4-County Section of U.S. Ro
ute 6 in Pennsylvania Receives Scenic Byway Designation; Celebration to be Held October 30 in Coudersport
Leaders and community members are invited to gather in Coudersport October 30, 2025, to celebrate the official designation of PA Route 6 as a scenic byway. The event marks a major milestone, recognizing the historic and natural beauty of the northern Pennsylvania corridor.
The ceremony, to be held at the Courthouse Square in Coudersport, will celebrate years of work spearheaded by the PA Route 6 Alliance as community leaders and members of the public will convene in celebration with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, guest speakers, and light refreshments in honor of the 4-county section of U.S. Route 6 in Pennsylvania receiving PennDOT’s Scenic Byway Designation. The designation applies to the main roadway as well as extensions and offsets of U.S. Route 6 in Warren, McKean, Potter, and Tioga counties.
All are invited to attend the ceremony, which will run 1:30-2:30PM, in the auditorium of the Gunzburger Building, 1 North Main Street, Coudersport, PA 16915. (*Please, note that this is a change of venue from the original location of the Coudersport Courthouse Square due to predicted inclement weather.)
Spanning 211 miles, PA Route 6 Scenic Byway is the commonwealth’s 24th and longest byway.
Byway designation has been a long-term goal of the Alliance, a non-profit formed in 2003 to manage the PA Route 6 Heritage Corridor. One of the key components of the Alliance’s work is scenic conservation. The recent byway designation helps protect the natural and scenic beauty that has made U.S. Route 6 in Pennsylvania, known as PA Route 6, one of the top road trip destinations in the country.
The counties of Warren, McKean, Potter, and Tioga, located within the PA Wilds region, include some of the most scenic viewsheds along the PA Route 6 corridor. PA Route 6 passes through 34 municipalities within these counties, and, over the course of several years, all 34 municipalities passed resolutions in support of the byway designation. Their participation and advocacy played a key role in the success of the designation process.
“We are extremely grateful for the support and collaboration from communities along the corridor, including PennDOT, local municipalities, and regional leaders,” said Candace Hillyard, Executive Director of the PA Route 6 Alliance. “This designation is the result of years of dedicated work by the Alliance and our partners, and it marks a significant step toward our long-term goal of seeing the entire length of PA Route 6 designated as a scenic byway. We want PA Route 6 to be recognized as a Scenic Byway because it offers travelers the opportunity to experience breathtaking landscapes and the natural beauty that define this region. It is not just about protecting the beauty of the landscape; it is also about creating lasting opportunities for the communities that call this corridor home.”
Byway designation will also offer new marketing opportunities and economic benefits for the many small, rural towns located within the corridor. Tourism is one the driving factors for this
The designation of Scenic Byway is given only to areas with outstanding scenic, historic, natural, and recreational qualities and characteristics. PA Route 6 meets and exceeds the criteria in the new byway span of Warren, McKean, Potter, and Tioga counties, which are home to some of Pennsylvania’s most scenic natural landmarks and outdoor recreational hubs such as the Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, the Kinzua Bridge, numerous state parks, and countless hiking and biking trails.
Byway designation has been shown to support local economies by attracting tourism and enhancing the visibility of nearby businesses, all while preserving the scenic quality of the area. Businesses retain the ability to install on-premise signage, while off-premise signs are subject to review and approval by PennDOT to ensure alignment with the byway’s character.
U.S. Route 6 was one of the nation’s first transcontinental highways. PA Route 6 has long been known for its scenery even before byway designation, garnering recognition from National Geographic Traveler, RoadRUNNER, and Harley Davidson and others as one of the most scenic driving routes in Pennsylvania and the United States. Designation as a scenic byway is a major step toward ensuring it will stay that way for many years to come.
The PA Route 6 Alliance, a 501(c3) corporation, was established in 2003 to manage the PA Route 6 Heritage Corridor and to implement the Management Action Plan, branding and marketing plans, community development programs, and other planning efforts along the corridor. The Alliance includes representatives from all 11 counties, 9 convention and visitor bureaus, 4 heritage areas, local development districts, local business owners, Chambers of Commerce, and other interested parties along the corridor.
Through the leadership of the PA Route 6 Alliance, citizens from 11 counties are joining together to preserve, enhance and promote the treasured resources that contribute to their shared sense of place. Using the corridor’s strategic Management Action Plan as their guide, they are initiating heritage tourism development strategies that will build more sustainable local economies and enhance the quality of life in every community along Pennsylvania Route 6.
For more information about PA Route 6 Alliance visit www.paroute6.com, by emailing info@paroute6.com, or calling 814-435-7706.
