Partnership Formed at Pennsylvania's Raystown Lake

Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew works with local advocates to start 30-mile trail system.

The weekend started with a press conference with local media, elected officials, cyclists and regional tourism representatives.
Volunteers came from two-hours away for Saturday's IMBA Trailbuilding School and Sunday's workday.
Cutting bench in the soft dirt at Raystown Lake was a welcome change for these State College trailbuilding veterans - where's the rock?
Not only did Corps staff host the IMBA visit and provide lunch, Jude Harrington and the rest of the rangers did their share of tool swinging as the team attempted to build an impressive 3,500 feet of trail in only two days.
Ranger Alan Gwinn gives final approval to the trail.

A coalition of cycling advocacy groups joined forces at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Raystown Lake in central Pennsylvania to initiate the creation of shared-use trail. In late October, Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew leaders Scott Linnenburger and Aaryn Kay worked with the Nittany Mountain Bicycling Association (NMBA), the Laurel Highlands Off Road Biking Association (LHORBA), and the Southern Alleghenies Regional Tourism Confederation's Cycle Southern Alleghenies to complete a three-quarter mile singletrack connector trail. The new trail creates a loop between an existing trailhead and a 5-mile logging road.

The project was initiated under IMBA's memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Cycle Southern Alleghenies has already funded a preliminary trail design plan that envisions a stacked loop system of trails with a total length of 25-30 miles in the Susqehannock Campground area.

The weekend started with a local press conference. John Eichelberger, chairman of the tourism confederation and Blair County Commissioner, talked about the potential for the area, "Raystown Lake and its incredible facilities is a major tourism component of our regional economy. We are excited to partner with the Corps to provide opportunities that extend their heavy visitation period as well as provide a central staging area for cycling-based tourism in our region."

Frank Maguire, Central PA IMBA Representative and owner of Mt. Nittany Wheelworks of State College, added, "The geology of Raystown Lake really makes for fast, flowing, rock-free trail, something of an anomaly in the Southern Alleghenies. This trail system would make a great addition to the cycling options in this area and the lakeside singletrack would be a huge draw."

Special thanks to Raystown Lake Park Ranger Alan Gwinn, Clark Fisher, Frank Maguire and the Southern Alleghenies Regional Tourism Confederation for initiating this exciting project. Thanks also to the local cyclists who plan on starting an IMBA club to adopt the Raystown Lake trail system!