Pennsylvania Off-Road Trails

Trail 41 is a straight-through connector trail from East Anthracite Road to trail 17. 41 is in the Eastern Reserve of Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA). This trail is rough and bumpy but not technical. One mud hole halfway through the trail can be sticky at times but typically not that deep. The terrain is mainly packed dirt with protruding chunky rocks, flat in shape and the width of basketballs. Trail 41 is primarily used as an access trail to Barney Rubble, but it does pass by one of only two visible bat caves on the property. Look for the large black tube, just off the trail to the west, after passing trail 10.

This is an easy trail suitable for any high clearance vehicle.

Be sure to reference the AOAA website for accommodation links, days and hours of operation, waiver, and pass purchasing links.

Gettis Ridge is a straight-through, rough, bumpy two-track road connecting Wampler Road to Beidleheimer Road. Users should be aware that although this shows up on maps as connecting to Keith Springs, there are gates keeping the section from Keith Springs to Wampler Road closed to motorized users. The road surface along Gettis Ridge is not well-traveled and consists of hard-packed dirt and small flat rocks the size of dinner plates. A few shallow mudholes are the only problems for your clean paint. Although this road is easy, the rough terrain is best suited for high clearance vehicles. Airing down is highly encouraged to smooth out the ride.

Trail 100 is a simple and short connector road between trails 115 and 101 in the Western Reserve of Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA). This trail offers no obstacles and traverses a well-maintained, hard-packed dirt road through thick tree cover. Several unique rock formations can be found along this trail. Trail 100 is primarily used as an entry and exit point to the Mammoth trail, avoiding the muddy sections of Puddle Road. This trail is suitable for any high clearance 4x4.

Be sure to reference the AOAA website for accommodation links, days and hours of operation, waiver, and pass purchasing links.

Cooper Mill Road is an easy, scenic, gravel connector road that travels north and south between Highway 192 and Interstate 80. You may encounter washboarding along the road, but the road is perfectly suitable for any vehicle. Cooper Mill Road has one scenic overlook on the north edge of Sand Mountain and several scenic bridge crossings, with great watering holes to get reprieve from the summer heat. This road passes numerous hiking trails and a few wildlife habitats, making it a great place to explore the Bald Eagle State Forest on foot. Camping can be found on the road's northern end at State Forest site number 9, a roadside campsite with a steel fire ring and a picnic table. Camping permits and reservations are required for all State Forest Campsites and can be reserved online or by calling the State Forest Office. There is little to no cell service along the road. Making prior camping arrangements is highly recommended.

Bartley Gap is noted as a driveable trail within the Bald Eagle State Forest. This nearly 3/4-mile long trail traverses down an easy gravel two-track and dead-ends at a hunting camp and the start of the Bartley Gap Hiking trail. Vegetation in the middle of the two-track might present a problem to low-clearance cars, but otherwise, this trail is suitable for any vehicle with decent ground clearance.

Trail 104, also known as Shady Woods, is a short spur road off of trail 101 in the Western Reserve of Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA). This trail offers no obstacles and traverses a single-wide, hard-packed dirt road through thick pine and hardwood forest. Although not difficult, there are a couple of shallow mud puddles and one spot where you must navigate between a few tight trees. Vehicles with wide, one-ton type axles might find this trail a bit too tight for their liking. This trail is best suited for narrow, high clearance vehicles.

Be sure to reference the AOAA website for accommodation links, days and hours of operation, waiver, and pass purchasing links.

Mile Run Road is a straight-through gravel road, two vehicles wide, that passes two motorized campsites. The road offers no scenic views and is an easy, simple drive through the forest. This road is suitable for any vehicle, including RVs and trailers, and best fits those looking to camp. Campsite number 1 is located on the west end of the road near the intersection with Pine Flat Road. Campsite 1 is a good-sized site directly next to the road. It offers plenty of level ground for several vehicles and a few tents and has a steel fire ring and picnic table. Trailers would fit fine in the site but must be backed in. Campsite number 2 is located halfway through the road, on the north side of Little Mountain. This campsite is an absolute gem and one of the best sites within Bald Eagle State Forest. The site sits back off the road nearly a quarter mile and is a massive round-about site with tons of room for the biggest trailers or any sized group. A flat, gravel tent pad is provided, and plenty of grassy space. There is only one picnic table and a fire ring, but the ample space at this site is great for sprawling out. Camping permits and reservations are required for all State Forest Campsites and can be reserved online or by calling the State Forest Office. There is spotty cell service along this road. Making prior camping arrangements is highly recommended.

Lake Barry is a short dead-end trail in the Eastern Reserve of Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA). The trail is an easy drive and suitable for any vehicle. It begins about halfway down East Anthracite Road, traveling south for 300 yards across along hardpacked dirt with an occasional shallow mud hole and a few small and flat exposed rocks the size of softballs. The trail ends at a reclaimed, scenic lake with a couple of benches, a few picnic tables, and a wooden dock. There is enough room at the end to accommodate about ten vehicles. This is an excellent place to plan your lunch stop and take in the natural beauty in the middle of the AOAA park.

Be sure to reference the AOAA website for accommodation links, days and hours of operation, waiver, and pass purchasing links.

Old Tar Road is a quiet, remote, dead-ending two-track traveling a ridgeline between Shriner Mountain and Brush Mountain. The road takes you through dense, heavily wooded, and shadowy forest, where pinstriping of your paint is almost guaranteed. The road surface contains countless, never-ending potholes that will leave your back screaming for the aspirin. There are several shallow but sticky seasonal mud holes to be cautious of along the trek. 4WD is recommended but not a necessity for this trail. The dense forest provides no views and very few opportunities to turn around. The trail comes to an end at a stone wall, where it then becomes a non-motorized trail.

Pine Flat Road is an easy, hard-packed dirt and gravel connecting road primarily used to access Red Tongue Trail. The road is 1.5-2 vehicles wide with occasional potholes and small protruding rocks. The road crosses several active logging areas and offers one scenic lookout point. This road is suitable for any vehicle.

Buffalo Flat Road is an easy, connecting road that offers a quiet drive through the thick vegetation of Bald Eagle State Forest. This gravel road is two vehicles wide, the entire length, and suitable for any vehicle. The road passes Hobo Vista, a large pullout offering scenic views past Bartley Mountain down into the towns of Laurelton, Hartleton, and Mifflinburg. Buffalo Flat Road offers great camping at State Forest site number 34, which pulls off the road a little way to a round-about site with a steel fire ring and a picnic table. Camping permits and reservations are required for all State Forest Campsites and can be reserved online or by calling the State Forest Office. There is little to no cell service along the road. Thus, making prior camping arrangements is highly recommended.

Traveling through Sheesley Hollow and along the creek, Sheesley Run Road is an easy, gravel connecting road within the Bald Eagle State Forest. The 2-mile-long road starts on the south end at Highway 45, just west of Hickernell Spring. It travels along the northern slope of Stitzer Mountain, passes a few hunting camps, and finishes on the north end at a 4-way intersection with Stony Run Road and Buffalo Flat Road. Sheesley Run Road is two vehicles wide, the entire length, and suitable for any vehicle. No camping exists along this road.

Garden Hollow Road is a simple, easy gravel connector road that cuts through the Bald Eagle State Forest. The road is a broad, single-lane with plenty of room to pull over for oncoming traffic. This road is suitable for any vehicle. Garden Hollow connects Duncan Trail and White Deer Creek, passing one state forest campsite.

Campsite number 10 is slightly smaller than other nearby campsites and is located directly in front of the access to the Duncan Trail. The site has a steel fire ring and a picnic table and is best suited for a single vehicle and a ground tent. Trailers would find it hard to maneuver into the site and keep from blocking access to Duncan Trail. Camping permits and reservations are required for all State Forest Campsites and can be reserved online or by calling the State Forest Office. There is little to no cell service along this road. Making prior camping arrangements is highly recommended.

Trail 28 is an easy, straight-through connecting trail that cuts through the three bench levels of the Eastern Reserve of Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA). Trail 28 is a short, steep little hill pitching to 18 degrees as you make your way south to north from trail 36 to East Anthracite Road. The trail is two-way and plenty wide to pass oncoming traffic with excellent visibility. The road surface is hard-packed dirt with small, loose, golf ball and baseball-sided rocks. This trail is suitable for any high clearance 4x4.

Be sure to reference the AOAA website for accommodation links, days and hours of operation, waiver, and pass purchasing links.

Running Gap Road is a hard-packed dirt road that travels through old mature forests with large trees and descends sharply through a natural terrain gap between Naked Mountain and Nittany Mountain. The road is generally 1.5 vehicles wide, with plenty of opportunities to pass oncoming traffic. Running Gap descends 471 feet in 1.5 miles, necessitating numerous water bars. These large water bars protect the road from erosion and ensure drivers control their speed. Trucks towing trailers might find the water bars and steep grades challenging, but this road is suitable for any vehicle. The road is generally used as a connecting road between White Deer Creek and Spruce Run Road. There are no motorized campsites along the road. However, there is one primitive backpacking campsite that can be seen from the road. This campsite requires users to hike into and does not require a permit if only used for a single night. Users must remember that backpacking campsites cannot be within 200 feet of a forest road.

Brandon Road is a short, easy connector road between Jones Mountain and Old Shingle Road. The road is entirely gravel and 1.5-2 vehicles wide. The road offers a fantastic scenic pullout that overlooks Mifflinburg. In the colder months, when the leaves have fallen from the trees, you can anticipate views all the way to Lewisburg. The road traverses over the North Fork Buffalo Creek, which is a fantastic place to stop and take in the natural beauty of the Bald Eagle State Forest or relax and cool off with a quick dip in the slow-moving water. This road is suitable for any vehicle.