Elk and the Scenic Route
Elk County can be explored through one particularly distinctive theme: its wild elk herd. The Elk Country Visitor Center is home to the largest wild elk herd in the northeastern United States and features wildlife trails and observation huts. Visitors can also watch elk today in the meadows and open spaces scattered throughout the Elk State Forest. Several stops along the Elk Scenic Drive also offer opportunities to watch elk and give travelers a chance to discover the wider region’s diverse wildlife and recreational offerings.
The Elk Scenic Drive provides a broad framework: the 127-mile loop route passes through parts of five counties and includes five state parks. The Elk County Wayfinding Maps help visitors find their way around the county. They show townships, roads, trails, bodies of water, and 85 attractions. Detailed maps are also available for the Benezette/Weedville area, the Borough of Johnsonburg, the Borough of Ridgway, and the City of St. Marys.
Parks Between Mountains and Water
Elk State Park covers 3,192 acres in the rugged mountains of northern Pennsylvania. At East Branch Lake, the park offers boating with motorboats of unlimited horsepower, as well as water skiing. The lake and nearby streams in the park are stocked with warm- and cold-water fish. This park brings together mountain scenery and specific activities on the water.
Bendigo State Park offers a different landscape. It covers 100 acres and lies in a small valley surrounded by scenic hills. The East Branch of the Clarion River flows through the park. Compared with the 3,192-acre Elk State Park, its size illustrates two different scales. The experiences described also differ: motorboating and water skiing are available at East Branch Lake, while Bendigo offers year-round programs on natural, cultural, and historical resources.
River Views, Architecture, and Craftsmanship
Along the Clarion-Little Toby Trail, notable features include river panoramas, a suspension bridge over Little Toby, and numerous small waterfalls. In Ridgway, the “Lily of the Valley” National Historic Register District draws attention to the town’s built environment: it includes mansions and homes, including “Millionaires Row.” River scenery and architecture thus offer distinct discoveries side by side.
The annual public Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous brings beginners, amateurs, and professional chainsaw carvers together with the public to share this art form. Another specific glimpse of what the area offers is the Straub Brewery Tap Room & Visitor Center. It serves craft-brewed beers and freshly prepared food made with locally sourced ingredients. Together, these examples showcase different sides of the destination: nature and water experiences, historic homes, public art, and local food and drink.
Discover more destinations: St Marys, Ridgway, Venango County, Franklin, Clarion County, Clinton County, Susquehanna County, Mifflin.
For the broader travel overview: Pennsylvania.
