Endless Mountains Heritage Region

The Endless Mountains Heritage Region (EMHR) was established in 1998 as a non-profit, membership-based organization within the PA Heritage Areas Program. It is one of 12 current heritage areas across the Commonwealth, which are designated by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The EMHR is committed to historic preservation and outdoor recreation development, proudly serving a 2,850-square mile area encompassing Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties. The organization also serves as water trail manager for the upper North Branch Susquehanna River Water Trail, which is a national recreation trail and official gateway to the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network that was successfully nominated by the EMHR as the PA River of the Year in 2023 and 2016. Serving a region known for its unmatched pastoral landscapes shaped by centuries of farming and timbering as well as land conservation, the EMHR embraces an agricultural and interpretive theme of “Living with the Land,” along with a mission: “To celebrate, preserve, and enhance the unique rural character and culture of the Endless Mountains.” The EMHR continues to provide financial and capacity-building support to various municipalities, public schools, and heritage partner organizations across the region to fulfill that mission. In its 25 years of existence, the EMHR has attained approximately $3 million in state funding to administer its Partnership/Mini-Grants program, which supports historic preservation initiatives, outdoor recreation development and improvement projects, educational programming, scenic enhancements, and heritage asset promotion. These many initiatives have undoubtedly increased the quality of life for residents and encourage tourism across the four counties.