Tracy Ridge

Overview

Tracy Ridge Campground is located within the Allegheny National Recreation Area, approximately 15 miles from Bradford, Pennsylvania. Allegheny Reservoir is just minutes away. Hikers enjoy exploring the 33-mile Tracy Ridge Trail System, which inclused 10 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail. Tracy Ridge campground is operated by Allegheny Site Management under a concession permit.

Recreation

Hiking and backpacking possibilities abound in the Tracy Ridge Recreation Area. The trail system of interconnecting loops begins at the campground, and offers offers excellent day hikes. The main trail in the system is the Tracy Ridge trail, which circles the campground and drops down to the North Country National Scenic trail before climbing up the ridge back to the campground, making an approximate 16-mile loop. On the ridge above Tracy Run, there are two shorter loops for the less intrepid, and a connector to Johnnycake Trail, which goes from the loop around the campground down Johnnycake Run to the North Country Trail along the Reservoir. Connector trails off the North Country and Tracy Ridge trails lead to two primitive campgrounds on the Reservoir's shores: Handsome Lake and Hopewell. These two campgrounds are only accessed by foot or boat, and - with 3 other boat access campgrounds - are the only legal way to camp along the shore of the reservoir. The Bullis Hollow Trail leads east of the Tracy Ridge Recreation Area, heading for the city of Bradford and the Marilla Trail System on the Bradford Water Authority property approximately 8 miles away.

Boat access to the Allegheny Reservoir is nearby at Willow Bay Recreation Area, for developed access, or Sugar Bay for primitive access.

Facilities

Over 70 spacious, shaded campsites are available, each containing a picnic table, campfire ring, and tent pad. Hand-pumped water, vault toilets, and a dump station are also available. Group sites are available by reserving entire camping loops.

Natural Features

The campground is situated in a mature oak stand on top of a hill, surrounded by streams and rock formations, at an elevation of 2,245 feet. The Allegheny Reservoir is approximately 5 miles from Tracy Ridge.

The Allegheny National Forest covers nearly half a million acres and is populated primarily with black cherry, maple, and other hardwoods. The Kinzua Dam, built in 1965, impounds the Allegheny River to form 25-mile-long Allegheny Reservoir.