State and local officials this week celebrated the opening of the second phase of the new Musser Gap Trail in Rothrock State Forest.
The new 11-mile natural surface, single-track shared-use trail connects Hubler Gap in the State College area to Whipple Dam State Park in Huntingdon County. It’s part of 50 miles of sustainable new trails planned in the state forest to connect Centre and Huntingdon counties.
Phase 1 of the project, which opened in 2025, created 7.5 miles of trails from Musser Gap to Pine Swamp Road at Hubler Gap.
The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has invested nearly $3 million for land acquisitions, trail development and the extension of the Musser Gap Trail. Phase 2 included $500,000 from DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program.
“We are proud to work with community leaders like the Rothrock Trail Alliance, the ClearWater Conservancy, Centre County Commissioners and other leaders who recognize that outdoor access and economic vitality go hand in hand,” DCNR Secretary Cynthia Adama Dunn said in a statement. “The Musser Gap Trail is a powerful example of what we can achieve when passionate communities, public agencies and local organizations come together with a shared vision.”
The Rothrock Trail Alliance, a committee of ClearWater Conservancy that has led efforts to develop the trail system, has received support from local governments, the Centre County Board of Commissioners, The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County and others.
“This work has been a labor of love for nearly a decade … We have a commitment to shared-use trails that allow more people to access the forest with less impact on the forest itself,” said Elizbeth Crisfield, executive director of the ClearWater Conservancy. “ClearWater is proud to be the nonprofit home for the Rothrock Trail Alliance and to work for equitable access to nature across all our programs, especially including our land protection program and Centered Outdoors.”
The long-term vision for the new trail is a 50-mile loop system of natural-surface, sustainable biking, hiking, and equestrian paths that will connect with hundreds of existing miles of trails throughout Rothrock State Forest.
“The loop system will connect Centre and Huntingdon counties, which will expand opportunities in Rothrock State Forest,” Centre County Board of Commissioners Chair Mark Higgins said. “[Tourism] has now gone to an over $1 billion industry in just in Centre County, employing over 8,000 people. Pre-COVID, it was only 6,000, so that’s like a 33 percent increase in employment in a major industry.”
Phase three of the project is planned for a different part of Rothrock State Forest, with about 10 miles of trails connecting to Greenwood Furnace State Park and its many camping opportunities. DCNR has awarded $375,000 to the Rothrock Trail Alliance for the third phase.
Rothrock Trail Alliance is seeking volunteers to assist in a variety of ways, including trail finish work, website maintenance, social media, capital campaign support, membership tracking and communications.
“It’s our community that made this happen. They’re the ones, whether it’s the business, our elected officials, our citizens, that made this happen,” Jay Ziegler, Rothrock Trail Alliance board chair, said. “Together with previous work, the community has built a total of 18 miles of trail in Rothrock State Forest.”
At least two other future phases are planned for the project.
Dunn said the project aligns with Gov. Josh Shapiro’s “strategy to improve quality of life and economic opportunity in the Commonweal by supporting infrastructure that encourages outdoor recreation, all modes of transportation and vibrant main streets.”
The trails and their increased opportunities for outdoor leisure are a boost for residents and for visitors, helping to boost the local tourism economy, Eric Engelbarts, president and CEO of the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, said.
“These trails are built first and foremost for the people who live here, for the families, the hikers, the runners, the cyclists, outdoor enthusiasts and residents who want [to experience] beauty of the Rothrock State Forest in a new way,” Engelbarts said. “At the same time, projects like this strengthen our visitor economy. When we invest in outdoor recreation, we create experiences that attract people to Happy Valley and the surrounding region. Visitors come here to explore, stay in hotels, eat in our restaurants, shop in our communities and support local businesses.”
