Place: Sproul State Forest, Renovo, PA
Ridden: September 2014
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A family hunting cabin was home base for this episode of Single Track Sunday. This cabin is one of the many CCC camps found all over Pennsylvania and the country. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a public work relief program that operated in the US from 1933-1942. It was developed as part of FDR's New Deal to provide jobs for men ages 17-28 to help with employment during the Great Depression. Projects were related to the conservation and development of natural resources in rural lands. Many state and national parks were developed as part of this program; along with areas and camps that are now used for outdoor recreation.
The cabin and where we were riding is within Sproul State Forest, located in north-central Pennsylvania, primarily in western Clinton and northern Centre counties. The largest in the state forest system, Sproul covers 305,450 acres. It features steep and rugged hillsides cut by the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and its tributaries. This is one of the eight state forests located in the PA Wilds region.
Trails in this area are rugged. There are no mountain bike specific trails and no specific routes to ride. Riding here is best done via the advice of someone familiar with the area and make sure to have a Sproul State Forest map handy. Riding consisted of of jeep/ATV trails, old logging and mining roads, gravel roads, and a few miles on the Chuck Keiper Trail. This 52 mile trail is named after a dedicated conservationalist and wildlife law enforcement officer. It is primarily a hiking trail and had sections that are not well suited for mountain biking but at least it gave some singletrack to ride in the area.The closest major town is Renovo, home to Hyner View State Park. This park features a scenic vista overlooking the West Branch of the Sesquehanna River and is a favorite spot for hang gliding. This is one of the nicest scenic vistas out of all of the PA state parks. Hyner is also the location for a favorite running race that we have done many times, the Hyner View Challenge
- words by Jess
- video by Joël