Enjoy an Adventure in Central Pennsylvania:
Columbia & Montour Counties

Nestled in the heart of Central Pennsylvania, Columbia & Montour Counties are only a short half-day journey from a majority of East Coast cities.  The area is renowned for its rural beauty and outstanding adventure opportunities, but the quaint countryside also offers up a treasure trove of local history and culture.

The local landscape is comprised of idyllic river valleys, rolling hills and green farmlands, as well as charming riverside communities, forests, parks, and state gamelands.  The area boasts beautiful rails-to-trails for walking and biking as well as high-caliber races for the more competitive runners or bikers. In Montour County, the J. Manley Robbins Rail Trail is America’s oldest-known rails to trails system.

One must-see outdoor attraction is Ricketts Glen State Park, located in the northeast corner of Columbia County and extending into nearby Luzerne and Sullivan Counties. In the park, hikers can enjoy a vast network of trails that take them past more than twenty stunning waterfalls. There is also a beach, lake, campground, kayak rentals, and much more.

The Montour Preserve is also an outdoor enthusiast’s dream with a 165-acre lake perfect for fishing and boating, a bird sanctuary, maple sugaring in the early spring, and plenty of great hiking trails. For history buffs and archaeology lovers, a one-acre exposed Mahantango shale pit at the Preserve is open to the public for finders-keepers fossil hunting from dawn until dusk.  For those looking for an aquatic adventure, the Susquehanna River is the longest and oldest river on the East Coast, and weaves directly through the area. The slow-moving Susquehanna is the perfect spot for a leisurely summer kayak, canoe, or tubing excursion. If fishing is on the mind, Fishing Creek is one of the best trout streams in the state.

Nostalgia is heavy in the air at Knoebels Amusement Resort, where the old-fashioned rides and secluded woodland setting evokes sweet memories of childhood. Knoebels has no entrance fee and offers free parking.  The park has been named the “Favorite Traditional Amusement Park” in the country and the “Best Park for Families” by the National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA). The park also boasts the number one wooden roller coaster in the world – the “Phoenix” – as awarded by Amusement Today in their annual Golden Ticket Awards.  Roller coaster enthusiasts visit from all over the country to enjoy Knoebels’ iconic wooden coasters, as well as the park’s newer thrill rides like “The Impulse” or “Flying Turns” – the world’s only wooden bobsled coaster.

Columbia & Montour counties are also home to twenty-five covered bridges, which is third most in the nation.  Picturesque and historic, these “kissing bridges” recall a time when life was simpler and closer to the land.  On a yearly basis, visitors from all over the world come to admire the antique craftsmanship of the bridges and relax in the quiet countryside.  Symbols of small-town America, these covered bridges coax travelers off the beaten path to explore little streams and forgotten dirt roads.

For those looking for more time to rest and renew, the counties offer plenty of lodging accommodations that are sure to make you want to stay an extra day (or two!).  There are over a dozen bed & breakfast options as well as a number of hotels, motels, vacation rentals, and campgrounds.  After a tasty home-cooked breakfast, visitors can set out for a day of downtown shopping or antiquing.  Alternatively, an early stop at a local farmer’s market could lead to a day spent enjoying local flavors at any of the area’s wineries or craft breweries.  The ever-popular River Rat Brew Trail is Central Pennsylvania’s premier craft beer trail and encompasses fourteen enterprising breweries with countless specialty drafts.

From earliest blossoms of spring to the last leaves of autumn, the counties have no shortage of fairs, festivals, carnivals, and parades.  During April and May, many towns play host to weekend street fairs with local artisans, performers and authentic cultural foods.  July brings cowboys and cowgirls to the Benton Rodeo and blues-lovers find their way to the Briggs Farm Blues Festival.

The two largest events in the counties occur in September and October.  The Bloomsburg Fair is held for an entire week at the end of September.  It is the largest agricultural fair in the state and features nationally known entertainment, agricultural exhibits, horse racing, games, rides, and an incredible food selection.  The annual Covered Bridge and Arts Festival is held in early October at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds and features more than 350 crafters and food vendors.  The counties are also a prime destination for fall foliage lovers.  Local corn mazes, seasonal foods, pumpkin patches, and train rides all make for an unforgettable family getaway.

To request a free Travel Guide and to get more information, visit: www.iTourColumbiaMontour.com. You may also contact the Visitors Bureau by calling 1-800-847-4810.



Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau

121 Paper Mill Rd
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
800-847-4810 ~ 570-784-8279
Website



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