Forbes State Forest Linn Run Road

Linn Run Road follows the old logging and recreational road that CCC crews built in the 1930s, winding through dense mountain laurel thickets that explode with pink blooms every June. The route traces Linn Run upstream past stone foundations of old sawmills and the remains of Grove Run Dam, built to power the lumber operation that clear-cut these ridges a century ago. The road dead-ends at the old CCC camp where concrete platforms and stone fireplaces mark where young men lived while replanting these mountains.

This is easy 4×4 territory, suitable for any high-clearance vehicle with decent ground clearance for the occasional rocky section. The road stays well-maintained as a forest service route, though it can get muddy in spring. Best visited late May through June for the mountain laurel bloom, or fall for solid footing and killer colors. No permits needed and camping allowed at designated spots. Bring a camera – the laurel tunnels and stream crossings make this one of Pennsylvania’s most photogenic forest drives.