When we’re dead and gone, we want the North Country Trail to still be there for our kids.” “Between my brothers and I, we’ve got 11 kids. This is our heritage and our legacy for our kids. This is our backyard and this is – this is where we live. “We grew up 20 minutes from the North Country Trail, so we are very local. “I live in Brockway now, but my brother and I grew up in Scotch Hill,” said Bauer. Looking for what kind of impressions avid hikers gain in their journey throughout the region, we talked with local trail enthusiast Bob Bauer. She is required to refer complaints to DCNR and DEP in Meadville. Trudy Alexander, District Manager of the Clarion Conservation District, said she has had some complaints from hikers but does not have any enforcement authority at the Conservation District Level 2. We do have park staff, and those are the things that we have to pay attention to.” “We pay attention to how the trails are being used, and any trails that aren’t on our map or that aren’t authorized on our land. Cook Forest also has only a handful of multi-use trails.īorcz emphasized that it is not all commercial equestrian use, and there are people who trailer in their own horses, and it is somewhat of a destination for people to trailer their horses. “There’s some language in there about trail work required that wasn’t in the old agreement, but a lot of it is very similar to the old agreement,” Borcz added.Ĭook Forest has a very well-marked trail system that has obviously the Forest Cathedral and the old growth, but Clarion River Lands has a remoteness that’s a little bit more challenging to get into some of these places, even vehicle access. However, there are changes in the new agreement, calling for a two-year term instead of ten, a requirement that the historical use of two crossings are off-limits until DCNR and DEP determines what, if any, permit is necessary to allow those to happen, and increased liability insurance. Smith declined to comment for this story. It’s a conversation that hasn’t happened yet but will happen soon.”Īccording to Borcz, “There are ongoing conversations (that) maintenance of those trails in the Clarion River Lands is the responsibility of Ray Smith owner, of Cook Forest Scenic Trail Ride, who for 10 years has had a commercial activities agreement with DCNR for public, commercial operations on DCNR land.” We’re (DCNR) in the process of having a meeting with DEP to determine what is needed, if anything, to allow those crossings to continue. One is called Slater’s Crossing, and one’s called Picture Rock Crossing. “What has come into question right now are the Clarion River Lands Crossings. You just have people on different ends of the spectrum about their expectations for the public land,” Borcz explained.īorcz told to, that the complaints are not so much about horse droppings on the trails. I think that’s common with almost any multiple-use recreation scenario. “Like it or not, not everybody’s view of how those trails or treadways are to be maintained is the same. “What we have with the Clarion River Lands is mostly a multiple-use trail system open for hiking, bike riding, and also equestrian use,” continued Borcz. There are more people looking for opportunities for recreation, whether it be hiking, biking, or riding horses. It’s a contiguous tract of land that butts up against Cook Forest. Clarion River Lands are on our public use map. The distinction between Cook Forest and the Clarion River Lands is that 11 or 12 years ago State Game Lands 283 became a DCNR land through a land exchange with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. He jointly manages the Clarion River Lands Bureau of Forestry. (EYT) – “As busy as Cook Forest and Clear Creek State Parks were last year, I think, we had more people seeking out new areas on the Clarion River Lands,” said Ryan Borcz, DCNR Manager for Cook Forest, Clear Creek, and the Clarion River Lands.
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