The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship Inc. (PA Wilds Center) has partnered with Purple Lizard Maps to develop a high-level plan to bring Purple Lizard Maps of the PA Wilds region to market.
The Pennsylvania Wilds region is home to more than 2 million acres of public lands, including endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, 16,000 miles of wild trout streams, the largest wild elk herd in the northeastern United States, the world’s second-certified International Dark Sky park, two National Wild & Scenic Rivers, PA’s only National Forest and more.
With all there is to explore in this expansive rural landscape, creating and producing accurate maps can be a challenge, one that Purple Lizard Maps is well versed in.
“The PA Wilds region is a prime outdoor recreation destination spanning 13 counties that contains many unique terrains which often don’t include cell phone service. Therefore, it’s critical that physical maps be both detailed and as accurate as possible,” says Hannah Brock, licensing manager for the PA Wilds Center.
Enter Purple Lizard Maps! Based in State College, just outside the PA Wilds footprint, they have been creating recreational trail maps of Pennsylvania State Forests since 1997.
Known for exceptional cartographic design that unlocks broad landscapes for exploration, Purple Lizard has a strong following among destination travelers in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Their maps are printed on durable, waterproof paper designed for real adventures while hiking, bicycling, boating, camping and exploring the back roads and small towns.
Purple Lizard maps are sold throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region at small businesses and large retailers like REI.
Currently, Purple Lizard has 18 maps in its product line, including 12 titles in Pennsylvania. Purple Lizard believes in examining the big picture when it comes to map-making.
They spend time immersed in the areas they map, meeting with land managers, community leaders and shop owners, which all help to inform the design process to make the best maps available for both visitors and residents.
“Our intensive process blends all the best elements of old-world map-making artistry, on-the-ground research, and attention to detail, with the benefits of leading-edge digital cartographic design,” states Founder and Lead Cartographer Michael Hermann.
“Our maps are highly curated for recreation, and this allows us to create the most detailed and beautifully designed map ever produced of that area – and one that can lead the user on endless adventures.”
PA Wilds Center Chief Executive Officer Ta Enos says having up-to-date, accurate, high-quality maps of the PA Wilds region is key to helping visitors have a positive and safe outdoor experience, making the outdoors and our region’s vast public lands more accessible, and encouraging visitors to continue exploring rural communities and small businesses on their adventures.
“A handful of Purple Lizard Maps already touch on assets in the PA Wilds, and we know some of our communities have expressed interest in developing others,” Enos said.
“While Purple Lizard maps are popular, they can be cost prohibitive for highly rural areas to develop and bring to market without a coordinated multi-partner approach. Our hope is this project will begin to lay that groundwork.”
The assessment and stakeholder engagement by Purple Lizard Maps will set the stage for potential maps of the PA Wilds region in the future.
The goal is to compile a list of potential map projects that can be executed in phases once funding is secured.
The assessment and planning stage of the PA Wilds map project is supported through funding from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Richard King Mellon Foundation.
“This project brings a lot of opportunity to rural communities that are trying to use outdoor recreation to help them diversify and revitalize,” Enos said. “We greatly appreciate their investment.”
If you or your organization would like to contact Purple Lizard with information on trails in the PA Wilds region, call 814-876-2363.