Experience rural Americana in the Pennsylvania wilds

Drive a little over an hour northeast of the city of Pittsburgh and the clock seems to roll back several decades. Bordered by the Allegheny River, Clarion County is a place of pristine waterways and towering pine forest, where you might find yourself passing a horse-drawn buggy on a backroad, or stopping for picnic supplies at an Amish farmstand. Dotted amid these rolling hills and crop-filled fields are historic small towns ripe for exploring, where storied antiques shops sit side-by-side with boutique breweries and wineries. With Clarion County acting as the western gateway to the Pennsylvania wilds, here’s how to plan your perfect trip in this bucolic pocket of America’s ‘Keystone State’.   

Adventure among the pines

Two of Pennsylvania’s lesser-known natural playgrounds — Cook Forest State Park and the adjoining Clarion River Lands — offer 83 miles of hiking and biking trails. Highlights include the Forest Cathedral, with its old-growth white pines, hemlocks and red maple trees, as well as the two-mile Joyce Kilmer Trail, which winds through craggy rock formations and the trees beloved by the poet for which it is named. The three-mile Toms Run Trail crosses the Clarion River via a swinging wooden bridge, or there are panoramic views of the whole area from the Cook Forest Fire Tower, a restored 1929 lookout. It’s a climb of more than 100 steps to the top – where you might spot a bald eagle. For the full off-grid experience, overnight at a rustic riverside campsite or a cosy forest cabin.

Hunt for vintage treasures

The lumber and glass industries thrived in Clarion County during the 19^th century — a prosperity now apparent in its rich antiques scene. Many shops occupy historic premises, including Farmhouse Antiques and Rusty Stuff, a clapboard house built in 1861 and filled with vintage metal signs, mid-century glass and patchwork quilts. In downtown Clarion there’s yellow brick Fulmer House Books, built in the 1910s and now stuffed with second-hand novels, antique maps and kitchen antiques. Other specialist spots include Fryburg Old Treasures Depot, which sells American oak and maple furniture, and the Clarion Antique Mall, known for ceramics.

Get out on the water

Two rivers define this area: the Allegheny, which forms the county’s western border, and the Clarion, which meanders across its centre — the two waterways meet near the town of Foxburg. Here, Foxburg Tours offer guided pontoon or speedboat tours, but the Clarion’s scenic isolation and calm waters also make it ideal for a DIY approach — rent a kayak, canoe or tube from either GO Paddle or River Riders Rentals. Those who prefer to remain on dry land can walk or bike part of the 32-mile Allegheny River Trail, where it’s often possible to spot wildlife including river otters, red-tailed hawks and jumping fish.

Try local beers and wines

Downtown Clarion is at the heart of the county’s small but buzzy brewery and winery scene. The Clarion River Brewing Company uses both European and locally grown hops to power beers like their blueberry ale or the crisp 1841 Amber, best enjoyed with a Pennsylvania soft pretzel or a burger. Nearby Mechanistic Brewing Co. wins fans for its microbrews, as well as unusual cocktails like the Dreamsicle, made with local vodka, orange juice and vanilla. Over in the foothills of Allegheny National Forest, Deer Creek Winery crafts dry reds plus sweet, fruity whites like Elderberry Pie. Elsewhere, Foxburg Wine Cellars explores Pennsylvania-friendly grapes such as Concord and Merlot-like Marechal Foch — as well as hosting frequent concerts and arts workshops.

Attend an all-American festival

Clarion County has a packed social calendar, its diverse roster of events offering visitors the chance to participate in local life. The week of Independence Day, 4^th July, Wolf’s Corner Fair brings carnival rides, livestock displays and food trucks to the town of Tionesta, while New Bethlehem’s redbrick downtown thrums with life during September’s annual Peanut Butter Festival. Expect cookoffs featuring the signature ingredient, the crowning of a festival queen — and a duck race. Every October, the Autumn Leaf Festival in the town of Clarion celebrates the region’s fall foliage with a craft fair, an antique tractor show and several parades.  

Dine out on barbecue and ice-cream sundaes

Informal, family-friendly restaurants are the mainstay of Clarion County’s culinary scene — start with a burger or a hotdog from Ma and Cap’s takeout in the tiny town of Kossuth. Doug Bauer, founder of DB’s Smokin’ BBQ, worked among the brisket slingers of Texas before returning home to sell roasted pork, beef and turkey from a wooden ‘shack’ on Pennsylvania’s Route 66 — not to be confused with the iconic national highway of the same name. For a fancier night out, head to converted 1873 stagecoach inn Wayside Restaurant for seafood and chops, or pasta served with a stellar river view at the Allegheny Grille. For standout desserts including sundaes, ice cream floats and soft serve — don’t miss seasonal flavours like maple — head to Sweet Delights, New Bethlehem.