!!!!!!!!!!ATTENTION: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO 2024, DATES TBD. PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR RETURN TRIP TO CHUCK KEIPER TRAIL DURING THESE DATES!!!!!!!!!!!
NEW! Hybrid Event: New in 2023 is the hybrid work/fun event! Because Fall archery hunting season starts on 9/30, and the park manager would prefer us not to work in the area on that day, we’ll be working only on THURSDAY, Sept. 28th AND FRIDAY, Sept 29th for this event. Also, we’ve talked him into letting us stay at the camping area Friday and Saturday night if anyone would like to stick around and check out other trails and nearby attractions (see last paragraph below).
WHERE TO MEET, LODGING:
Camping location: Wildcat Hollow Group Camping Area, Number 5 Power Rd, Oil City, PA 16301 (41.51703, -79.68594), Venango County. 15 minutes north of Oil City, and 20 minutes south of Titusville. Coming from the south, pass the park office at the Egbert Farm Day Use Area, cross the bridge over Oil Creek, and take your first left. You’ll see the large parking area for the group site- continue driving in to the site (watch for the KTA signs). The bollards on the entrance road will be removed by ~TBD Wednesday so we can drive in to the normally hike-in only camping area.
Morning meeting location/time: same as above (near campsites, encircled in red on map below), 7:45 AM.
Map/directions to campsites: https://goo.gl/maps/5vcQNGz7KvoRZc3s7
Lodging/Camping amenities: We have arranged for free camping for volunteers at the Wildcat Hollow Group Camping Area (encircled in red on map above). Someone will be at the campground by XXX pm to assist you upon arrival Wednesday night if needed. Tent, hammock and car camping welcome. Small RVs may be accommodated; contact Jenn to be sure. Wildcat Hollow has three newer Adirondack-style shelters, that can fit 4-5 tents each, that we can use, as well as a pavilion. The park will provide potable water, firewood, and a fire ring. There are composting vault toilets on site, but no showers in the park. For this event, we will be permitted to use the park’s maintenance facility’s rustic showers (drive time TBD). There is no electricity at the camp site.
Cell phone coverage: Reports are that AT&T phones have good reception, while Verizon not so much.
Food/Drink: Generally, bring your own food, drink, and cooking supplies. See FAQ (link) for recommendations. Please list any allergies or dietary restrictions on sign-up.
Morning meeting location/time: same as above (near campsites, encircled in red on map below), 7:45 AM.
Map/directions to campsites: https://goo.gl/maps/5vcQNGz7KvoRZc3s7
Lodging/Camping amenities: We have arranged for free camping for volunteers at the Wildcat Hollow Group Camping Area (encircled in red on map above). Someone will be at the campground by XXX pm to assist you upon arrival Wednesday night if needed. Tent, hammock and car camping welcome. Small RVs may be accommodated; contact Jenn to be sure. Wildcat Hollow has three newer Adirondack-style shelters, that can fit 4-5 tents each, that we can use, as well as a pavilion. The park will provide potable water, firewood, and a fire ring. There are composting vault toilets on site, but no showers in the park. For this event, we will be permitted to use the park’s maintenance facility’s rustic showers (drive time TBD). There is no electricity at the camp site.
Cell phone coverage: Reports are that AT&T phones have good reception, while Verizon not so much.
Food/Drink: Generally, bring your own food, drink, and cooking supplies. See FAQ (link) for recommendations. Please list any allergies or dietary restrictions on sign-up.
ABOUT THE EVENT:
Work days: *****Thursday and Friday approximately 8-4. Camping available starting Wednesday afternoon. *****
Description of work: Exact work sites are not yet known, but we will focus on the Wildcat Hollow Trails. There may be sections that need DR mowing, water mitigation, likely brushcutting and lopping, freshening of painted blazes, as well as chainsaw removal of blowdowns. No carpooling to work sites will be required, as the trailhead for this trail system lies within our campsite.
Wildcat Hollow Trails: From the park’s Recreational Guide: WILDCAT HOLLOW TRAILS: Explore a network of short hiking trails
named after “wildcat” wells, oil wells drilled in areas not known to contain oil. These exploratory wells had about a 10 percent
chance of being successful.
Saturday Fun Day: There is so much to do in and around Oil Creek State Park. As you might imagine, historical displays and information on the oil boom abound – the Oil Creek Valley is the site of the world’s first commercial oil well. There’s the Drake Oil Well Museum near Titusville. Here are some suggestions from Jim Cheney at Uncovering PA. There is the 36-mile Gerard Hiking Trail loop which encircles/travels the length of the park on both sides of Oil Creek.
Description of work: Exact work sites are not yet known, but we will focus on the Wildcat Hollow Trails. There may be sections that need DR mowing, water mitigation, likely brushcutting and lopping, freshening of painted blazes, as well as chainsaw removal of blowdowns. No carpooling to work sites will be required, as the trailhead for this trail system lies within our campsite.
Wildcat Hollow Trails: From the park’s Recreational Guide: WILDCAT HOLLOW TRAILS: Explore a network of short hiking trails
named after “wildcat” wells, oil wells drilled in areas not known to contain oil. These exploratory wells had about a 10 percent
chance of being successful.
- Geology Trail: 1 mile, red blazes, more difficult hiking. This loop trail climbs the hillside to a rock outcropping and shelter utilized by Indigenous people in the late woodland period and oil workers in the 1860s.
- Forestry Trail: 0.25 mile, green blazes, easiest hiking. Heavily forested, this trail spurs from the Wetland Trail near the Wolfe Rig. It rejoins the Wetland Trail at its terminus.
- Oil History Trail: 0.25 mile, white blazes, easiest hiking. The remnants of a central power house and many oil well sites can be seen from the trail. The trail spurs from the Wetland Trail and later rejoins it near the Wolfe Rig.
- Wetland Trail: 1 mile, blue blazes, easiest hiking. The loop trail circles a wetland fed by Wildcat Run. Along this trail, an example of a Wolfe Rig, a lightweight, portable drilling machine used by oil workers, can be seen.
Saturday Fun Day: There is so much to do in and around Oil Creek State Park. As you might imagine, historical displays and information on the oil boom abound – the Oil Creek Valley is the site of the world’s first commercial oil well. There’s the Drake Oil Well Museum near Titusville. Here are some suggestions from Jim Cheney at Uncovering PA. There is the 36-mile Gerard Hiking Trail loop which encircles/travels the length of the park on both sides of Oil Creek.
WHAT TO BRING:
For more general information about the Trail Care Program and suggested packing lists, see KTA Trail Care FAQ page here.
By signing up, volunteers agree to the KTA Activity Waiver.
