The Coudersport Rotary Club welcomed Janet Smith, Vice President of the Susquehannock Trail Club, to its August 10, 2026, meeting at A&W West End Grill. Smith was accompanied by longtime Susquehannock Trail Club member Bill Boyd. The organization is celebrating its 60th anniversary of creating, maintaining and promoting the Susquehannock Trail System.

The Susquehannock Trail Club has strong ties to the Coudersport community. The organization was founded by William D. Fish Jr., publisher of the Potter Leader-Enterprise and son of William D. Fish, founder of the Coudersport Rotary Club.

A committee consisting of Bill Fish of Coudersport, Will Ahn of Ulysses, Harry Kinney of Cross Fork and Veryl Schreibner of Roulette joined with Tom Fitzgerald, Joseph Heimel, Delmar Kerr, Tom Leete, June Ornoff and Jane Stevens to establish the trail system. The club grew rapidly, reaching approximately 400 members within its first 10 years. Today, the organization has a little more than 200 members.

The club’s first $100, raised in 1967, was used to purchase brushes and paint to mark orange squares on trees. Much of the Susquehannock Trail System utilizes old fire trails constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Approximately 85 percent of the system follows these former fire trails, along with abandoned railroad grades and pipeline clearings. Many of the fire trails retain names given to them by foresters who once used them to report and respond to forest fires.

The Susquehannock Trail System passes through Ole Bull and Patterson State Parks and is located near Lyman Run, Prouty Place and Cherry Springs State Parks. Approximately 10 miles of the trail pass through the 31,000-acre Hammersley Wild Area, which contains the longest roadless section.

The Susquehannock Trail System was “built by hikers for hikers.” It includes 10 hiker shelters, with tent sites identified on the club’s maps. The trail system is maintained largely through volunteer efforts. More than 3,000 volunteer hours had been contributed during the previous year as of May. Volunteers come from 14 states and include hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, birders and conservation-minded individuals.

One of the club’s current projects is construction of a bridge over Cross Fork Creek.

Smith also discussed the club’s Circuit Hiker Award, which was established in 1972. The award recognizes individuals who can document that they have hiked the entire Susquehannock Trail System, either as one continuous hike or in sections completed within a year. Hikers submit a report describing what they saw and did along the trail, what they enjoyed and what they believe could be improved. To date, 347 individuals have earned the Circuit Hiker Award.

The Susquehannock Trail Club operates primarily through donations. Membership is $15 for an individual and $25 for a family. The organization also has a foundation through which funds are invested, with the club receiving some interest from those investments. While the club does not engage in logging, it has sold some cherry trees that were blown down by storms.

The organization’s purposes extend beyond simply maintaining hiking trails. The Susquehannock Trail Club works to conserve wetlands and wildlife, encourage people to enjoy the quiet of the forest and provide an opportunity for people to use the solitude of nature to relax and reset.

The club has another reason to celebrate during its 60th anniversary year. The Keystone Trail Association named the Susquehannock Trail System its “Hiking Trail of the Year.” In addition, Chuck Dillon has authored a guide to the trail system, and a new guide has recently been published by Ben Cramer.

The Susquehannock Trail Club actively seeks new members and shares information, brochures and maps at community events including the Cross Fork Sportsmen’s Show, Maple Festival, Falling Leaves Festival, Galeton Red Suspenders Weekend and the Fourth of July Parade. Its welcoming theme, “Go Take a Hike,” is intended to encourage people to experience the outdoors in a positive way.

The club is also interested in eventually having a facility of its own where it could store equipment, hold events and provide accommodations for visitors from outside the area.

Smith said the Susquehannock Trail Club would like to partner with Rotary in efforts that foster the strength, health and unity of the community.

For more information about the Susquehannock Trail Club and the Susquehannock Trail System, visit www.stc-hike.org.

The Coudersport Rotary Club thanks Janet Smith and Bill Boyd for sharing the history, accomplishments and future goals of the Susquehannock Trail Club and for highlighting the tremendous volunteer effort that has kept this important local trail system thriving for six decades.