New 11-mile trail opens in Rothrock State Forest as part of $3M project. What to know
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- An 11-mile stretch of the Musser Gap Trail opened in Rothrock State Forest this week.
- DCNR has invested $3 million in land acquisitions, trail development and expansions.
- A $375,000 DCNR grant was awarded to fund phase three toward Greenwood Furnace State Park.
A new, 11-mile stretch of the Musser Gap Trail officially opened in Rothrock State Forest earlier this week, linking the State College area with a popular Huntingdon County state park.
The new portion of the trail was debuted at a ribbon cutting Wednesday by state and local officials, along with several trail volunteers. It marked the completion of the second phase of a project that will create 50 miles of sustainable trails in Centre and Huntingdon counties, with an overall goal of connecting communities and providing outdoor adventure to area residents.
With the recent addition, the Musser Gap Trail is now around 18 miles long and links the State College area with Whipple Dam State Park. To this point, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has invested nearly $3 million in the trail project through land acquisitions, trail development and trail expansion.
“Investing in sustainable trails like this connects people to nature and strengthens Pennsylvania’s $20.4 billion outdoor recreation economy — we are proud to work with community leaders like the Rothrock Trail Alliance, the ClearWater Conservancy, Centre County Commissioners and other leaders who recognize that outdoor access and economic vitality go hand in hand,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn said in a press release Thursday.
She continued: “The Musser Gap Trail is a powerful example of what we can achieve when passionate communities, public agencies and local organizations come together with a shared vision.”
The project’s first phase, which included the construction of a 7.5-mile trail, was completed in July 2025.
Ultimately, the project’s long-term vision for the new trail is to create a 50-mile loop system of natural-surface, sustainable biking, hiking and equestrian paths that will connect with hundreds of existing miles of trails throughout Rothrock State Forest.
According to the release, the project aligns with Gov. Josh Shapiro’s strategy to improve quality of life and economic opportunity across the commonwealth by “supporting infrastructure that encourages outdoor recreation, all modes of transportation and vibrant main streets.”
In addition to debuting the new trail, the DCNR also announced a $375,000 grant awarded to the Rothrock Trail Alliance for the project’s third phase, which will connect the trail to Greenwood Furnace State Park in Huntingdon County and bring its length to about 30 miles — although a timeline for the third phase’s construction was not shared.
“The Centre County Commissioners have supported this project through ClearWater Conservancy, the Rothrock Trail Alliance’s nonprofit home, for five years — we jumped in with both feet,” Commissioner Mark Higgins said in a written statement. “The loop system will connect Centre and Huntingdon counties, which will expand opportunities in Rothrock State Forest.”
Happy Valley Adventure Bureau CEO and President Eric Engelbarts added that the project “represents the kind of infrastructure investment that makes our region stronger.” He also said it will strengthen the area’s visitor economy though people taking advantage of the outdoor recreation here, and in turn, supporting local businesses.
According to Higgins, tourism in Centre County has become a more than $1 billion industry, employing more than 8,000 people — a roughly 33% increase compared to pre-pandemic numbers.
“It’s our community that made this happen,” Rothrock Trails Alliance board chair Jay Zeigler said in the release. “They’re the ones — whether it’s the business, our elected officials, our citizens — that made this happen.”
Despite the excitement surrounding the grant announcement, the third phase of the project won’t get built on its own. The Rothrock Trails Alliance is seeking volunteers to assist in trail work, website maintenance, social media, capital campaign support, membership tracking, communications and more.
Those interested in volunteering with the Rothrock Trails Alliance can visit www.rothrocktrails.org and navigate to its “contact” page. More information on the project’s already-completed and future phases is available at the alliance’s website, in addition to its Facebook and Instagram pages.