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List of Pennsylvania state forest natural areas

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A stand of white birch trees in Marion Brooks Natural Area, an example of the types of ecosystem protected by the Commonwealth

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.[1]

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

Natural area name   State forest County  Area  Date
founded   		Remarks  
Alan Seeger Natural Area Rothrock Huntingdon 390 acres (158 ha) 1921 Named after the poet who died during World War I. Includes old growth forest remnants.[3][4]
Algerine Swamp Natural Area Tiadaghton Lycoming, Tioga 84 acres (34 ha) Includes a glacial bog.[5][6]
Anders Run Natural Area Cornplanter Warren 96 acres (39 ha) 1987 Includes a stone house built in 1841.[7][8]
Bark Cabin Natural Area Tiadaghton Lycoming 7 acres (3 ha) Traversed by the Mid State Trail; features old growth hemlocks.[6][9]
Bear Meadows Natural Area Rothrock Centre 890 acres (360 ha) 1965 Also a National Natural Landmark.[3][10]
Bear Run Natural Area Bald Eagle Centre 32 acres (13 ha) [11][12]
Beartown Woods Natural Area Michaux Franklin 27 acres (11 ha) Accessible via the Appalachian Trail.[13][14]
Big Flat Laurel Natural Area Rothrock Centre, Huntingdon 184 acres (74 ha) [3][15]
Black Ash Swamp Natural Area Tioga Tioga 308 acres (125 ha) [16][17]
Bruce Lake Natural Area Delaware Pike 2,845 acres (1,151 ha) Includes both a natural glacial lake and a man-made lake.[18][19]
Buckhorn Natural Area Delaware Pike 535 acres (217 ha) Also a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area.[18][20]
Carbaugh Run Natural Area Michaux Adams 780 acres (316 ha) Also a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area, and founded to protect Native American archeological sites.[13][21]
Charles F. Lewis Natural Area Gallitzin Indiana 384 acres (155 ha) Named after an area journalist and conservationist.[22][23]
Cranberry Swamp Natural Area Sproul Clinton 144 acres (58 ha) Encompasses a boreal swamp.[24][25]
David R. Johnson Natural Area William Penn Bucks 56 acres (23 ha) Named for its former landowner.[26][27]
Detweiler Run Natural Area Rothrock Huntingdon 463 acres (187 ha) Also a designated Important Bird Area.[3][28]
Devil's Elbow Natural Area Loyalsock Lycoming 404 acres (163 ha) Protects a population of pitcher plants.[29][30]
East Branch Swamp Natural Area Sproul Clinton 186 acres (75 ha) [24][31]
Forrest H. Dutlinger Natural Area Susquehannock Clinton 1,521 acres (616 ha) Named after an early Commonwealth forester; includes old growth forest remnants.[32][33]
Frank E. Masland Natural Area Tuscarora Perry 1,270 acres (514 ha) Also a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area.[34][35]
Halfway Run Natural Area Bald Eagle Union 407 acres (165 ha) [11][36]
Hemlocks Natural Area Tuscarora Perry 120 acres (49 ha) [34][37]
The Hook Natural Area Bald Eagle Union 5,119 acres (2,072 ha) Encompasses an entire regional watershed.[11][38]
Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area Tuscarora Perry 10 acres (4 ha) 1967 Features a rare box huckleberry colony believed to be more than 1,300 years old.[34][39]
Jakey Hollow Natural Area Weiser Columbia 59 acres (24 ha) 1990 [40][41]
Johnson Run Natural Area Elk Cameron 216 acres (87 ha) [42][43]
Joyce Kilmer Natural Area Bald Eagle Union 77 acres (31 ha) 1921 Named after the poet and naturalist.[11][44]
Kettle Creek Gorge Natural Area Loyalsock Sullivan 774 acres (313 ha) 1970 Traversed by the Loyalsock Trail.[29][45]
Lebo Red Pine Natural Area Tiadaghton Lycoming 124 acres (50 ha) Encompasses an uncommon (for Pennsylvania) unplanted grove of red pines.[6][46]
Little Juniata Natural Area Rothrock Huntingdon 624 acres (253 ha) [3][47]
Little Mud Pond Swamp Natural Area Delaware Pike 182 acres (74 ha) Encompasses a boreal swamp.[18][48]
Little Tinicum Island Natural Area William Penn Delaware 80 acres (32 ha) An island in the Delaware River.[26][49]
Lower Jerry Run Natural Area Elk Cameron 892 acres (361 ha) [42][50]
Marion Brooks Natural Area Moshannon Elk 975 acres (395 ha) Named 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 Area Michaux Franklin 611 acres (247 ha) 1974 Adjacent to the Penn State Mont Alto campus.[13][53]
Miller Run Natural Area Tiadaghton Lycoming 4,992 acres (2,020 ha) [6][54]
M.K. Goddard/Wykoff Run Natural Area Elk Cameron 1,215 acres (492 ha) 1965 Features industrial ruins from nuclear research in the 1950s-60s. Partially renamed in the 2010s as a tribute to Maurice K. Goddard.[42][55]
Mount Cydonia Ponds Natural Area Michaux Franklin 183 acres (74 ha) Encompasses about 60 vernal ponds.[13][56]
Mount Davis Natural Area Forbes Somerset 581 acres (235 ha) Includes the highest point in Pennsylvania.[57][58]
Mount Logan Natural Area Bald Eagle Clinton 512 acres (207 ha) Also a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area.[11][59]
Pennel Run Natural Area Delaware Pike 936 acres (379 ha) [18][60]
Pine Creek Gorge Natural Area Tioga Tioga 12,163 acres (4,922 ha) 1968 Also a National Natural Landmark; largest of the State Forest Natural Areas. Traversed by the West Rim Trail and Pine Creek Rail Trail.[16][61]
Pine Lake Natural Area Delaware Pike 67 acres (27 ha) [18][62]
Pine Ridge Natural Area Buchanan Bedford 568 acres (230 ha) 1970 Features reclaimed farms and resettlement lands.[63][64]
Pine Tree Trail Natural Area Elk Elk 276 acres (112 ha) Named after an interpretative trail featuring educational exhibits.[42][65]
Reynolds Spring Natural Area Tioga Lycoming, Tioga 1,302 acres (527 ha) [16][66]
Roaring Run Natural Area Forbes Westmoreland 3,582 acres (1,450 ha) 1975 [57][67]
Rocky Ridge Natural Area Rothrock Huntingdon 150 acres (61 ha) [3][68]
Rosencrans Bog Natural Area Bald Eagle Clinton 152 acres (62 ha) [11][69]
Ruth Zimmerman Natural Area William Penn Berks 33 acres (13 ha) Named after its former landowner; consists of two tracts.[26][70]
Sheets Island Archipelago Natural Area Weiser Dauphin 70 acres (28 ha) A series of islands in the Susquehanna River.[40][71]
Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area Bald Eagle Snyder 500 acres (202 ha) 1921 Includes old growth forest that was scheduled to be logged in 1902.[11][72]
Spruce Swamp Natural Area Pinchot Lackawanna 87 acres (35 ha) Includes a glacial bog.[73][74]
Stillwater Natural Area Delaware Pike 1,931 acres (781 ha) Traversed by the Thunder Swamp Trail. Originated as a sanctuary for Civil War deserters.[18][75]
Sweet Root Natural Area Buchanan Bedford 1,400 acres (567 ha) 1921 Includes old-growth hemlocks demonstrating woolly adelgid damage.[63][76]
Tall Timbers Natural Area Bald Eagle Snyder 660 acres (267 ha) [11][77]
Tamarack Run Natural Area Loyalsock Sullivan 234 acres (95 ha) [29][78]
Tamarack Swamp Natural Area Sproul Clinton 267 acres (108 ha) 1998 Includes a boreal bog.[24][79]
Torbert Island Natural Area Tiadaghton Lycoming 18 acres (7 ha) A large island and smaller nearby islands in Pine Creek.[6][80]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Fergus, Charles (2002). Natural Pennsylvania: Exploring the State Forest Natural Areas. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books.
  2. ^ "Guidelines and Definitions for Natural Areas & Wild Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. June 2016. p. 1.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Rothrock State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  4. ^ Fergus, p. 63-67
  5. ^ Fergus, p. 143-146
  6. ^ a b c d e "Tiadaghton State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  7. ^ "Cornplanter State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  8. ^ Fergus, p. 199-202
  9. ^ Fergus, p. 147-148
  10. ^ Fergus, p. 67-72
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h "Bald Eagle State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  12. ^ Fergus, p. 93
  13. ^ a b c d "Michaux State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  14. ^ Fergus, p. 27
  15. ^ Fergus, p. 72-76
  16. ^ a b c "Tioga State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  17. ^ Fergus, p. 187-189
  18. ^ a b c d e f "Delaware State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  19. ^ Fergus, p. 122-125
  20. ^ Fergus, p. 126-128
  21. ^ Fergus, p. 28-31
  22. ^ "Gallitzin State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  23. ^ Fergus, p. 89-92
  24. ^ a b c "Sproul State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  25. ^ Fergus, p. 159-161
  26. ^ a b c "William Penn State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  27. ^ Fergus, p. 15-16
  28. ^ Fergus, p. 76-79
  29. ^ a b c "Loyalsock State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  30. ^ Fergus, p. 149-151
  31. ^ Fergus, p. 161-163
  32. ^ "Susquehannock State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  33. ^ Fergus, p. 183-186
  34. ^ a b c "Tuscarora State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  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. ^ a b "Weiser State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  41. ^ Fergus, p. 136-138
  42. ^ a b c d "Elk State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  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. ^ "Moshannon State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  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. ^ a b "Forbes State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  58. ^ Fergus, p. 55-58
  59. ^ Fergus, p. 103-107
  60. ^ Fergus, p.130-131
  61. ^ Fergus, p. 189-193
  62. ^ Fergus, p. 131-133
  63. ^ a b "Buchanan State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  64. ^ Fergus, p. 40-43
  65. ^ Fergus, p. 178-180
  66. ^ Fergus, p. 194-199
  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. ^ "Pinchot State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  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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