In early 2025 we finally made it out for rides on State Game Lands 176 around the ghost town of Scotia, Pennsylvania. This is just a few miles outside State College. The area offers some pleasant trails with good footing if you don’t mind some noise from the gun range.
Trail Overview
The map below shows the six designated trails which are open to horses (and bicycles).
If you get caught riding any other trails, you are likely to be fined.
Waymarked Trails: Scotia SGL 176 
Trails are clearly marked with standard SGL signs indicating whether trails are open or closed to horses. Even short branches are clearly marked.
A Word About Designated Trails
In 2024, horse riders on nearby SGL 33 were fined with no warning and no prior notice, even though the Game Commission’s own website said the trails were open to “designated use”. A local judge upheld the ruling, which seems insane. It’s unclear whether any of the trails on that property ever had signage as shown above.
As of 3/14/2025, the six trails shown here were verified as open to horses using the PGC website map. Those we inspected all showed proper signs. That could change at any time!
It seems trail users cannot trust the PGC to behave reasonably. Obviously somebody in the region thinks it’s acceptable to play games with trail users. We encourage you to verify trails are open immediately before using, print out a screenshot of the map with the date shown, and carry it with you.
If you are hassled by PGC people, immediately raise hell with your local representatives and demand to know why your rights to use public land are being restricted for no good reason.
Be sure you know and comply with game lands usage rules (see bottom of page) to minimize risk of any hassles.
General Trail Conditions
In general, the trails have reasonable grades and good footing. Because Scotia is largely shale barrens it’s free of sandstone and limestone goobers that can make trails in the central mountains less than fun. Drainage may not always be the best, however, so expect some damp spots.
Woods vary from moderately mature to young. Scotia isn’t really a place of towering oak trees. You are more likely to see scrub pines! Regardless, the woodlands are reasonably attractive and we were startled by a couple grouse and saw some turkeys. It doesn’t seem unlikely that there would be bears around.
Trail Details
Trail A
Part of trail A is old roadway which parallels Scotia Range Road. This is gravel but it’s pretty fine and unlikely to be a problem for feet. The loop of trail A through woods to the east of the gun range is off-road and has good footing and enjoyable woodlands as it climbs to a small summit. As of April 2025 there are a large number of trees down on this section. It may take a while before they get cleared.
Trail A does pass right between the gun ranges, so it might be best to avoid on weekends unless your horse is a mounted shooter.
Trail B
This trail seems quite popular with hikers and bikers as it heads toward housing developments around Park Forest. There aren’t really any loop options for this route.
Trail C
This trail is directly behind the gun range and is likely the noisiest trail. It starts off Range Road as a wide grass passage and narrows to woods road as it approaches trail E. Good footing, a few climbs, numerous vernal pools, and some interesting rock formations at the summit. A few damp spots are easily bypassed.
Trail E
On our first visit we started at the E/F trailhead and rode out and back on trail E and a bit of trail C.
Trail E begins as a very wide grassy passage with small trees interspersed. A two-track roadway up the middle was a bit muddy due to recent traffic, but mud was easily bypassed. In summer when the grass is high, you may have to stick to the track.
As you start up a small ridge, the track narrows to a woods road. It passes some vernal pools, a grassy meadow, and then enters an area of young woods towards the summit.
Over the summit and onto trail C, it’s all woods roads in fairly dense forest. There are several ponds in former mine pits.
Trail F
In March 2025 we are told portions of trail F farther away from the road are torn up badly by construction of a deer-exclusion-zone, and are very muddy. It may not be practical to do a loop of trails E and F until things dry out, and even then it may be quite rough. For now if you head up trail F expect that you may turn back.
Gun Range
Scotia is home to a large shooting range. When we rode on a weekday, noise wasn’t too bad on trails E and C, though it increased at we got up on the ridge to the west of the range. In summertime, foliage is likely to block more noise.
Regardless, the best time to visit and ride may be weekdays. Weekends might be like a war zone.
Getting There
Access Scotia Range Road from either the Grays Woods area of State College, or from Tadpole Road off route 45 west of Pine Grove Mills.
Turning into Scotia Range Road from Grays Woods there is a nasty dip; watch you don’t bottom your trailer. The road is nominally paved as far as the gun range, but narrow. Expect to stop for opposing traffic.
Humorously, the entrance has a sign “no trucks or trailers” although trails are designated for horse use. Maybe you are supposed to put your horse in your glove box?
Scotia Range Road at the Tadpole Road end is gravel for about a mile to the gun range and is often quite dusty.
Parking
There are a number of parking areas on Scotia Range Road suitable for horse trailers.
Trailhead B is about 1 mile northeast of the gun range and could probably hold two trailers. This lot does seem to get some hikers. This is gate 176-10.
Trailhead A/C is about 3/4 mile northeast of the gun range and has space for several trailers. This is gate 176-15.
Trailhead E/F is about 0.5 miles southwest of the gun range and has space for several trailers in a gravel lot. This is gate 176-35.
There is considerable parking around the gun range but it is likely to be very full at busy times, and noisy at most times.
Insects
Scotia Range unfortunately has a reputation for being very bad for ticks and we had numerous bites afterwards, despite the harsh winter.
Consider spraying legs and check yourself and your animals carefully after visiting.
Facilities
There is an office at the shooting range but it seems unlikely it has a public restroom.
We have not seen portable toilets at any of the outlying parking lots. It’s hard to believe there isn’t one at the shooting range but the Game Commission website gives no info and we haven’t seen one.
Game Lands Rules
Rules for riding horses on State Game Lands trails are confusing. We’ve read the actual PA code and try to clarify:
- You can always ride on roads which are open to public travel
(it may not be very safe during hunting seasons!). - You can ride on Sundays year-round except the new Sunday-hunting days
(which are currently only in the fall) - NO riding from…
last Saturday in September through third Saturday in January
(but ok on non-hunting Sundays). - NO riding before 1 pm from…
second Saturday in April through the last Saturday in May
(but ok on non-hunting Sundays). - Designated trails which allow horse riding should be marked
(see example of sign above)
Because this is game lands ALWAYS wear fluorescent orange! ALWAYS. A vest is $7. Keep it in your trailer. There is no excuse.