PennDOT, DCNR Announce First Designated Public Road ATV Route In Tioga County; Designation Process Now Open

On September 5, Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll and Pennsylvania State Forester Seth Cassell announced the first designated All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Route in the Shapiro Administration’s latest action to boost rural economies and the Commonwealth’s $19 billion outdoor recreation industry.

Route 49 in the Borough of Westfield, Tioga County is the first route approved under a new process where municipalities or regional organizations that manage trail networks can request an ATV route designation from PennDOT.

“Governor Shapiro’s focus on Pennsylvania’s economy, travel safety, and supporting Pennsylvanians’ freedom were drivers in PennDOT’s decision to create this collaborative process,” Secretary Carroll said. “Building on existing ATV trail successes, we’ve developed a way for ATV riders to travel safely and efficiently while supporting our rural economies. I look forward to supporting more growth in other communities across the Commonwealth.”

Proposed routes cannot be an interstate or multi-lane highway and must connect ATV trails or other state, local, or the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources forest roads open to ATVs, or business destinations for ATV traffic. 

PennDOT then conducts a Traffic and Engineering Study to evaluate various route safety factors such as traffic volume, speed limits, and lane widths. 

The new process was implemented following DCNR’s regional ATV trail network pilot in northcentral Pennsylvania.

The 3,700-foot section of Route 49 connects previously designated ATV routes to provide access to the businesses along Route 49 in Westfield Borough. 

Signs are in place along this route to inform ATV riders and the public that ATVs are permitted to travel on the roadway.

ATVs are permitted to operate on this section of roadway during daylight hours only and limited to the Northcentral Regional ATV Trail riding season established by DCNR.

The riding season begins the Friday prior to Memorial Day and ends on the last Sunday in September each year.

“This project is a great example of the power of collaboration between state agencies, local communities, and outdoor recreation advocates,” said Cassell, who also serves as the director of DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry. “By working together, we’re expanding safe and sustainable ATV access that helps more Pennsylvanians connect with nature, while supporting rural economies and small businesses that depend on outdoor recreation.”

Now in its second full year, the trail has quickly become one of Pennsylvania’s premier outdoor recreation destinations. 

A recent study found the trail system generated $13.1 million in economic impact for Potter and Tioga counties in 2023 — up from $10.4 million the previous year.

Potter and Tioga counties are a part of the Pennsylvania Wilds, a 13-county conservation landscape aimed at revitalizing rural communities through sustainable tourism development – all while inspiring a stewardship ethic in residents and visitors. 

The Pennsylvania Wilds spans more than 2 million acres, which is comparable to Yellowstone National Park and offers:

-- Tremendous outdoor adventures

-- Abundant wildlife

-- Hundreds of miles of land and water trails

-- Rich lumber and oil history

-- Charming small towns

-- Authentic experiences

The Shapiro Administration recently announced $2.1 million in new investments to expand and improve all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and snowmobile trails and facilities across Pennsylvania. 

Click Here for the PennDOT/DCNR announcement.

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

  For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website.

Related Articles This Week:

-- DCNR Releases Updated Land & Water Trail Network Strategic Plan  [PaEN]

-- PennDOT, DCNR Announce First Designated Public Road ATV Route In Tioga County; Designation Process Now Open  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Opens Hunting Opportunities, Deer Management Assistance Permits Now On Sale

-- DCNR Grants News: Pine Creek Rail Trail Gets Closer To Wellsboro; ATV/Snowmobile Grants; New Trail Plan Released; Mini-Grant Program Opening 

-- PRPS People, Parks & Community Foundation Announces $112,000 In 2025 Grant Awards  [PaEN]

-- PA Turnpike Celebrates Opening Of Sideling Hill Trailhead In Fulton County Sept. 20; Keystone Trails Assn. Offers Buchanan State Forest Guided Hike  [PaEN]   

-- PA Environmental Council Now Accepting Applications For PA Water Trail Mini-Grants; Webinar Sept. 15  [PaEN]  ​

-- Susquehanna Greenway Partnership Now Accepting Mini-Grant Applications; Oct. 1 Webinar  [PaEN] 

-- Natural Lands Now Accepting Applications For PECO Green Region Grant Program  [PaEN]

-- PA Environmental Council In Case You Missed It In August Now Available  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania Sept. 8 to Nov. 3 

-- Pennsylvania Firefly Festival Records One Of Best Firefly Summers In Many Years  [PaEN] 

-- Appalachian Regional Commission POWER (Workforce & Economic Revitalization) Grant Letters Of Intent Due Sept. 12 

NewsClips:

-- Morning Call: Plan To Fill A D&L Trail Gap In Heart Of Lehigh Valley Gets $1.8 Million Boost  

-- TribLive: Turtle Creek Connector Trail Moves Into Design Phase In Allegheny County

-- Morning Call: Plan To Fill A D&L Trail Gap In Heart Of Lehigh Valley Gets $1.8 Million Boost  

-- Altoona Mirror: Sept. 20 Event To Showcase Regional Trails In Indiana, Cambria Counties

-- WITF/LancasterOnline: Do Cars Have To Yield To Pedestrians At PA Rail Trail Crossings?  [Spoiler - No]

-- WHYY: Philadelphia Parks, Fairmount Park Conservancy Fall Programs Guide Available

-- Cobbs Creek Park Ambassadors Summer Festival Sept. 6 Whitby Park, Philadelphia 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: US Forest Service Repeal Of ‘Roadless Rule’ Would Open 400,000 Acres in Virginia And Pennsylvania To Timber Harvesting

-- WESA: President’s Administration Wants To End Roadless Rule In US Forests, Including Allegheny National Forest In PA

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: America’s Wilderness Is Priceless; Rescinding The  Roadless Rule Would Deny The Principle That Some Things Are Good In Themselves, More Important Than Short-Term Economic Gains 

-- LancasterOnline: Conestoga River Dam Repair Project Work Planned; Public Advised to Avoid Area

-- WTAE: 21-Year-Old Woman Killed After ATV Crashed On Private Property In Armstrong County

-- Williamsport Sun: Lycoming County Man Critically Injured In ATV Crash On Public Road

[Posted: September 5, 2025]  PA Environment Digest