Across the Alleghenies - The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips - page 952

Drive 102
Across the Alleghenies
Pennsylvanians long ago dubbed this part of their state The Endless Mountain,
andfromcountlesspointsalongthisrichlyrewardingdrive,theAllegheniesreally
do seem to roll on forever.
Length: About 300 miles, plus side trips
When to go: Popular year-round, but especially scenic in autumn
Not to be missed: Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival, a weeklong series of activities
held in mid-June, Wellsboro
Nearby attractions: PeterJ.McGovernLittleLeagueBaseballMuseum,Williamsport;
Buzzard Swamp Wildlife Area, Allegheny National Forest; Drake Well Museum, birth-
place of the oil industry, Titusville; Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, Salamanca, NY
Further information: Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau
www.visitanf.com
1. Hearts Content National Scenic Area
The drive begins in the 512,000-acre Allegheny National Forest atop a rugged plateau with
170milesofhikingtrailsand91milesofshoreline.Yellowpoplar,whiteoak,andredmaple
arejustafewofthehardwoodsthatcontributetothemorethan65millionboardfeetoftim-
ber harvested here each year. The region's black cherry is prized by furniture craftsmen, but
locals, perhaps, place an even higher premium on white ash, which is used to make Louis-
ville Slugger baseball bats.
One place in the forest, however, has been touched by neither saw nor axe. At the aptly
namedHeartsContent National Scenic Area,hemlocks, beeches, andwhitepinesstill stand,