Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday joined Rep. Mike Hanna (D-Centre) in announcing riding and parking improvements to heighten ATV enthusiasts’ enjoyment of the Bloody Skillet ATV Trail near Snow Shoe, Centre County.

”Working in cooperation with Rep. Hanna, DCNR is moving to offer more riding miles on the existing Bloody Skillet Trail,” Dunn said at a media event at the Snow Shoe Township Building. “In addition, our Bureau of Forestry hopes to offer trail riders expanded parking and access, and will be taking a hard look at the feasibility of linking this trail with the nearby Whiskey Springs Trail.”

Long a proponent of expanded ATV riding opportunities in the state, Rep. Hanna (D-76th Dist.) hailed the expansion possibilities.

“I have long been a supporter of ATV enthusiasts and believe it is time that the riding trails throughout our region receive the enhancements they so desperately need,” Rep. Hanna said. “After years of championing development efforts of ATV trails and riding opportunities in our state forests, I am pleased that DCNR is reviewing and considering expansion possibilities.”

One of 11 designated, state forestland ATV riding trails across the state, Bloody Skillet offers 38 miles of summer and winter trails to riders. It is off Route 144, about 19 miles north of the Snow Shoe Exit of US Route 80.

Pointing to the recent reopening of the nearby Whiskey Springs ATV Trail in Clinton County after extensive mine reclamation work, Secretary Dunn noted,” We now have over 120 miles of ATV trails within an hour of Renovo.

“Riders are invited to try the Whiskey Springs and Bloody Skillet trails, as well as the Denton Hill ATV Trail System and Haneyville ATV Trail.”

Specifically, as proposed Bloody Skillet will offer:

-- Addition of 3 miles of trail within the existing Bloody Skillet trail system;

-- The opening a parking lot at Bloody Skillet in conjunction with an additional 1.2 miles of trail along a former railroad grade from Orviston west to the existing connector trail;

-- The commissioning of a feasibility study to examine connector trail corridors between the Bloody Skillet trail system and the town of Renovo; as well as from Renovo to the Whiskey Springs ATV trail system;

-- The study also would look at the safety and sustainability of the same two ATV trails and provide suggestions for improvement;

-- As well as offer a series of public and stakeholder meetings to explain and gather local input regarding the connector proposals; and

-- As of the end of the summer, ATV active registrations were just short of 166,000. Riders are

Invited to legally travel on 11 designated ATV trails on state forestland across the state, which offer 267 miles.

For maps and other ATV riding information, visit DCNR’s State Forest ATV Riding Trails webpage.

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