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By Wes Bower
 During the winter season, Pennsylvania is truly a land of diversity. It's not unusual during the January-February cold weather months that Philadelphia in the southeast region will be experiencing 40-plus-degree weather with open ground, while Bradford in the northcentral area will be coping with 15-degree temperatures and two feet of snow cover. Kane, which lies south of Bradford in McKean County, enjoys the dubious distinction of being, "Pennsylvania's Ice Box."
However, for a select group of outdoor enthusiasts, there's not any better time to visit the Keystone State's northern tier region than during the winter season. This winter wonderland is aptly described as being "God's Country."
Visitors typically needn't worry about this region's roadways. Years of coping with snow and inclement weather conditions have made highway department officials efficient in post-storm cleanups. Nevertheless, there's something magical about maneuvering a four-wheel-drive vehicle across a secondary road which has no previous tire tracks to guide the way. There's no better time for wildlife watching than immediately after a freshly fallen snow.
Where to go? What to do? The choice is yours. A 35-mile drive from Bradford in McKean County will put you within the borders of Cameron, Elk, Warren, Forest and Potter counties. This six county region offers numerous opportunities for wintertime outdoor recreation, as well as a smorgasbord of guest-oriented indoor facilities to visit and enjoy.
High on the outdoor enthusiast's agenda should be a visit to "Ski Denton." Located on Rt. 6 between Galeton and Coudersport in Potter County, this state park facility is a great winter-season destination. Ski Denton offers 22 slopes and trails which are compatible to the novice, as well as the experienced skier. Ski instructors are always on the premise. They have five lifts and usually there are no annoying waiting lines. Ski Denton offers snow-tubes, skis, cross country skis, blades and sled dogs available for rent. Snowboarding is a popular pastime and a visit to the cafeteria for homemade soups and desserts is always enjoyable. For those wanting to spend extra time, vacation cabins and slopeside chalets are for rent. Check out their web site at
www.skidenton.com or call them at 814-435-2115.
 Denton Hill State Park is only one of eight publicly owned facilities in Potter County. The lake at Lyman Run State Park near Galeton is now drawn down and closed for repairs, but snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and ATV trails are still available. Other state parks include Cherry Springs, Patterson, Prouty Place, Sizerville, Sinnemahoning and Ole Bull. In addition to the state parks, Potter County is home to a sizable portion of the 265,000-acre Susquehannock State Forest. Near Denton Ski area is the beginning of a 35-mile loop ATV trail (including snowmobiles) which utilizes mostly trails and logging roads. The trail passes through Denton Hill and Lyman Run State Parks. The Hammersley Wild Area is also a great site for hiking, snowshoe or cross-country skiing expeditions. There is also an 89-mile hiking trail system. Potter County offers over 400 miles of snowmobiling trails.
A personal favorite is Ole Bull State Park. Located near Cross Fork, this 132-acre public land is located along Kettle Creek. If you want to get away from it all for a few days, some modern cabins are available for rent. Call 814-435-5000. Some late winter trout fishing is available throughout the six-county region.
In Cameron County, George Stevenson Reservoir was stocked on January 29. Bradford Reservoir # 3 is scheduled for a February 26 stocking. If ice fishing is your thing, there are a number of small lakes located within easy driving distance of Bradford. If cold weather fly fishing appeals to you, an hour's drive will get you to the shores of Lake Erie. Some of the Lake Erie tributaries that offers you the best opportunity to catch a steelhead are Elk, Walnut, Crooked and Twenty Mile creeks. Check out Erie resident Dan Pastore's web site at
www.fishusa.com/fisherie.
Closer to Bradford, the east branch of the Clarion River is worthy of an angling visit.
 If you have a hankering to spend a few hours indoors, Potter County offers some interesting choices. A must-see is the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, located near Galeton (phone 814-435-2652). The museum boasts of a full-sized logging camp and saw Mill. The buildings are all constructed of rough lumber, much in the same manner of the original logging camp buildings.
The remnants of the Austin Dam can be viewed from Rte 872. It once held back 250 million gallons of water. In 1911, the dam broke, killing 89. The disaster all but wiped out the towns of Austin and Costello. The site is listed in the national register of historical sites. Driving to this secluded community makes for an enjoyable winter time activity.
Potter County visitors might check out the Black Forest Trading Post near Ulysses or the Call of the North Gift Shop near Gaines. America's First Christmas Store is located in Smethport. An Amish community has been established in Potter County, and watching them ride by on runner-equipped buggies is a novel experience.
For more information on Potter County and its environs, call 1-888-POTTER2 or visit their website at potter@penn.com.
Most wintertime visitors motor to the Bradford area to participate in outdoor activities. With that community being in close proximity to the 513,000-acre Allegheny National Forest, that destination proves to be a wise choice. February guests could spend their entire vacation in Elk and McKean counties and only experience a fraction of what these twin counties have to offer. For those wishing to experience true cold weather solitude, a visit to the 8,663-acre Hickory Creek Wilderness is worthy of consideration. The Allegheny National Forest offers hundreds of miles of secondary roads, all providing opportunities for wildlife watching and providing snow covered scenery unrivaled in other areas of the mid-Atlantic region.
A cold-weather addict could spend a week-long vacation and never stray far from the shores of Allegheny Reservoir, more commonly known as the Kinzua. Completed in 1965 and administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the lake impounds 12,080 acres, of which 7,783 lies within the boundaries of Pennsylvania.
A visit to the Kinzua Viaduct is a must-do experience, no matter what time of the year. This railroad bridge is the third largest in the world and is located west of Smethport off Rt. 6. For more information on the 3-hour scenic train ride, call 814-927-6621
 A winter visit to the Bradford area need not be all about outdoor-related experiences. Fast food eateries, small town restaurants and gourmet food establishments are all available. Shopping malls, gift shops and quaint specialty shops are distributed throughout the region.
Most visitors check out theZippo/Case Visitor's Center which centers around a museum featuring zippo lighters and Case knives The museum displays a large American flag comprised of more than 3,400 lighters. There is also a "knife-in-motion" hologram. For more information visit
www.zippo.com or www.wrcase.com
or call 814-422-1932 or 814-368-1932.
Scenic Rt. 6 traverses the entire length of Northern Pennsylvania and is known as one of America's most scenic drives. The wintertime snow covered landscape features the area during its finest hour. In McKean county, this byway carves its way through vast forest lands connecting the communities of Port Allegheny, Smethport, Mt. Jewett and Kane.
Admittedly, it's tempting to spend the cold weather months in the confines of our comfortably heated homes. Nevertheless, winter may be the best time of all to visit Pennsylvania's northern tier forests. The forested landscape is like an ongoing Currier and Ives postcard. While the crowds are fewer, the local people are just as friendly.
For more information, contact the Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau at 814-368-9370 or check out their website at
www.allegheny-vacation.com.
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