The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the United States includes 58 natural areas in its State Forest system. 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." 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 Alan Seeger Natural Area Rothrock Huntingdon 1921 Named after the poet who died during World War I. Includes old growth forest remnants.Fergus, p. 63-67 Algerine Swamp Natural AreaTiadaghton Lycoming, Tioga Includes a glacial bog.Fergus, p. 143-146 Anders Run Natural AreaCornplanter Warren 1987Includes a stone house built in 1841.Fergus, p. 199-202 Bark Cabin Natural Area Tiadaghton Lycoming Traversed by the Mid State Trail; features old growth hemlocks.Fergus, p. 147-148 Bear Meadows Natural Area Rothrock Centre 1965Also a National Natural Landmark.Fergus, p. 67-72 Bear Run Natural Area Bald Eagle Centre Fergus, p. 93 Beartown Woods Natural Area Michaux Franklin Accessible via the Appalachian Trail.Fergus, p. 27 Big Flat Laurel Natural Area Rothrock Centre, Huntingdon Fergus, p. 72-76 Black Ash Swamp Natural Area Tioga Tioga Fergus, p. 187-189 Bruce Lake Natural Area Delaware Pike Includes both a natural glacial lake and a man-made lake.Fergus, p. 122-125 Buckhorn Natural Area Delaware Pike Also a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area.Fergus, p. 126-128 Carbaugh Run Natural Area Michaux Adams Also a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area, and founded to protect Native American archeological sites.Fergus, p. 28-31 Charles F. Lewis Natural Area Gallitzin Indiana Named after an area journalist and conservationist.Fergus, p. 89-92 Cranberry Swamp Natural Area Sproul Clinton Encompasses a boreal swamp.Fergus, p. 159-161 David R. Johnson Natural Area William Penn Bucks Named for its former landowner.Fergus, p. 15-16 Detweiler Run Natural Area Rothrock Huntingdon Also a designated Important Bird Area.Fergus, p. 76-79 Devil's Elbow Natural Area Loyalsock Lycoming Protects a population of pitcher plants.Fergus, p. 149-151 East Branch Swamp Natural Area Sproul Clinton Fergus, p. 161-163 Forrest H. Dutlinger Natural Area Susquehannock Clinton Named after an early Commonwealth forester; includes old growth forest remnants.Fergus, p. 183-186 Frank E. Masland Jr. Natural Area Tuscarora Perry Also a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area.Fergus, p. 50-52 Halfway Run Natural Area Bald Eagle Union Fergus, p. 94-97 Hemlocks Natural Area Tuscarora Perry Fergus, p. 53-55 The Hook Natural Area Bald Eagle Union Encompasses an entire regional watershed.Fergus, p. 97-101 Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area Tuscarora Perry 1967Features a rare box huckleberry colony believed to be more than 1,300 years old.Fergus, p. 47-50 Jakey Hollow Natural Area Weiser Columbia 1990Fergus, p. 136-138 Johnson Run Natural Area Elk Cameron Fergus, p. 172-173 Joyce Kilmer Natural Area Bald Eagle Union 1921Named after the poet and naturalist.Fergus, p. 101-103 Kettle Creek Gorge Natural Area Loyalsock Sullivan 1970Traversed by the Loyalsock Trail.Fergus, p. 140-142 Lebo Red Pine Natural Area Tiadaghton Lycoming Encompasses an uncommon (for Pennsylvania) unplanted grove of red pines.Fergus, p. 152-154 Little Juniata Natural Area Rothrock Huntingdon Fergus, p. 79-83 Little Mud Pond Swamp Natural Area Delaware Pike Encompasses a boreal swamp.Fergus, p. 129 Little Tinicum Island Natural Area William Penn Delaware An island in the Delaware River.Fergus, p. 16-20 Lower Jerry Run Natural Area Elk Cameron Fergus, p. 174-178 Marion Brooks Natural Area Moshannon Elk Named after an area conservationist. Includes one of the largest known stands of white birch trees in the eastern United States.Fergus, p. 117-120 Meeting of the Pines Natural Area Michaux Franklin 1974 Adjacent to the Penn State Mont Alto campus.Fergus, p. 31-34 Miller Run Natural Area Tiadaghton Lycoming Fergus, p. 154-157 M.K. Goddard/Wykoff Run Natural Area Elk Cameron 1965Features industrial ruins from nuclear research in the 1950s-60s. Partially renamed in the 2010s as a tribute to Maurice K. Goddard.Fergus, p. 181-183 Mount Cydonia Ponds Natural Area Michaux Franklin Encompasses about 60 vernal ponds.Fergus, p. 35-39 Mount Davis Natural Area Forbes Somerset Includes the highest point in Pennsylvania.Fergus, p. 55-58 Mount Logan Natural Area Bald Eagle Clinton Also a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area.Fergus, p. 103-107 Pennel Run Natural Area Delaware Pike Fergus, p.130-131 Pine Creek Gorge Natural Area Tioga Tioga Also a National Natural Landmark; largest of the State Forest Natural Areas. Traversed by the West Rim Trail and Pine Creek Rail Trail.Fergus, p. 189-193 Pine Lake Natural Area Delaware Pike Fergus, p. 131-133 Pine Ridge Natural Area Buchanan Bedford 1970 Features reclaimed farms and resettlement lands.Fergus, p. 40-43 Pine Tree Trail Natural Area Elk Elk Named after an interpretative trail featuring educational exhibits.Fergus, p. 178-180 Reynolds Spring Natural Area Tioga Lycoming, Tioga Fergus, p. 194-199 Roaring Run Natural Area Forbes Westmoreland 1975Fergus, p. 58-62 Rocky Ridge Natural Area Rothrock Huntingdon Fergus, p. 84-88 Rosecrans Bog Natural Area Bald Eagle Clinton Fergus, p. 107-109 Ruth Zimmerman Natural Area William Penn Berks Named after its former landowner; consists of two tracts.Fergus, p. 20-23 Sheets Island Archipelago Natural Area Weiser Dauphin A series of islands in the Susquehanna River.Fergus, p. 23-26 Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area Bald Eagle Snyder 1921Includes old growth forest that was scheduled to be logged in 1902.Fergus, p. 109-114 Spruce Swamp Natural Area Pinchot Lackawanna Includes a glacial bog.Fergus, p. 120-122 Stillwater Natural Area Delaware Pike Traversed by the Thunder Swamp Trail. Originated as a sanctuary for Civil War deserters.Fergus, p. 133-136 Sweet Root Natural Area Buchanan Bedford Includes old-growth hemlocks demonstrating woolly adelgid damage.Fergus, p. 43-47 Tall Timbers Natural Area Bald Eagle Snyder Fergus, p. 114-116 Tamarack Run Natural Area Loyalsock Sullivan Fergus, p. 138-140 Tamarack Swamp Natural Area Sproul Clinton 1998Includes a boreal bog.Fergus, p. 164-167 Torbert Island Natural Area Tiadaghton Lycoming A large island and smaller nearby islands in Pine Creek.Fergus, p. 157-159
See also List of Pennsylvania state forests List of Pennsylvania state forest wild areas
References