Allegheny National Forest proposes opening up hiking trails to Mountain Biking

Photo by Bryan Hanson

Introducing the Tracy Ridge shared-use trail project

“The U.S. Forest Service has proposed allowing mountain biking on 12.5 of 34 miles of hiking-only trails in the forest’s 9,700-acre Tracy Ridge area, located in the northern end of the forest, along the east side of the Allegheny Reservoir and just south of the Pennsylvania-New York state line” in the Allegheny National Forest (ANF). The proposal seeks to address trail maintenance needs and to provide additional high-quality mountain bike opportunities, while working with local mountain bike groups who will be tasked with helping to maintain and manage the trails.

“The legal notice for the proposed Tracy Ridge shared-use trail project was published Monday, starting a 30-day public comment period. ANF supervisor Sherry Tune will then decide whether to proceed with the project, which would require an amendment of the forest’s 2007 management plan.” Click here for the full story on the project.

Did you know? It was only last year that City Council legalized riding bicycles on wooded trails in City-owned parks!

Comment on the Project

If you would like to provide your thoughts on the trail share proposal you must mail, call in, or e-mail your comments by midnight, Jan. 26.

Mail your written comments: Send your letter to “Tracy Ridge Project,” USDA Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger District, Attention: Rich Hatfield, 29 Forest Service Drive, Bradford, PA 16701.

Phone in your comments: Call 814-363-6098, Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and by fax at 814-362-2761.

Email comments: E-mail comments-eastern-allegheny-bradford@fs.fed.us, and have “Tracy Ridge Project” in the subject line, your full name, and mailing address in one of the following formats: e-mail message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc).