Pennsylvania’s Rock Run Recreation Area offers off-roading fun
The Rock Run Recreation Area in west-central Pennsylvania offers more than 140 miles of trails for a weekend of off-road riding fun.
The trails offer a lot of diversity and great riding in the scenic Allegheny Mountains, past mining activity and different areas of vegetation. You can be riding in a dark, dense, cool forest of tall trees then stop at one of many streams to relax and even stop to listen to a waterfall.
The area was originally heavily mined for coal and clay. The old remains of some of the buildings, air shafts and other mining-related activities can be visited if you take time to look around.
You can take a trail that leads through a large granite boulder field left behind from the coal mining operations that closed down years ago. The views are great. Further down the trail is a designated mud challenge pit enjoyed by ATV riders. All trails are two-way trails.
A one-day pass is $20 Friday through Sunday, $15 Wednesday or Thursday. For children younger than 12, a one-day pass any day is $15.
A two-day pass is $35, three-day pass $50, four-day pass $65 and five-day pass $80. A season pass is $135, and a family season pass is $290.
The recreation area is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The days are: from April to May Friday, Saturday and Sunday; from June to September Wednesday to Sunday; and in October Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The park is also open the following Mondays for 2021: May 31, July 5 and Sept. 6.
OHVs must be trailered in and trailered out. There is no admission after park hours so be sure to arrive during park hours.
Rock Run offers more than 350 primitive camp sites spread out between five campgrounds. One camper or two tents are allowed per site with no more than six people. The price is $15 a night. Fire wood is available for $5 per box.
Anyone visiting, whether riding or not, must buy the appropriate admission for the length of the visit. Rock Run officials say that if you arrive before 5:30 p.m. to check in you must pay for an admission pass for that day.
Rock Run also has a new campground called Clayworks that offers 16 campsites with both 30 and 50 amp electrical hook up only. The price is $35 a night. There is no water or dump station. No tents are allowed in Clayworks.
Rock Run’s parking lot is for parking and unloading vehicles only. Travel is permitted on designated routes only. Blazing new trails is strictly prohibited and can lead to ejection from the park. Pack out what you pack in. No alcohol is allowed on trails or property.
For more information contact Rock Run Recreation Area, 228 St. Lawrence Road, Patton, PA, 16668; Phone (814) 674-6026; rockrunrecreation.com.