Snow Shoe’s Rails to Trails: A not-so-hidden gem in the Moshannon Valley
Snow Shoe’s Rails to Trails continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
- Photo courtesy of Snow Shoe Rails to Trails
It started in 1999 with a mere 85 members. By the end of 2022, it had a whopping 4,350 members.
“We’ve gained a lot of members,” said Snow Shoe Rails to Trails Association secretary Larry Mayes. “We’ve really grown.”
In December of 2021, the SSRTA was notified that it would be receiving grant funding through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Those grants totaled $258,600, which enabled the group to purchase three key pieces of equipment that will help maintain the trail.
“We were totally shocked. We were blown away that what we applied for, we were going to get,” Mayes said. “We had no idea we were going to get it. That’s a lot of money for a little organization like us. That’s a quarter of a million dollars!”
“We were totally shocked. We were blown away that what we applied for, we were going to get. We had no idea we were going to get it. That’s a lot of money for a little organization like us. That’s a quarter of a million dollars!”
- Larry Mayes
The last item — a John Deere tractor — was recently purchased for $166,000. Previously, the SSRTA purchased an excavator to dig and clean ditches along the trail.
According to Mayes, the equipment will allow the SSRTA to save a lot of money and at the same time improve the trail.
“We can do it where needed and when it’s needed,” Mayes said.
The 19-mile trail system has become a popular destination and tourism asset for Happy Valley, Pennsylvania.
- Photo courtesy of Snow Shoe Rails to Trails
The trail gets used every month of the year. During the warmer months, there are plenty of spots to set up camp.
“Our main trail has 45 acres. You can park there — as long as you’re a member — and leave from there and go in any direction you want to go. We get a lot of campers,” Mayes said.
A membership costs just $20 a year. The trail is used for a myriad of activities.
“We have hunters who come out. We have some physically challenged people, I know, it’s the only way they can go hunting on an ATV or UTV. They can ride out here, get off the trail and hunt,” Mayes said.
“People love to come out and fish. It’s just a great place for families”
- Larry Mayes
If hunting isn’t your thing, there are a couple of fishing creeks along the trail.
“People love to come out and fish. It’s just a great place for families,” Mayes said.
According to Mayes, the trail has become a destination of sorts with people coming from all over to use it.
“That’s what is happening right now. We have about a dozen places where you can come — around Snow Shoe and Philipsburg — and stay. It’s going to be a big money maker for businesses. It’s going to be big dollars that we’ll be bringing into the area,” Mayes said.
- Photo courtesy of Snow Shoe Rails to Trails
The trail is good for the environment. Mayes said that the SSRTA will help beautify the area surrounding the trail by collecting trash from roadways in and around Snow Shoe, Pennsylvania.
“We keep the trail nice, but we also have work details. We will go around to each and everyone of those roads and we clean the trash off them. Last year, we collected more than 300 bags of trash from the highways and all of the township roads. That’s just an amazing feat. It really makes you feel good,” Mayes said. “A lot of things behind the scenes really help out in our community.”
As for the future of the trail, the SSRTA has plenty of ideas.
“Down on our trailhead, we have 20-some acres there. Right above the trailhead itself, where we have four to five acres of parking for people to come in and unload, we’re looking at eventually building a garage down there with an office,” Mayes said. “We could store all the equipment in (it).”
For more information about the SSRTA, visit www.ssrt.org or visit them on Facebook!
