Celebrating Rivers and the Great Outdoors in the Lumber Heritage Region!

The month of June celebrates the Great Outdoors and Rivers of our nation. The Lumber Heritage Region of Pennsylvania has incredible opportunities to get out and explore these natural resources!

Once the lifeblood of the timber industry, rivers were used as a major method of transportation. Rivers like West Branch Susquehanna and the Allegheny and their many tributaries served as major assets to humans and industries. These and many other waterways served as powerful connectors, not just of timber, but of communities and livelihoods.

Providing water for survival, power, and transportation for thousands of years, rivers are treasures. In Pennsylvania, our forests and rivers have shaped the landscape and the heritage of those who have called the area home.

Even today, though we don’t always realize it, our interactions with the waterways and the environment are impactful. It is important to recognize that these vital resources are essential to life in the region; providing water, habitat, and connection. As we live, work, and play in the region we should be mindful and practice responsible stewardship to share these legacies and opportunities with future generations.

Central to Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors, rivers hold a number of exciting recreational opportunities including fishing, swimming, boating, paddling, and more. The waterways of Pennsylvania are rich in history and vital to our future. These rivers remind us that water quality isn’t just a statistic: it’s a lived experience tied to recreation, heritage, and health.

Looking for a guide to adventure? The Susquehanna River Water Trail Map & Guide – West Branch from Susquehanna Greenway is available on our website https://lumberheritage.org/shop/. “The inset maps include a detailed inventory of the public boat launches and river features, as well as information about the unique history and ecology of the West Branch. From its iconic lumber heritage and its wild elk herd to its remote and forested ridgelines, the West Branch offers paddlers a unique paddling experience in Pennsylvania” (https://susquehannagreenway.org/news-and-stories/updated-west-branch-susquehanna-river-map-guide-released).

Across Pennsylvania the rivers run deep with history, with purpose, and with promise. Let’s keep them flowing strong. The Great Outdoors are waiting, and you may find your next incredible outdoor adventure in the heart of Pennsylvania’s wilderness, the Lumber Heritage Region.

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