ATV riders in Potter County, Pennsylvania, are scrambling to find a solution after Pike Township voted to close Yahn Road, the only ATV-accessible route into Galeton borough. The closure could cut off riders from food, fuel, and lodging in town before the summer tourist season gets rolling. A group called the ATV Open Roads Group met on May 18 at the New Plaza Cafe in Galeton to brainstorm alternatives. The meeting drew riders, business owners, and township officials from surrounding areas.

What’s Being Closed and Why

Pike Township surrounds Galeton on three sides. The township board of supervisors voted earlier this month to begin the process of closing 1.5 miles of Yahn Road to ATV traffic. A final vote is expected at their June meeting. The road is the only route ATVs can use to enter Galeton, where riders can refuel, eat, and shop. It is currently listed as a preferred route on maps published by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Attendees at the meeting weren’t sure of the exact reason for the closure, but suspected maintenance costs, noise, speeding, or dust may have played a role. Possibly all four.

What’s at Stake

The economic impact is real. In 2025, the Potter County ATV trail system brought an estimated $11.4 million into the county. Galeton sits in the middle of that system. MJ Weaver, owner of the New Plaza Cafe, said riders stop in regularly. On a busy Saturday, it’s common to see 10 to 15 ATVs in the parking lot at breakfast time. Three campgrounds around the borough cater to ATV visitors. If Yahn Road closes with no alternate route in place, those riders arrive expecting access and find none. That’s not a small inconvenience. It’s a lost trip, a bad review, and a reason not to come back.

What Riders Are Asking For

Wesley Main, who helped organize the meeting, made clear the group isn’t looking to assign blame. The goal is a workable solution. One option on the table is asking Pike Township to keep Yahn Road open temporarily while a section of Route 144 goes through state approval as a designated ATV route. If that section is approved, it would create a new route into Galeton and potentially relieve traffic pressure on Yahn Road that may have prompted the closure in the first place. Attendees also suggested that ATV riders take on a community project benefiting all residents on Yahn Road, not just riders. Ideas included a park or equipment donation. The theory: showing investment in the community can shift the conversation. Rich Tobias, a supervisor in neighboring Ulysses Township, proposed that Pike could partner with another township to share equipment or trade services to reduce maintenance costs.

Next Steps

Main is requesting another meeting with Pike Township supervisors before the June vote. Time is tight. Memorial Day weekend is days away, and the trail system will be at peak use by the end of the month. If you ride in Potter County and want to weigh in, now is the time to contact Pike Township supervisors directly.

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