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The Pennsylvania Wilds

@thepawilds

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The official #pawilds 🍃 Non-profit growing nature tourism & conservation in North Central PA. Also check out: @wildscooperativeofpa

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The PA Wilds isn't just 2+ million acres of public land, dark skies, and the largest wild elk herd in the Northeast. It's a nonprofit-led movement, backing 700+ local businesses and artisans across 13 rural counties who are doing the real work of conservation and community every single day.

That work doesn't run on scenery alone. It runs on people who believe the region is worth investing in.

Our fall fundraising campaign is live. Support the land, the makers, and the stewards behind it at PAWilds.com/give 🌲 by @thepawilds

The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon by @thepawilds

October was incredible and exhausting. Just posted my October 2026 Roundup to the blog. This is the first time since I started doing more travel content that I feel like I had a lot of great adventures outside Pittsburgh and really didn't have a lot to talk about in Pittsburgh. I spent time in the PA Wilds and in Nova Scotia. You can read some of the highlights on the blog. I have a lot more content from those trips to come soon.

#travel #travelblogger #monthlyrecap #blogger #foodblogger by @thepawilds

#pawildspartner 🦌 9 Reasons Elk County might be Pennsylvania’s MOST underrated Getaway👇

Pennsylvania truly is the Great American Getaway, and just when we thought we’d found all its hidden gems, Elk County surprised us! Tucked deep in @thepawilds, this underrated spot is home to free-roaming elk, jaw-dropping views, seriously good food, and the coziest cabins. 🦌

1️⃣💦 Table Falls – A short hike to a hidden waterfall!
📍Red Run Rd, Driftwood

2️⃣Weedville: Visit the PA Made Shop – Unique gifts from local Pennsylvania artisans! @pa_made
📍18452 Bennetts Valley Hwy, Weedville
&
Also visit Elk Mountain Winery – Sweet wines, scenic views & a fabulous gift shop! Part of the Wine Beer and Shine trail! @elkmountainwinery
📍24670 Bennetts Valley Hwy, Weedville

3️⃣⛳ Dream View – Amazing food, gorgeous views & golf at this former country club! @dreamviewstm
📍535 S. Michael St. St. Marys

4️⃣🦌 Elk Country Visitor Center – A MUST! Take a 45-minute horse-drawn wagon ride to spot wild elk! Fall is bugling season! @keystoneelkcountryalliance
📍134 Homestead Dr, Benezette

5️⃣🍺 Straub Brewery – Tour this historic brewery & experience the legendary Eternal Tap with TWO complimentary beers! Part of the Wine Beer and Shine trail! @straubbeer
📍303 Sorg St, St. Marys

6️⃣🎨 Downtown Ridgway & ECCOTA – Historic charm, adorable shops & the Elk County Council on the Arts! This nonprofit showcases local artists with beautiful jewelry, pottery, artwork & one of a kind gifts! @elkcountycouncilonthearts
📍237 Main St, Ridgway

7️⃣🌿 West Creek Wetlands – A peaceful quarter-mile wildlife trail!
📍West Creek Wetlands, St. Marys

8️⃣🦌 Elk Pines Cabin – A cozy two-bedroom cabin where you can sip coffee on the porch and listen for elk!
📍10391 PA-555, Benezette

9️⃣☕ Elk Life – Coffee AND a FOOT-LONG elk hot dog?! @realelklife
📍55 Tuttle St, Benezette

📌 SAVE this Elk County LIST and TAG your PA road trip buddy! @visitpa
#pawilds #pawildspartner #elkcountry #visitpa by @thepawilds

Last call: the Kinzua Bridge Skywalk closes for the season on October 31. by @thepawilds

#pawildspartner 🦌 THIS ONE OF PENNSYLVANIA’S BEST-KEPT SECRETS

Pennsylvania is THE Great American Getaway, and just when we thought we’d seen its best hidden gems, Elk County proved us WRONG! Tucked away in the @thepawilds, this underrated destination has wild elk, gorgeous scenery, incredible food, and cozy cabins!

Here’s your Elk County, PA itinerary on where to PLAY, EAT & STAY! 👇

🦌 WHERE TO PLAY

🛍️ PA Made Shop – Unique gifts from local Pennsylvania artisans! @pa_made
📍18452 Bennetts Valley Hwy, Weedville

🍷 Elk Mountain Winery – Sweet wines, scenic views & a fabulous gift shop! Part of the Wine Beer and Shine trail! @elkmountainwinery
📍24670 Bennetts Valley Hwy, Weedville

🦌 Elk Country Visitor Center – A MUST! Take a 45-minute horse-drawn wagon ride to spot wild elk! Fall is bugling season! @keystoneelkcountryalliance
📍134 Homestead Dr, Benezette

🎨 Downtown Ridgway & ECCOTA – Historic charm, adorable shops & the Elk County Council on the Arts! This nonprofit showcases local artists with beautiful jewelry, pottery, artwork & one of a kind gifts!
📍237 Main St, Ridgway @elkcountycouncilonthearts

💦 Table Falls – A short hike to a hidden waterfall!
📍Red Run Rd, Driftwood

🌿 West Creek Wetlands – A peaceful quarter-mile wildlife trail!
📍West Creek Wetlands, St. Marys

🍺 Straub Brewery – Tour this historic brewery & experience the legendary Eternal Tap with TWO complimentary beers! Part of the Wine Beer and Shine trail! @straubbeer
📍303 Sorg St, St. Marys

🍔 WHERE TO EAT

⛳ Dream View – Amazing food, gorgeous views & golf at this former country club! @dreamviewstm
📍535 S. Michael St. St. Marys

☕ Elk Life – Coffee AND a FOOT-LONG elk hot dog?! @realelklife
📍55 Tuttle St, Benezette

🍔 Driftwood Saloon – The Tokyo cheeseburger & brisket mac and cheese 🤤 @driftwoodsaloon
📍375 Driftwood Ave, Driftwood

🏡 WHERE TO STAY

🦌 Elk Pines Cabin – A cozy two-bedroom cabin where you can sip coffee on the porch and listen for elk!
📍10391 PA-555, Benezette

📌 SAVE this Elk County itinerary, TAG your PA road trip buddy. @visitpa
#pawilds #elkcount by @thepawilds

Tucked into Clearfield County, Bilger's Rocks is a maze of massive sandstone boulders, crevices, and passageways that feels more like a hidden world than a hiking trail. October's the sweet spot to explore it: cooler air, fewer bugs, and the surrounding forest just starting to turn.

Stick to marked paths, climb within your ability, and leave it as wild as you found it.

Find it and more hidden corners of the I-80 Frontier at PAWilds.com. by @thepawilds

Wanna go for a fall foliage road trip? Pennsylvania has fall covered🍁 Peak color by day, a sky full of stars by night ✨

Our Road Trip Itinerary:
📍 Elk County
📍 PA Grand Canyon
📍 Dinner in Galeton
📍 Camp and stargaze at Lyman Run State Park
📍 Fall foliage views at Sinnemahoning State Park

Save this for your next fall getaway! 🍂

#PAWilds #PADarkSkies #VisitPA #FallFoliage #fallvibes by @thepawilds

🌲Maximize your PTO with this 3 day itinerary for a visit to Clarion County 🌲

As a full time healthcare worker, I know how it feels to need to plan your PTO in ways that you get the most of it.

Clarion County and the PA Wilds region are a great escape for anyone within the surrounding areas looking for a quick retreat into nature and for a way to slow down from the chaos of everyday life.

Check out how I’d recommend spending a few days in the region —>

#PAwilds #pawildspartner #visitpa #discoverclarioncounty

Take PTO Friday and head to the PA Wilds Thursday after work.

Arrive at your cozy pet friendly cabin @cookforest.cabins we stayed in one of the two properties - The Pheasant Roost cabin.

This is a 3 bedroom cabin with trails on the property (dog friendly perk!) and a cozy firepit and outdoor area to relax after a days adventure.

Day 1:

Head into Clarion

- Hike Clarion Loop Trail: 1.6 miles weaving through beautiful forest and down to the rivers edge. We did this for sunrise and it was beautiful lighting!

- Head into town and grab coffee from @canyoncoffeeco before checking out shops or local markets

- Continue to @clarionriverbrew for lunch and brews

OR 🐾🍷—>

- Head a little bit out of town to check out @augustfallswinery which has its own waterfall and trails to explore 🐾

- We loved having a dog friendly area to explore while enjoying our wine (friendly recall trained pups allowed off leash) with the resident winery dogs who wander the property.

- Finish with dinner at @pubstagram_1306 for Pizza and burgers !

Day 2:

- spend the day exploring the National Scenic Trail, specifically the Baker trail, 15 miles of which traverse through the Cook State Forest (only 10-15 minutes from your airbnb cabin!)

- Portions of this trail will take you up and down rolling hills, to viewpoints of the river, and through ancient growth forests.

- After working up an appetite, head to @theforestnookrestaurant for a delicious meal and desserts! This spot is only a few minutes from your cabin and has the best toll house cookie pie 🍪🤤

Day 3: Departure

- Finish off your last morning with a super quick firetower hike just minutes from your by @thepawilds

That mug on your kitchen shelf may be a reminder of a good weekend in the PA Wilds. For the person who made it, the sale is part of building a business here.

The PA Wilds Center creates opportunities for regional makers through the PA Wilds Cooperative, Conservation Shops and online Marketplace. These programs connect local businesses with resources and help their work reach people who might otherwise never discover it.

Next time you browse locally made goods, take a moment to read the maker’s name. You might find your next favorite piece and a new story to take home with it.

What’s a locally made find you’ve brought home from the #PAWilds? by @thepawilds

Sometimes getting away from it all is exactly what you need!

I spent a few days exploring Foxburg, Pennsylvania, in @thepawilds , and it was a great reminder of how much there is to discover just a few hours from home.

From kayaking along the Allegheny River with River Riders Rentals @riverridersrentals and cruising on a pontoon boat with Foxburg Tours to enjoying local restaurants, wineries, and some much-needed downtime, this trip gave me a chance to slow down and enjoy everything around me.

Located in the I-80 Frontier region of the Pennsylvania Wilds, Foxburg is a destination I’d recommend adding to your travel plans.

Start planning your own getaway at PAWilds.com.

@discoverclarioncounty @visitpa @foxburginn

#PAWilds #ClarionCounty #VisitPA by @thepawilds