How to get out Saint Marys (Pennsylvania)
Saint Marys sits within easy driving distance of countless state parks, woodlands, waterways, and mountains.
Nearby boroughs, all about 10-15 minutes away:
Ridgway to the west; a small riverside community, Elk County seat, and, in many ways, Saint Marys' smaller sibling.
Johnsonburg to the northwest; known simply as "Burg" to other Elk County residents, this is an industrial community dominated by the Domtar paper processing plant.
Emporium to the east.
Heading south, you'll pass through numerous small villages and hamlets before reaching the city of Dubois, about 40 minutes south of Saint Marys. Dubois is somewhat larger and more urbanized than Saint Marys, with a decent-sized mall anchoring a sizable commercial strip. This is where Saint Marys residents head when they want to shop someplace other than Wal-Mart.
For larger cities, Erie is 90 minutes northwest, Buffalo is two hours north, and Pittsburgh, the "big city" to locals, is about two-and-a-half hours southwest.
The Clarion River, of which Saint Marys' Elk Creek is a tributary, flows through Johnsonburg and Ridgway and provides fishing and boating opportunities. It also runs through the Allegheny National Forest, which extends from west of Ridgway all the way north to the New York border and is a large expanse of wilderness dotted with small communities. Canoeing, hiking, skiing (water and cross-country), boating, swimming, and, of course, hunting are all available within its borders.
North of Saint Marys, the East Branch of the Clarion River flows from within Elk State Forest, where the East Branch Dam forms a 1,370-acre lake with camping, picnicking, and boat launch facilities. Downstream of the dam, closer to Johnsonburg, is Bendigo State Park with similar outdoors activities.
There is a herd of elk in the area, sometimes visible from Saint Marys but more often farther south near Benezette. It's one of the few herds found east of the Mississippi River.
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The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Saint Marys (Pennsylvania)
