01/27/2022
❄️Lots of snow in the Laurel Highlands means trail users are out on forest trails in full force! It's great to see so many people out and about enjoying Forbes State Forest's trails, and it's also a great time to review winter trail etiquette. Highlighted below are our winter trail guidelines that can help assure that you and other forest visitors have a great time exploring the forest during this season:
🟦 Blue-blaze trails are maintained for cross-country skiing during the winter when snow is present. Often, volunteers and staff spend countless hours grooming trails so that they are in good shape for classical, cross-country skiing. If you visit the Laurel Mountain Division of Forbes, you will find that most of the trails near the warming hut are designated ski trails. Please be courteous to the skiers and stay out of groomed tracks.
🔶Orange-blaze diamond trails are designated snowmobile use only. Any other recreation use on these trails during the winter is not permitted under any circumstance. Please stay off of these trails if you are not on a snowmobile.
🟥Red-blaze trails offer other recreation users the opportunity to fat bike, snowshoe, and hike.
🟨Yellow-blaze trails offer additional 'foot traffic' only opportunities for snowshoers and hikers.
➡️Joint-Use Roads are great options for mountain bikers (fat bikes) and dog sledders. For a list of joint use roads at Forbes State Forest, please click the link here: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Recreation/WhatToDo/Snowmobiling/TrailsinStateForests/Pages/default.aspx
🛑Forest roads are NOT maintained in the winter, so travel at your own risk. Please do not overestimate your vehicle's ability to travel on packed snow and ice, if in doubt, turn around!
➡️For more information about winter trail etiquette, suggested trails for different recreation uses, or outdoor safety, be sure to check out our brochure here:https://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=1743477&DocName=Winter%20Trail%20Etiquette%20Nov%202015.pdf
📸 Photo is of Cole Run Falls in the Blue Hole Division with snow.