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    Northcentral Regional ATV Trail

    ATV enthusiasts are invited to experience riding trails in northcentral Pennsylvania that comprise the Northcentral Regional ATV Trail​.

    Rausch Road Closure- Northcentral Regional ATV Trail (NRAT)

    Rausch Road will be closed for construction from Monday, July 14, 2025, through Friday, July 18, 2025. 

    Rausch Road is located in southeastern Potter County, Abbott Township, and is part of the NRAT along the preferred route.

    The closure will affect passage from Galeton to Black Forest (and vice-versa). 

    A partial closure will be in effect through Sunday, July 13, 2025. ATVs and UTVs will be permitted to pass through during the partial closure.

    An alternate route and detour from the intersection of Route 44 and 12-Mile Road to Shephard Road is approved for travel by NRAT permit holders during this timeframe. This alternate route will give riders traveling north from Haneyville and Black Forest improved access to the NRAT system.

    Please use caution and be courteous of traffic when traveling this approved detour.

    Please contact Susquehannock State Forest if you have questions.

    Painter Run and Painter-Leetonia Road Closures

    Painter Run Road in Gaines Township will be closed from Monday, July 14, 2025 through Friday, July 18, 2025 for construction.

    Painter Leetonia Road will be closed from its intersection with Deadman Hollow Road north. This affects the NRAT system to Colton Point. Riders should not use Lick Run Road but instead utilize the new route via Thompson Hollow Road during this closure.

    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ATV riders will have the unique opportunity for long-distance travel by permit on:​

    • Designated state forest trails and roads
    • Designated local (township) roads
    • Designated PennDOT-administered roads

    2025 Riding Season

    The Northcentral Regional ATV Trail​​ will operate during the 2025 summer riding season, which begins on Friday, May 23, 2025, and ends on Sunday, September 28, 2025.

    2025 Riding Area

    The 2025 Northcentral Regional ATV Trail​​ area covers parts of Clinton, Lycoming, Potter, and Tioga counties.

    For 2025​ 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 area are as follows:

    • 400 miles of township roads
    • 167 miles of state forest roads and trails
    • 33 miles of PennDOT-administered roads

    Riding Permit

    Permit Application (PDF)

    Riding the Northcentral Regional ATV Trail requires the purchase of a yearly permit.

    Fees for 2025 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

    Processing of mail-in applications for the 2025 riding season (and mailing of permits) will begin on Monday, April 21, 2025.

    Riders can obtain a permit by downloading, printing, and filling out the Permit Application (PDF) and sending with check or money order to:

    Mira Lloyd Dock Center
    137 Penn Nursery Road
    Spring Mills, PA 16875​
    ATTN: Northcentral Regional ATV Trail

    Applications will be processed in the order they are received and mailed back to applicants in seven to ten business days from receipt of application.

    In-person permit sales for the 2025 riding season will begin on Friday, May 9, 2025.

    Riders can purchase permits in-person through the Tioga, Tiadaghton, Sproul, and Susquehannock State Forest offices when sales begin.

    Please be aware that long wait times are expected for in-person service at the Susquehannock State Forest district office due to staff shortage.

    In-person visitors who wish to obtain an NRAT permit while avoiding long wait times are encouraged to visit the  Tioga, Tiadaghton, or Sproul district offices.

    2025 Office Hours

    Tiadaghton, Tioga, Sproul , and Susquehannock State Forests: 

    8:00A.M. to 4:00P.M. Monday through Friday

     

    Mail-in

    Processing of mail-in applications for the 2025 riding season (and mailing of permits) will begin on Monday, April 21, 2025.

    Riders can obtain a permit by downloading, printing, and filling out the Permit Application (PDF) and sending with check or money order to:

    Mira Lloyd Dock Center
    137 Penn Nursery Road
    Spring Mills, PA 16875​
    ATTN: Northcentral Regional ATV Trail

    Applications will be processed in the order they are received and mailed back to applicants in seven to ten business days from receipt of application.

    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).

    Program Evaluation

    DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry implemented a comprehensive monitoring program to evaluate the impact of the three-year ​​pilot program (the precursor to the Northcentral Regional ATV Trail) on:

    • Local communities
    • Ecological values
    • Other state forest users and recreational values
    • Bureau of Forestry operations, staffing, and law enforcement capacity
    • Public safety
    • Adjacent public lands and natural resources

    The monitoring program also evaluated 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.

    Evaluation ​Report

    DCNR published a Report to the General Assembly on the Northcentral ATV Regional Trail Connecto​r Pilot (PDF)​ about the pilot project for further evaluation and stakeholder input in ​December 2023.​​