Cameron County Atv/Utv Association, Inc.

05/26/2022

Emporium and Driftwood could be the connection from this trail system to elk viewing in Benezette (where dual use roads are already legal) and beyond. In our opinion, it would bring more commerce to our businesses and small boroughs than any other proposal or plan out there. There is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to designate a road in and a road out of each of our boroughs for dual use. There are plenty of safe roads already available. Other towns and communities do it safely and legally. We don’t need every road open. We just need a legal designated connecting route in and out.

Pennsylvania's DCNR announced year two of the ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot program in the northcentral region of the state that will provide opportunities for riding enthusiasts to traverse many miles of roads opened to all-terrain vehicle use and trails in Potter, Tioga, Clinton, and Lycoming...

05/05/2022

DCNR announces year two of the ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot program in the northcentral region of the state that will provide opportunities for riding enthusiasts to travel many miles of roads opened to all-terrain vehicle use and trails in Potter, Tioga, Clinton, and Lycoming counties.

The area will open for use on Friday, May 27, and will remain open until Sunday, September 25, 2022.

ATV riders will need to purchase a Regional ATV Connector Pass permit to use the designated PennDOT and state forest ATV Connector roads, the cost of which will serve to offset implementation and management of the program.

Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/3FjVUw8

12/23/2020

Hmmmm

11/20/2020

DCNR Press Release: All of our hard work is starting to pay off.

DCNR Finalizes ATV Trail Policy
11/19/2020

Harrisburg, PA -- The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) today outlined final changes to its internal policy on ATV trails on state forest lands to respond to increasing demands for riding opportunities, local and county government interest in expanding recreational tourism, and legislative action.

The announcement was made at the meeting of the Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council this week, where the proposed changes were first introduced for public comment.

“This policy provides guidance to DCNR when acquiring, developing and managing lands for ATV use,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “The major change will allow the careful consideration of strategic new riding opportunities on state forest lands to connect regional trail systems.”

Where there was a moratorium on new trail development in the previous policy, the revisions now authorize DCNR to explore the potential for new ATV trails and connectors on state forest lands. Other changes include:

Allowing the Secretary to designate portions of the state forest road system as temporary, seasonal or permanent ATV trails.
Allowing the department to request public comment for projects that have broader impacts on the community/region.
Supporting acquisition of lands specifically for motorized recreation use.
DCNR received 857 comments on the proposed changes. Responses to those comments (PDF) can be found on the DCNR website.

The policy is effective immediately. Implementation will be guided by a set of overarching ATV Management Principles (PDF) developed by the DCNR Bureau of Forestry.

“With the principles guiding the work, the department will be doing an assessment of potential new riding opportunities that could benefit communities and businesses, and provide continuity to regional trail systems while balancing protection of the natural resource and other values and recreational uses of the public lands,” Dunn said.

A focus of the assessment will be the northcentral part of the state due to the prevalence of state forest lands, a relatively high number of township roads open to ATV use, and proximity to other DCNR ATV trail systems.

Pennsylvania currently has more than 260 miles of ATV trails in state forests.

DCNR plays a multi-faceted role with ATVs: registering their use statewide through a cooperative agreement with PennDOT; managing registration-generated fees for maintenance, enhancement, and enforcement of trail opportunities on state forest lands; and distributing grants to provide new recreational ATV trails and facilities.

Pennsylvania has around 285,000 registered ATVs. On state forest lands, ATV riding is allowed only on designated trails.

The Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council released a report in January 2019 to provide recommendations on how DCNR and others could enhance motorized recreation in Pennsylvania (PDF).

The ATV Trail Development and Management Policy (PDF) is on the DCNR website, as is more information about ATV riding in state forests.

07/30/2020

Well we got most of the signs up, and unfortunately one was stolen already. The nice part, we expected this and put trail cameras to watch certain ones. This particular one had a trail camera watching it!!!! So we have you on camera. If these signs are not return to me, I’m contacting the police. You got until noon tomorrow.

07/18/2020

07/18/2020

A lot of years, discussions, research and time put in. Signs are now up in Gibson Township. Hoping that all who use this opportunity to ride, ride responsibly. Helmets, registration and valid drivers license are required. This is a privilege that can be taken away by the ignorance of some. Be smart and most of all, be safe!! Great day for Cameron County ATV Association!

05/27/2020

Recently Gibson Township and the Driftwood Borough have voted to allow dual use on some of their municipal roads. This is a privilege that the Cameron County ATV Association and our members have been lobbying for publicly and privately over the last three years. These roads will be able to be utilized by ATV riders after appropriate trail signs are installed. Our association will be purchasing and installing all of the signage that is required to allow dual use on the roads with no cost to the municipalities. We would like to thank both municipalities for taking these initial steps to allow dual use roads in our county. This is a great opportunity for all of our businesses “down county” and we are working on ways to connect more local businesses to the trail system. This will also give our community another great positive option to experience the outdoors locally with their families and friends.

It is important for everyone to remember and follow all Pennsylvania laws governing dual use roadways. Helmets and eye protection must be worn by all riders at all times. All ATVs on the roadway must be registered and insured just like a regular motor vehicle. The vehicle operator must possess a valid driver’s license. You must display your DCNR license plate when traveling on dual use roads. Traffic code regulations are the same for an ATV and a regular vehicle. All posted speed limit signs must be obeyed and traffic laws followed. The trail will have areas where drivers must slow down to 5 m.p.h. to ride past residential areas. This will all be clearly marked with signage from the Cameron County ATV Association. No-go areas will also be very clearly marked and surveilled. The Elk State Forest District Office has not been receptive to allowing any ATVs on any of their roads in their working forest. This includes the Bucktail Viewing Area or as we all know it, Top of the World. This popular automobile destination will be off-limits for ATVs and clearly marked as such. Unlike the neighboring Susquehannock And Sproul State Forests, there is no area in the Elk State Forest to legally operate an ATV. There are also many private and residential roads that will be marked as no-go areas. Again, please follow all posted signage.

The opening of dual use roads in our county is a privilege that can be revoked at any time. We are calling on all of our members and anyone that uses these roads to respect the laws and ride responsibly or this privilege may be quickly taken away. This is an opportunity for modern ATV enthusiasts to prove that this outdoor family activity can be done safely, responsibly, and without creating the environmental disasters anti-atv individuals claim will happen. We will continue updating the public about signage installment and the actual opening day of the roads. Thank you to all who have been supporting this effort.

03/25/2020

Please read below and make sure you email the Supervisors of Gibson Township and let them know you support ATV’s on Township Roads!!

01/31/2020

Elk State Forest??

DCNR is seeking public feedback about its draft, revised ATV policy to respond to increasing demands for riding opportunities and expanding recreational tourism. The policy will provide guidance to DCNR when acquiring, developing, and managing lands for ATV use.

Public comments about the draft policy are being taken until Friday, March 27. Comments posted below will not count as official public comments on the policy.

Review the policy and submit comments ➡️ http://bit.ly/2UgOvrX

11/13/2019