Discover Mckean County: Nature, History, and Unique Trails
Accommodation in Mckean County
Mckean County combines impressive landscapes with an unusually diverse history. Between viewpoints, trails, historic townscapes, and museums, you can shape your trip in many different ways: with active days outdoors, cultural discoveries, or a combination of both. When choosing a vacation rental or vacation home, it is therefore worthwhile to first determine which experiences you want and then consider the right town or landscape area as your base.
Hiking Trails for Different Day Plans
In Bradford, two trails offer very different options. The Bradfords Community Parks Trail is an easy, 3.4-mile paved loop. It connects the city’s parks, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford campus, and the Historic District. The R.E. McDowell Trail, by contrast, is 1.4 miles long and laid out as a paved point-to-point trail. Moderate inclines, a trout-stocked stream, bridges, benches, and a pavilion characterize this trail.
There are also specific options elsewhere in the county. The Crook Farm Trail near Bradford is a three-mile loop for hiking. The General Kane Trail in Kinzua Bridge State Park is 1.6 miles long and designated as an easy hiking trail. The Rimrock Overlook Trail covers 1.3 miles and leads to a viewpoint. Those looking for a short trail with interpretive stops will find two loops totaling 1.75 miles on the Timberdoodle Flats Interpretive Trail; the trail is accessible in accordance with ADA standards. For longer outings, the 10.5-mile Kinzua Valley Trail and the 96.3-mile North Country National Scenic Trail west of Bradford are designated. The latter is intended for backpacking, hiking, and camping.
Kinzua Bridge and Landscape Experiences
The 339-acre Kinzua Bridge State Park is home to the newly redesigned Kinzua Viaduct. On the Kinzua Bridge Skywalk, visitors can walk 600 feet along the remaining support towers, look into the Kinzua Gorge, and at the end look down through a partially glass-floored platform. The Visitor Center and Park Office complement the visit with views, self-guided exhibits, and information about the surrounding area. The park is open daily year-round from 8:00 a.m. to sunset.
The landscape also includes Kinzua Dam, also called Allegheny River Reservoir. The 7,647-acre reservoir is located partly in Mckean County. In the area near Elijah Run, a Slow-No-Wake Zone has been designated in the southeastern part of the Mckean County section to protect the boat launch. The Kinzua Bridge Scenic Byway is designated as a shared corridor for hikers and cyclists. Those who want to combine water and landscape can fish for native brook trout in Kinzua Creek.
History in Towns, Museums, and Collections
Bradford’s Main Street is part of the Historic District. Along Congress Street stand mansions from the oil boom era. In Smethport, the Mansion District Walking Tour uses a numbered map to guide visitors through the village streets to more than 30 selected properties. These include St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, a building designed by William Halsy Wood and an example of English Gothic Revival architecture. Melbury House once served as a stop on the network of assistance for enslaved people fleeing north known as the Underground Railroad.
Several museums explore the region’s themes in greater depth. The Zippo/Case Museum is a 15,000-square-foot attraction with a Zippo repair clinic and Zippo/Case flagship store. The Eldred World War II Museum presents the history of World War II, offers special wartime exhibits, and references an ammunition factory operated in the Eldred area during the war. The Robert A. Anderson Library there contains more than 8,500 volumes, including rare and out-of-print books. The Penn-Brad Oil Museum uses people, equipment, and stories to show the development of the world’s first billion-dollar oil field. At Serenity Glass Park, you can learn more about glassmaking in Port Allegany and about the importance of the natural gas and timber industries to the town.
Choose the Right Accommodation Based on Your Travel Interests
For a trip with many outdoor days, trails such as the Kinzua Valley Trail, the routes in Kinzua Bridge State Park, or the North Country National Scenic Trail can be the focus. Those who prefer combining short walks with culture can include Bradford, Smethport, and the museums in their plans. The History Trail connects historic attractions in Smethport, Port Allegany, Eldred, Bradford, Mount Jewett, and Kane. On the McKean County Collectible Pin Trail, travelers visit ten historic sites and collect a commemorative plaque at each stop.
Evening entertainment can also be part of a possible travel itinerary: The Bromeley Family Theater at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford presents concerts, theater, dance, and community performances throughout the year. When searching for a vacation rental or vacation home, therefore, consider which places and experiences you want to define your trip. As additional destinations within the county, you can take a closer look at Bradford and Mount Jewett.
For the broader travel overview: Pennsylvania.
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