List of Pennsylvania state forest natural areas explained

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the United States includes 58 natural areas in its State Forest system.[1] They are managed by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, a division of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The Commonwealth describes a natural area as a location with "scenic, historic, geologic or ecological significance, which will remain in an undisturbed state, with development and maintenance being limited to that required for health and safety. Natural areas are set aside to provide locations for scientific observation of natural systems, to protect examples of typical and unique plant and animal communities, and to protect outstanding examples of natural interest and beauty."[2] Many such areas are only accessible on foot, and several do not have any maintained hiking trails.

This list does not include additional natural areas that are protected within the Pennsylvania State Park system.

Natural area name  State forestCounty Area Date
founded  		Remarks  
390acres 1921 Named after the poet who died during World War I. Includes old growth forest remnants.[3] [4]
Algerine Swamp Natural AreaTiadaghtonLycoming, Tioga84acres Includes a glacial bog.[5] [6]
Anders Run Natural AreaWarren96acres 1987Includes a stone house built in 1841.[7] [8]
Bark Cabin Natural AreaTiadaghtonLycoming7acres Traversed by the Mid State Trail; features old growth hemlocks.[9]
Bear Meadows Natural AreaRothrockCentre890acres1965Also a National Natural Landmark.[10]
Bear Run Natural AreaBald EagleCentre32acres[11] [12]
Beartown Woods Natural AreaMichauxFranklin27acresAccessible via the Appalachian Trail.[13] [14]
Big Flat Laurel Natural AreaRothrockCentre, Huntingdon184acres[15]
Black Ash Swamp Natural AreaTiogaTioga308acres[16] [17]
Bruce Lake Natural AreaDelawarePike2845acresIncludes both a natural glacial lake and a man-made lake.[18] [19]
Buckhorn Natural AreaDelawarePike535acresAlso a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area.[20]
Carbaugh Run Natural AreaMichauxAdams780acresAlso a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area, and founded to protect Native American archeological sites.[21]
Charles F. Lewis Natural AreaGallitzinIndiana384acresNamed after an area journalist and conservationist.[22] [23]
Cranberry Swamp Natural AreaSproulClinton144acresEncompasses a boreal swamp.[24] [25]
David R. Johnson Natural AreaWilliam PennBucks56acresNamed for its former landowner.[26] [27]
Detweiler Run Natural AreaRothrockHuntingdon463acresAlso a designated Important Bird Area.[28]
Devil's Elbow Natural AreaLoyalsockLycoming404acresProtects a population of pitcher plants.[29] [30]
East Branch Swamp Natural AreaSproulClinton186acres[31]
Forrest H. Dutlinger Natural AreaSusquehannockClinton1521acresNamed after an early Commonwealth forester; includes old growth forest remnants.[32] [33]
Frank E. Masland Natural AreaTuscaroraPerry1270acresAlso a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area.[34] [35]
Halfway Run Natural AreaBald EagleUnion407acres[36]
Hemlocks Natural AreaTuscaroraPerry120acres[37]
The Hook Natural AreaBald EagleUnion5119acresEncompasses an entire regional watershed.[38]
Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural AreaTuscaroraPerry10acres1967Features a rare box huckleberry colony believed to be more than 1,300 years old.[39]
Jakey Hollow Natural AreaWeiserColumbia59acres1990[40] [41]
Johnson Run Natural AreaElkCameron216acres[42] [43]
Joyce Kilmer Natural AreaBald EagleUnion77acres1921Named after the poet and naturalist.[44]
Kettle Creek Gorge Natural AreaLoyalsockSullivan774acres1970Traversed by the Loyalsock Trail.[45]
Lebo Red Pine Natural AreaTiadaghtonLycoming124acres Encompasses an uncommon (for Pennsylvania) unplanted grove of red pines.[46]
Little Juniata Natural AreaRothrockHuntingdon624acres[47]
Little Mud Pond Swamp Natural AreaDelawarePike182acresEncompasses a boreal swamp.[48]
Little Tinicum Island Natural AreaWilliam PennDelaware80acresAn island in the Delaware River.[49]
Lower Jerry Run Natural AreaElkCameron892acres[50]
Marion Brooks Natural AreaMoshannonElk975acresNamed after an area conservationist. Includes one of the largest known stands of white birch trees in the eastern United States.[51] [52]
Meeting of the Pines Natural AreaMichauxFranklin611acres1974 Adjacent to the Penn State Mont Alto campus.[53]
Miller Run Natural AreaTiadaghtonLycoming4992acres [54]
M.K. Goddard/Wykoff Run Natural AreaElkCameron1215acres1965Features industrial ruins from nuclear research in the 1950s-60s. Partially renamed in the 2010s as a tribute to Maurice K. Goddard.[55]
Mount Cydonia Ponds Natural AreaMichauxFranklin183acresEncompasses about 60 vernal ponds.[56]
Mount Davis Natural AreaForbesSomerset581acresIncludes the highest point in Pennsylvania.[57]
Mount Logan Natural AreaBald EagleClinton512acresAlso a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area.[58]
Pennel Run Natural AreaDelawarePike936acres[59]
Pine Creek Gorge Natural AreaTiogaTioga12163acres1968Also a National Natural Landmark; largest of the State Forest Natural Areas. Traversed by the West Rim Trail and Pine Creek Rail Trail.[60]
Pine Lake Natural AreaDelawarePike67acres[61]
Pine Ridge Natural AreaBuchananBedford568acres1970 Features reclaimed farms and resettlement lands.[62] [63]
Pine Tree Trail Natural AreaElkElk276acresNamed after an interpretative trail featuring educational exhibits.[64]
Reynolds Spring Natural AreaTiogaLycoming, Tioga1302acres[65]
Roaring Run Natural AreaForbesWestmoreland3582acres1975[66] [67]
Rocky Ridge Natural AreaRothrockHuntingdon150acres[68]
Rosencrans Bog Natural AreaBald EagleClinton152acres[69]
Ruth Zimmerman Natural AreaWilliam PennBerks33acresNamed after its former landowner; consists of two tracts.[70]
Sheets Island Archipelago Natural AreaWeiserDauphin70acresA series of islands in the Susquehanna River.[71]
Snyder-Middleswarth Natural AreaBald EagleSnyder500acres1921Includes old growth forest that was scheduled to be logged in 1902.[72]
Spruce Swamp Natural AreaPinchotLackawanna87acresIncludes a glacial bog.[73] [74]
Stillwater Natural AreaDelawarePike1931acresTraversed by the Thunder Swamp Trail. Originated as a sanctuary for Civil War deserters.[75]
Sweet Root Natural AreaBuchananBedford1400acres1921Includes old-growth hemlocks demonstrating woolly adelgid damage.[76]
Tall Timbers Natural AreaBald EagleSnyder660acres[77]
Tamarack Run Natural AreaLoyalsockSullivan234acres[78]
Tamarack Swamp Natural AreaSproulClinton267acres1998Includes a boreal bog.[79]
Torbert Island Natural AreaTiadaghtonLycoming18acres A large island and smaller nearby islands in Pine Creek.[80]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Fergus, Charles . Natural Pennsylvania: Exploring the State Forest Natural Areas. . Stackpole Books . 2002 . Mechanicsburg, PA.
  2. News: Guidelines and Definitions for Natural Areas & Wild Areas . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources . June 2016 . 1.
  3. Web site: Rothrock State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  4. Fergus, p. 63-67
  5. Fergus, p. 143-146
  6. Web site: Tiadaghton State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  7. Web site: Cornplanter State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  8. Fergus, p. 199-202
  9. Fergus, p. 147-148
  10. Fergus, p. 67-72
  11. Web site: Bald Eagle State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  12. Fergus, p. 93
  13. Web site: Michaux State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  14. Fergus, p. 27
  15. Fergus, p. 72-76
  16. Web site: Tioga State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  17. Fergus, p. 187-189
  18. Web site: Delaware State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  19. Fergus, p. 122-125
  20. Fergus, p. 126-128
  21. Fergus, p. 28-31
  22. Web site: Gallitzin State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  23. Fergus, p. 89-92
  24. Web site: Sproul State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  25. Fergus, p. 159-161
  26. Web site: William Penn State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  27. Fergus, p. 15-16
  28. Fergus, p. 76-79
  29. Web site: Loyalsock State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  30. Fergus, p. 149-151
  31. Fergus, p. 161-163
  32. Web site: Susquehannock State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  33. Fergus, p. 183-186
  34. Web site: Tuscarora State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  35. Fergus, p. 50-52
  36. Fergus, p. 94-97
  37. Fergus, p. 53-55
  38. Fergus, p. 97-101
  39. Fergus, p. 47-50
  40. Web site: Weiser State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  41. Fergus, p. 136-138
  42. Web site: Elk State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  43. Fergus, p. 172-173
  44. Fergus, p. 101-103
  45. Fergus, p. 140-142
  46. Fergus, p. 152-154
  47. Fergus, p. 79-83
  48. Fergus, p. 129
  49. Fergus, p. 16-20
  50. Fergus, p. 174-178
  51. Web site: Moshannon State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  52. Fergus, p. 117-120
  53. Fergus, p. 31-34
  54. Fergus, p. 154-157
  55. Fergus, p. 181-183
  56. Fergus, p. 35-39
  57. Fergus, p. 55-58
  58. Fergus, p. 103-107
  59. Fergus, p.130-131
  60. Fergus, p. 189-193
  61. Fergus, p. 131-133
  62. Web site: Buchanan State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  63. Fergus, p. 40-43
  64. Fergus, p. 178-180
  65. Fergus, p. 194-199
  66. Web site: Forbes State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  67. Fergus, p. 58-62
  68. Fergus, p. 84-88
  69. Fergus, p. 107-109
  70. Fergus, p. 20-23
  71. Fergus, p. 23-26
  72. Fergus, p. 109-114
  73. Web site: Pinchot State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2023-12-16 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
  74. Fergus, p. 120-122
  75. Fergus, p. 133-136
  76. Fergus, p. 43-47
  77. Fergus, p. 114-116
  78. Fergus, p. 138-140
  79. Fergus, p. 164-167
  80. Fergus, p. 157-159

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