Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge Trail Selected as PA’s 2023 Trail of the Year

January 31st: Harrisburg, PA – Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today announced the Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge (MJ2KB) Trail has been named Pennsylvania’s 2023 Trail of the Year.

“I am extremely excited to announce that the Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge Trail has been selected as Pennsylvania’s top trail for 2023,” Dunn said. “Trails play an important role in supporting communities across the commonwealth by connecting people to nature, recreation opportunities, communities and the surrounding history, new businesses and so much more. Congratulations to the MJ2KB Trail Club for this honor and special thanks for the hard work to support and uplift this trail.” To read more GO HERE.

Pennsylvania Congressman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson on February 10 spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives congratulating the Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge Trail Club for winning the 2023 PA Trail of the Year. Watch the video below.

Representative G.T. Thompson hears from Mount Jewett Mayor Brianna Howard (center) and MJ2KB Trail Club President Carolyn Stroup (right) at trail supporters look on during his February 25 visit to our trail. Read about it here: Thompson visits Mount Jewett Friday to extend congratulations *(The Bradford Era)*

It’s G.T. Thompson in a 2023 Trail of the Year t-shirt!

Trail of the Year Posters!

As part of our Trail of the Year honors, the Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee made up two sizes of posters and a postcard that tell a bit about our trail. We thought you might like to check them out:

Our railing project resumes

At the end of June 2023, MJ2KB Trail Club volunteers resumed erecting railings along portions of the trail between Mount Jewett and Lantz Corners. Trail users: Please be aware that there may be equipment and workers along the trail. Our thanks to those who are involved in this project!

Don’t miss the Kinzua Bridge Foundation’s big annual event the weekend of September 16 & 17, featuring craft vendors, food, music and much more. This year the event organizers, the Kinzua Bridge Foundation, will be celebrating their 30th anniversary. It’s also the 20th anniversary of the tornado that destroyed part of the Kinzua Bridge and the 60th anniversary of the state park itself. Information: www.kinzuabridgefoundation.com/2023-fall-festival.

It’s the volunteers that make our trail possible!

Above, Ken Stroup and Jack Forquer work to remove trees on our trail this spring. If not for the hard work of these gentlemen and others, our trail wouldn’t exist for the enjoyment of the many people who use it. But we can use more help! Even if you can’t wield a chainsaw, there’s plenty do to — whether it’s adopting a section of the trail to keep picked up, helping with fundraisers or something else. If you’d like to lend a hand, drop us an email at mj2kbtrail@gmail.com or download a membership application below to become a part of our club. You can also find out about more opportunities here, like adopting a section of trail.

2023 MEMBERSHIP FORM Click hERE - OR send us an email and we will send you a Membership Form. Email us at mj2kbtrail@gmail.com. Scroll to bottom to find out more information about the trail club, including our Mission Statement, “By-Laws” and Fundraisers. Your support helps us to maintain the Knox & Kane Rail Trail.

~ Note: To read the Trail Club President’s End of Year Message, please scroll down to the bottom of this page.~

TAKE A VIRTUAL BIKE RIDE ON THE KNOX & KANE RAIL TRAIL FROM US ROUTE 219 TO THE KINZUA BRIDGE STATE PARK sKYWALK. CLICK ON THE BIKE. (video by rob Keener.)

ALSO - Check out Allegheny National Forest Visitor Bureau’s promotional video CLICK HERE

The Knox & Kane Rail Trail is open for trail users - go to our Trail Safety page to see cautions and trail user updates. This is your rail trail - be safe & enjoy!

Who can use the Knox & Kane Rail Trail between the Kinzua Bridge State Park and Lantz Corners? SEE PICTURES ABOVE. Walkers/hikers, Disabled persons with or without motorized mobility aids, bicyclists and e-bikes (not to exceed a 36-inch maximum width and maximum speed of 10 mph; class 1 e-bikes - 750W, 1hp), joggers/runners, equestrians and also skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers (max speed limit - 25 mph) during snowy times of the year. Trail users should obey all signs posted on the trail (click HERE to see signs). For more, visit the Plan Your Visit page.

Equestrian picnic area near the Kinzua Bridge State Park. Access from the Knox & Kane Rail Trail, following the signs.

PETS ON THE RAIL TRAIL

- Please keep dogs on a leash for their safety and the safety of other trail users.

Two memorial/dedication benches for Josh Gustafson; Amy Marie Mountain and William & Doris Bonini. Concrete benches manufactured by M and B Redi-Mix.

ADOPT A SECTION OF RAIL TRAIL: The Trail Club Allows trail users an opportunity to adopt sections of the Knox & Kane rail trail (from Lantz Corners to the Kinzua Bridge State Park). We will sign you up for your preferred section of trail, and you will be responsible for light maintenance of that portion of rail trail. If you or your family has donated benches, you may like to make their location your adopted area. You may plant flowers, bulbs, and decorate around your bench. We prefer you become a trail club member, so that you are covered under our insurance for doing any type of maintenance on the rail trail. (See below for membership forms)

We still have sections of trail available for adoption. Just send us an email if you’re interested in adopting a section of trail: mj2kbtrail@gmail.com. See the Join / Volunteer / Donate page for more information.

FUND RAISERS - PLEASE SUPPORT OUR TRAIL CLUB

Our current FUNDRAISERS are: Selling T-shirts, Decals, Walking Sticks, DVDs, Face Masks & Memberships.

The Trail Club is currently looking to update our Tshirt Design. If you would like to submit a drawing or picture to the trail club with your idea you can either come to a meeting (4th Thursday of each month @ 7:00 (Mt Jewett Memorial Library) or mail your design to PO Box 277, Mt Jewett PA 16740.

**WALKING STICKS FOR SALE.** Made by Jack Forquer Cost -- $40. Proceeds go to our trail club for trail maintenance.

PLEASE NOTE: Equestrians and snowmobiles cannot access the rail trail from the Kinzua Bridge State Park. Snowmobiles will have to access the trail from Mt Jewett or Lantz Corners. For snowmobile trail information in our area - contact the Willow Creek Snowmobile Club in Bradford, the Seneca Highlands Snowmobile Club in Smethport; the Marienville Trail Riders Snowmobile Club (see our partners page); or ANFVB’s winter sports page.

Horse trailers cannot park at the Kinzua Bridge State Park. Trailer parking is available on Lindholm Rd (Kinzua Scenic Byway, SR3011); watch for sign (between the State Park and Mt Jewett - 41.744046, -78.602288). You can also park behind the MJ Borough Bldg on weekends, but please do not leave any messes in their parking lot. Here is a map of the horse trail. Eventually more trails will be added. CLICK HERE

No vehicles or ATVs/UTVs allowed on the Knox & Kane Rail Trail unless pre-authorized or in emergency situations. Learn more about rail trail etiquette HERE.

Parking area near Peterson Street in Mt Jewett

Between Mt Jewett PA and the Kinzua Bridge State Park

WHEN THE KNOX & KANE RAIL TRAIL IS COMPLETELY DEVELOPED, IT WILL BE 73.8 MILES OF ADVENTURE FROM CLARION COUNTY TO MCKEAN COUNTY. SOME SECTIONS ALLOW EQUESTRIANS, SOME ALLOW SNOWMOBILES. PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS ARE ALLOWED ON THE ENTIRE KNOX & KANE RAIL TRAIL CORRIDOR.

Go to our “HISTORY” page to learn about the Knox & Kane Rail Corridor and how the MJ2KB Trail Club got started.

Knox & Kane Corridor with rails — Knox & Kane Corridor rails

2023 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: Once again, so many wonderful things happened on our 8 mile section of the Knox & Kane Rail Trail in 2022. Our volunteers accomplished several projects, however, the biggest project that our club took on was putting down Trail Surface Aggregate (TSA) on the section of rail trail from Route 219 (Lantz Corners) to Mt Jewett (3.7 miles). Four men, all volunteer club members, managed to complete that section of trail through a grant from DCNR. The cost was amazing - $182,000+ for material; the project total cost was estimated at $240,000 which included all the volunteer hours as a match (1/4 of what it cost to surface the Knox & Kane Rail Trail from Mt Jewett to the Kinzua Bridge State Park.) What a savings to the State!

The section west of Mt Jewett received two new pavilions, one built by a local Boyscout and the other was a donation from the McKean County Association of Realtors. Again, picnic tables were funded by MDF. We also added 2 more interpretive signs that display pictures and verbage of the history of gas & oil in our area (funded by National Fuel Gas). A BIG thank you to everyone.

The main thing I want to point out is - all these accompishments could not happen and our trail would not be the pristine trail that it is today if it wasn’t for all the support we get. This means local municipalities, buisnesses, our memberships, donations, grants and fundraising, along with our volunteers. And, it includes YOU. Our goal has been to provide our community and those visiting our area with an outstanding rail trail adventure and I think we’ve accomplished that. We have more projects and events coming up in 2023 - so watch for more improvements and activities on our 8 miles of the Knox & Kane Rail Trail.

Thank you everyone for your support and enormous contributions.

See you out on the trail! - Carolyn Stroup, President.

PS - As I typed this, our section of the Knox & Kane Rail Trail had officially been awarded DCNR’s Pennsylvania’s Trail of the Year Award ….. I guess hard work and dedication do pay off!!! Congratulations to our Trail Club members!!!!

FLORA & FAUNA ON THE TRAIL: (have a picture of something on the trail? email it to us.)

CAN YOU NAME THE WILDLIFE, BIRDS & PLANTS ABOVE?

CASE’S LADIES’ TRESSES (Spiranthes spiralis) - This is a very rare wild flower in Pennsylvania. If you see this out along the trail, please take a picture and email it to us with its location. Read more about this beautiful orchid - click on the picture >

NOTE: All text in BLUE are links to additional information. Just click on them.

About us

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Find out about our organization; its MISSION, meetings and FUNDRAISERS. Click here for our BYLAWS.

Concrete benches are $500. Make this a memorial to a loved one or advertise your business. Your plaque* (included) will be customized to your request. You choose the location, we’ll place it on the trail. ($100 extra for engraving into the concrete) Click HERE for an application.