Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Pennsylvania / Allegheny National Forest

Tracy Ridge Outer Loop

Tracy Ridge National Recreation Area, Allegheny National Forest (Bradford Ranger District)

The Tracy Ridge Hiking Trail System, in the northern Allegheny National Forest near Bradford, has about 33 miles of trail on a plateau above the Allegheny Reservoir, including about 10 miles of the North Country Trail along the shore, according to Recreation.gov. Its outer loop is a common introduction to the area.

The loop starts on a flat ridge at Tracy Ridge Campground, drops to the reservoir, follows the North Country Trail along the water, and climbs back.

The hike

Wikipedia describes the outer loop as a combination of the Tracy Ridge Trail, the Johnnycake Trail, and a connecting stretch of the North Country Trail, and puts it at 10.3 miles. Hiking Project maps it at 13.3 miles and calls it “about 14,” with roughly 1,400 feet of climbing. Recreation.gov describes an “approximate 16-mile loop” around the campground and down to the NCT.

From the campground off Route 321, the trail starts mostly flat on the ridge, according to Hiking Project. Reaching the reservoir means steep slopes, rock ledges, and large boulders. Along the shore, Hiking Project says, about 10 miles of the route share the blue-marked North Country Trail, mostly double-marked; the rest of the system uses gray markers. Streams such as Johnnycake Run and Whiskey Run cross the route. The forest is dense, so there are only a few vistas.

The Johnnycake Trail links the campground loop to the NCT along the reservoir, Recreation.gov says, and two shorter loops on the ridge above Tracy Run suit less experienced hikers. The Bullis Hollow Trail heads east toward Bradford, about 8 miles away. Wikipedia adds that the southern trails start from a small lot on Route 321 near Nelse Run, so other loops are possible.

Two hike-in campgrounds sit on the reservoir shore, reachable only on foot or by boat: Handsome Lake and Hopewell. The North Country Trail Association’s chapter list puts Handsome Lake on a quarter-mile spur from the NCT. Up the trail toward the New York line, volunteers finished the Tracy Run North Shelter in October 2023, set 1,500 feet back from the shoreline and almost four miles from the nearest road, WeConservePA reported. Materials came across the reservoir by boat.

Black bears and coyotes live here, and hunting is allowed, so Hiking Project advises storing food properly and wearing bright colors in deer and turkey seasons. Mountain bikes and saddle, pack, and draft animals are banned in the recreation area.

South of here, the NCT continues around the reservoir on Route 59 to Red Bridge. For a wilderness loop, see the Hickory Creek Trail.

Tips

Camping

Hiking Project says camping is allowed along the trails with some restrictions. The main one is a forest order (09-19-17-09) banning camping on the reservoir shore or within 1,500 feet of its timberline, except in designated areas. The forest-wide stay limit is 14 days in 30.

Handsome Lake has 20 first-come, first-served sites with a picnic table, fire ring, grill, and vault toilet, and is open May 1 to Oct. 31, according to the Forest Service; there’s no sleeping shelter and no potable water. Hiking Project says Handsome Lake, Hopewell, and Tracy Ridge collect fees on the honor system. Along the NCT north toward Route 346, the North Country Trail Association lists the Tracy Run Shelter and Tracy Run North sites, and Johnnycake Run farther south.

Inside Intel: No camper accounts recommending a specific site on this loop were found.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

Fall nights above the Allegheny Reservoir:

The Tracy Ridge loop climbs from the reservoir to a plateau that tops out near 2,200 feet. See the sleeping bags testers recommend for cool shoulder seasons.

See what testers chose →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.