Trails at Jakes Rocks is marking a decade this weekend with its 10th annual Trail Fest, running Friday, September 18th and Saturday the 19th at the trailhead in Warren County. What started as a rough hillside above the Allegheny Reservoir has grown into a regional destination that draws an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 visitors every year.

The accolades back that up. The system has earned Pennsylvania Trail of the Year honors and contributed to a Trail Town designation for the area. Organizers credit years of hard work from trail builders and volunteers. Lead organizer Jim Decker says the crew is happy to reach ten years, and trail designer Chad Irey describes the place as humbling, given the rocks, forest, and water that define it.

Trail Fest itself is built for everyone, not just mountain bikers. Expect music, vendors, and family activities, with visitors from other states, other countries, and Canada having made the trip in past years. If you’ve never clipped in, this is a fine weekend to just show up and see what all the fuss is about. Have you been out to Jakes Rocks yet?