ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot
ATV enthusiasts are invited to experience riding trails in northcentral Pennsylvania that comprise the ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot.
As the term “pilot” suggests, the Regional Trail Connector is a relatively new program that connects ATV riding opportunities on existing routes and trails overseen by different governing authorities.
ATV riders will have the unique opportunity for long-distance travel by permit on:
- Designated state forest trails and roads
- Designated local (township, borough) roads
- Designated PennDOT administered roads
2023 Pilot Permit
Permit sales for the 2023 riding season opened on Monday, April 3, 2023
2022 Regional ATV Connector Pilot Survey
DCNR collected feedback about the 2022 Regional ATV Connector Pilot summer riding season with an online survey.
The results of the survey were used to improve the administration of the program and guided a 25 percent expansion of the ATV Regional Connector Pilot mileage for the 2023 riding season.
2023 Pilot Riding Area
The 2023 ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot area will center upon Potter and Tioga counties, but will also include parts of Clinton and Lycoming counties.
For 2023 riding area details, please see the:
Riders are encouraged to travel the preferred route, but are free to ride any trail or road in the area that is
designated open to this use.
Responsibility falls on riders to plan their route and use only designated trails and roads, while avoiding those that are not open to ATV use.
ATV riding opportunities within this pilot area are as follows:
- 400+ miles of township roads
- 163 miles of state forest roads and trails
- 33 miles of PennDOT-administered roads
Pilot Riding Season
The riding season is set to follow the summer ATV trail season designation, which normally operates from the Friday preceding Memorial Day through the last full weekend in September.
The 2023 summer riding season begins on Friday, May 26, 2023 and closes on Sunday, September 24, 2023.
Riding Permit, Connector Pass
Riding the ATV Regional Connector Trail Pilot requires the purchase of a yearly permit.
Fees for 2023 riding season are:
- $40.00 for Pennsylvania-registered ATVs
- $60.00 for ATVs registered in another state
Permits are accompanied by a decal which must be visibly displayed upon the machine for which the permit is secured.
How to Obtain Permits
In-Person Option
Permit sales for the 2023 riding season opened on Monday, April 3, 2023.
Riders can purchase permits in-person through the
Tioga,
Tiadaghton,
Sproul, or
Susquehannock State Forest offices.
Permits are available for in-person sales only between the hours of 8:00 A.M and 4:00 P.M. Monday through Sunday at Tiadaghton, Sproul, and Susquehannock state forest district offices.
Offices will be closed on Sunday, April 9, 2023.
For Tioga State Forest, permits are available for in-person sales between the hours of 8:00 A.M and 4:00 P.M. Monday through Thursday, from 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Fridays, and from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on Saturdays.
There will be no Sunday hours for the Tioga State Forest district office.
There will be no Sunday hours for Tiadaghton State Forest after Memorial Day weekend.
Office hours will be subject to change throughout the riding season for all districts.
Please contact the district office if you have questions.
Mail-In Option
Permit sales for the 2023 riding season opened on Monday, April 3, 2023.
Riders can obtain a permit by downloading, printing, and filling out the ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot Application for Permit (PDF) and sending with check or money order to:
Mira Lloyd Dock Center
137 Penn Nursery Road
Spring Mills, PA 16875
ATTN: Pilot Permit
Applications will be processed in the order they are received and mailed back to applicants as soon as possible.
Permit Decal Placement
The permit decal (sticker) shall be placed in the uppermost, middle portion of the windshield on UTVs.
For ATVs and UTVs with no windshield, place the decal (sticker) on the right front fender (rider point of view).
Public Information Webinar
The bureau hosted a public information webinar about the trail connector pilot program in August of 2021.
A
recording of the webinar, as well as the
webinar presentation slides (PDF) are available.
Pilot Program Evaluation
DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry is implementing a comprehensive monitoring program that will evaluate the impact of the ATV Regional Connector Trail Pilot on:
- Local communities
- Ecological values
- Other state forest users and recreational values
- Bureau of Forestry operations, staffing, and law enforcement capacity
- Public safety
- Impacts to adjacent public lands and natural resources
The monitoring program also will evaluate the effectiveness of the special permit; the adequacy of funding for continued operation of the trail; and the need for additional education, outreach, and trail marketing.
Public Input On Pilot Program
The public may
provide comments during the length of the pilot program to DCNR.
Report On Pilot Program
By December 31, 2023, DCNR will publish a report about the pilot project for further evaluation and stakeholder input.