Up on the mountain, these 2 Centre County municipalities are home to 40 miles of ATV trails

Snow Shoe Borough population: 670 (according to U.S. Census data)

Snow Shoe Township population: 1,621 (according to U.S. Census data)

Landmarks: Lion David House

Where to eat and drink: Newman’s Sandwich Shop, Snow Shoe Sandwich Shop, Chester’s Chicken, Brother’s Pizza, Sweet Dreams Ice Cream

What else to do there: Snow Shoe Rails to Trails

More info: https://snowshoetwp.com/

Despite years of local business closures, the tight-knit community of Snow Shoe still has much to offer, thanks to the growing popularity of the Snow Shoe Rails to Trails Association.

The Mountain Top region comprises 84 square miles of Snow Shoe Township surrounding the 0.6 square miles of Snow Shoe Borough. Located just north of Interstate 80, the borough and township play host to travelers coming off the highway to visit the Snow Shoe campgrounds or as a stop when passing through.

For local business owner Nicole Rowles, the big draw for Snow Shoe is its connection to nature.

“It’s a cute little community, and though it’s not State College or Bellefonte, there are things to do and see if you enjoy nature and just getting out,” she said.

New and unique businesses

Snow Shoe has struggled in recent years after losing several businesses, including its only pharmacy and medical center. Despite the area’s proximity to Interstate 80, the nearest grocery store is almost a 40-minute round trip to Bellefonte, leaving many residents to rely on the local Family Dollar and Dollar Tree in town.

But new businesses are cropping up in the region. Punjab Dhaba, an Indian restaurant, opened this year inside the Mountaintop Pit Stop on 529 E. Sycamore Road. Dishes include — but are not limited to — goat and chicken curries, vegetarian options, biryani and paratha.

In April 2023, longtime resident Tricia Fox opened Cramer Family Mountain Inn with her husband Gary, her brother Ryan and sister-in-law Jacque. The five-bedroom bed and breakfast also has a small gift shop and cafe with snacks and clothing for guests and residents who don’t want to travel off the mountain.

The house originally belonged to Fox’s uncle but was sold at auction in 2006. It sat empty for several years until Fox saw it listed again on Facebook and spotted the perfect opportunity to fill a void in her community.

“We’re here to bring the people into town and we need to keep them engaged,” Fox said. “So we’re hoping that this will bring more folks into the area rather than losing businesses. And maybe this is the step forward into finally getting some more and retaining them.”

Nicole Rowles, who opened holistic spa Mountain Springs Wellness in 2021, said she wanted to provide something different for members of the community and travelers coming off of I-80.

Mountain Springs Wellness offers detox sessions, red light therapy, infrared sauna sessions, keto baked goods and more. Rowles also offers personalized wellness and nutrition coaching sessions and ear acupuncture.

“Those are all the things that I found that helped or enhanced my own health,” Rowles said. “I can offer this and my education to other people, and I had the convenience of 1,500 square feet in my own house.”

Rails to Trails

One of the area’s most popular attractions is the Snow Shoe Rails to Trails Association. Consisting of more than 19 miles of railroad beds and 27 miles of township roads, the trail is open to walkers, bikers, equestrians, ATV riders and snowmobile riders.

The trail is membership-only and costs $30 annually for both motorized and non-motorized users.

Fox said the Rails to Trails organization is helping bring new people and businesses into the area. Wolf Run Adventures , a Clearfield-based company, now offers side-by-side rentals in Snow Shoe for those looking to use the trails.

Restaurants like Newman’s Sandwich Shop also benefit from riders coming in off of the trails on weekends. It’s not just sandwiches at Newman’s either; other menu items include pizza, burgers, wings and fresh-baked pies. Daily specials can be found on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Community events

It’s a tight-knit community “up on the mountain,” especially during the summer when the township comes together for the annual Snow Shoe carnival . Not only do Snow Shoe residents spend months preparing for the five-day carnival in June, but it also helps raise funds for the Lions Club, the fire company, the Snow Shoe VFW and the Snow Shoe EMS.

Snow Shoe is also part of the 100-mile yard sale, an annual two-day event that runs through Clearfield, Cameron, Elk and Centre counties. It takes place this year from July 19-20.