Federal officials are expecting a busy weekend on the Allegheny National Forest around April’s solar eclipse.

Warren County is in a narrow swath of the country that is in the path of totality for the eclipse on April 8.

Bradford District Ranger Rich Hatfield called the eclipse “something we’re kind of looking at, too.”

Hatfield told the Council of Governments on Wednesday that the weekend before the eclipse is also the opening weekend of trout season.

“We’re anticipating quite a bit of use that Sunday and Monday,” he said. “Most of our campgrounds aren’t open yet.”

Hatfield said that, as a result, they’re expecting a fair amount of dispersed use camping in the forest.

The use is something they’re planning before because Hatfield said Forest Service sites out west were overrun during an eclipse several years ago.

KIASUTHA UPDATE

Hatfield said that a project to replace the boat ramp at Kiasutha is underway.

“It’s been in bad shape for a long time,” he said, speculating that there is about a week’s worth of work left.

He said the ramp should be ready for fishing season in early April.