Jakes Rocks Trail Fest makes return today
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MEAD -- Mountain bikers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts from across the region will gather at Jakes Rocks this weekend for the annual Jakes Rocks Trail Fest.
The two-day event is scheduled for today and Saturday at the Jakes Rocks Overlook and Mountain Bike Trail in the Allegheny National Forest.
Trail Fest will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days, with registration opening at 8:30 a.m. Shuttle service will begin at 9 a.m.
The festival celebrates the Trails at Jakes Rocks, which were named the 2024 Trail of the Year, and offers a variety of activities for riders and visitors. The weekend will include trail shuttles, food trucks, a beer tent, local vendors and organized mountain bike activities.
Organized rides of varying difficulty levels will be offered by the Northern Allegheny Mountain Bike Association (NAMBA) on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. Riders should meet at the NAMBA tent in the main trailhead parking lot.
A bike clinic hosted by Warren Cycle Shop also will be Saturday at 1 p.m. Participants should meet at the cycle shop booth.
Food and bike vendors, along with other local businesses and outdoor exhibitors, will be set up in the main trailhead parking lot. Organizers noted that vendors will not be located at Kinzua Beach this year.
Shuttle bands can be purchased at Kinzua Beach and at the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry (WCCBI) trailer in the main parking lot. Bands also will be available at the Dewdrop campground entrance from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
Daily admission is $30, while a weekend pass costs $60. Organizers encourage attendees to bring cash and emphasize that cell phone service in the area is limited.
According to Caroline Johnson, office and communications manager for the WCCBI, about 140 participants had preregistered for the event. Organizers expect that number to increase substantially through day-of registration, with total attendance projected at approximately 300 to 400 people.
Preregistrants are coming from Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Canada, Johnson said.
"We look forward to hosting these mountain bikers from all over the region to highlight the beauty of Warren County," Johnson said.
In addition to mountain biking, Trail Fest provides visitors an opportunity to experience the scenery surrounding Jakes Rocks and the Allegheny Reservoir, making the event a celebration of both outdoor recreation and the region's natural landscape.