portions of the Northcentral Regional ATV Trail system, which reopened for the 2026 riding season on May 22 and has become a significant tourism driver in north-central Pennsylvania.
A 2024 economic impact study found the trail system generated $13.1 million in economic activity across Potter and Tioga counties in 2023, up from $10.4 million the previous year.
PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary Larry Shifflet said the route designation process is intended to improve trail connectivity while directing riders toward local businesses and communities.
“We are pleased to see this approach already delivering results through the expansion of the ATV Connector Routes, making it easier to support local businesses safely while folks are enjoying the outdoors,” Shifflet said.
The newly designated routes are located in Brookfield, Clymer, and Westfield townships and include portions of Route 49, Route 249, Route 349, and California Road. State officials said the additions will help link existing trail segments and expand access across the regional network.
The applications were developed in coordination with the Northcentral Regional ATV Trail Council of Governments, a voluntary organization representing municipalities in Clinton, Lycoming, Potter, and Tioga counties.
ATV use on the connector routes is limited to daylight hours and only during the riding season established by DCNR, which runs from the Friday before Memorial Day through the last Sunday in September.
DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said the expansion is part of a broader effort to increase ATV access while supporting rural economies that rely on outdoor recreation spending.
The Tioga County trail network now offers more than 105 miles of riding opportunities and connections across eight municipalities, according to county officials.
Tioga County Commissioner Marc Rice said the project was made possible through coordination among local governments, state agencies, businesses, and community organizations.
The route expansion comes as Pennsylvania continues investing in outdoor recreation infrastructure. State officials said the outdoor recreation sector contributes $20.4 billion annually to Pennsylvania’s economy, supports approximately 177,000 jobs, and generated $9.5 billion in wages in 2024.
The Shapiro administration said it plans to invest $1.4 million in 2026 to expand ATV access and improve trail infrastructure statewide. Pennsylvania currently has more than 288,000 registered ATVs.
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