Johnstown , PA
is making a splash as an outdoor recreation destination .
Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains in Southwestern Pennsylvania , Johnstown , a former steel town also known for its floods , now anchors a growing outdoor recreation scene in its surrounding mountains and valleys .
Whitewater boaters are drawn to the Stonycreek River in increasing numbers , seeking the challenge of its “ canyon ” that boasts 15 Class III-IV rapids in four miles – the longest continuous set of rapids in the eastern United States . Whitewater Park , just downstream , is a 300-yard river park where boaters can practice and play . As the “ Stony ” flows towards the downtown , paddlers will notice the concrete river walls built to make Johnstown
“ flood free ” after the 1936 flood . Johnstown ’ s famous Inclined Plane – the World ’ s Steepest – comes into view along the steep hillside . A ride to the top offers an impressive view of the city , visitor center , gift shop , and restaurant . Boaters can easily find convenient lodging , dining , entertainment and services in and around Johnstown .
Rock Run Recreation , about an hour ’ s drive north of Johnstown , is a 6,000 acre ATV park developed on a former strip mine site . Rock Run boasts 140 miles of trails that traverse open grasslands , timbered ravines , pine groves , and scenic expanses . The park , recognized as “ the premier ATV recreation park east of the Mississippi ” offers spectacular views from atop the Allegheny Mountains .
With over 120,000 acres of public lands , the area between Johnstown and Rock Run is loaded with many other outdoor recreation opportunities , from road cycling , mountain biking , and rail-trail riding , to hiking , flatwater paddling , fishing and hunting . The stories of this area ’ s industrial and sometimes tragic past are woven into its trails and waterways , making for an interesting trip to a town that is forging its future , not with steel , but with the natural features that surround it . For more information , go to www . visitjohnstownpa . com or call 1-800-237-8590 .
140 | Spring 2017 | Adventure Outdoors