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.

Natual area name   State forest County  Area  Date
founded  		 Remarks  
Alan Seeger Natural AreaRothrockHuntingdon390 acres (158 ha)1921Named after the poet who died during World War I. Includes old growth forest remnants.[3][4]
Algerine Swamp Natural AreaTiadaghtonLycoming, Tioga84 acres (34 ha)Includes a glacial bog.[5][6]
Anders Run Natural AreaCornplanterWarren96 acres (39 ha)1987Includes a stone house built in 1841.[7][8]
Bark Cabin Natural AreaTiadaghtonLycoming7 acres (3 ha)Traversed by the Mid State Trail; features old growth hemlocks.[6][9]
Bear Meadows Natural AreaRothrockCentre890 acres (360 ha)1965Also a National Natural Landmark.[3][10]
Bear Run Natural AreaBald EagleCentre32 acres (13 ha)[11][12]
Beartown Woods Natural AreaMichauxFranklin27 acres (11 ha)Accessible via the Appalachian Trail.[13][14]
Big Flat Laurel Natural AreaRothrockCentre, Huntingdon184 acres (74 ha)[3][15]
Black Ash Swamp Natural AreaTiogaTioga308 acres (125 ha)[16][17]
Bruce Lake Natural AreaDelawarePike2,845 acres (1,151 ha)Includes both a natural glacial lake and a man-made lake.[18][19]
Buckhorn Natural AreaDelawarePike535 acres (217 ha)Also a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area.[18][20]
Carbaugh Run Natural AreaMichauxAdams780 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 AreaGallitzinIndiana384 acres (155 ha)Named after an area journalist and conservationist.[22][23]
Cranberry Swamp Natural AreaSproulClinton144 acres (58 ha)Encompasses a boreal swamp.[24][25]
David R. Johnson Natural AreaWilliam PennBucks56 acres (23 ha)Named for its former landowner.[26][27]
Detweiler Run Natural AreaRothrockHuntingdon463 acres (187 ha)Also a designated Important Bird Area.[3][28]
Devil’s Elbow Natural AreaLoyalsockLycoming404 acres (163 ha)Protects a population of pitcher plants.[29][30]
East Branch Swamp Natural AreaSproulClinton186 acres (75 ha)[24][31]
Forrest H. Dutlinger Natural AreaSusquehannockClinton1,521 acres (616 ha)Named after an early Commonwealth forester; includes old growth forest remnants.[32][33]
Frank E. Masland Natural AreaTuscaroraPerry1,270 acres (514 ha)Also a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area.[34][35]
Halfway Run Natural AreaBald EagleUnion407 acres (165 ha)[11][36]
Hemlocks Natural AreaTuscaroraPerry120 acres (49 ha)[34][37]
The Hook Natural AreaBald EagleUnion5,119 acres (2,072 ha)Encompasses an entire regional watershed.[11][38]
Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural AreaTuscaroraPerry10 acres (4 ha)1967Features a rare box huckleberry colony believed to be more than 1,300 years old.[34][39]
Jakey Hollow Natural AreaWeiserColumbia59 acres (24 ha)1990[40][41]
Johnson Run Natural AreaElkCameron216 acres (87 ha)[42][43]
Joyce Kilmer Run Natural AreaBald EagleUnion77 acres (31 ha)1921Named after the poet and naturalist.[11][44]
Kettle Creek Gorge Natural AreaLoyalsockSullivan770 acres (312 ha)Traversed by the Loyalsock Trail.[29][45]
Lebo Red Pine Natural AreaTiadaghtonLycoming124 acres (50 ha)Encompasses an uncommon (for Pennsylvania) unplanted grove of red pines.[6][46]
Little Juniata Natural AreaRothrockHuntingdon624 acres (253 ha)[3][47]
Little Mud Pond Swamp Natural AreaDelawarePike182 acres (74 ha)Encompasses a boreal swamp.[18][48]
Little Tinicum Island Natural AreaWilliam PennDelaware80 acres (32 ha)An island in the Delaware River.[26][49]
Lower Jerry Run Natural AreaElkCameron892 acres (361 ha)[42][50]
Marion Brooks Natural AreaMoshannonElk975 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 AreaMichauxFranklin611 acres (247 ha)Adjacent to the Penn State Mont Alto campus.[13][53]
Miller Run Natural AreaTiadaghtonLycoming4,992 acres (2,020 ha)[6][54]
M.K. Goddard/Wykoff Run Natural AreaElkCameron1,215 acres (492 ha)1965Features industrial ruins from nuclear research in the 1950s-60s. Partially renamed in the 2010s as a tribute to Maurice K. Goddard.[42][55]
Mt. Cydonia Ponds Natural AreaMichauxFranklin183 acres (74 ha)Encompasses about 60 vernal ponds.[13][56]
Mt. Davis Natural AreaForbesSomerset581 acres (235 ha)Includes the highest point in Pennsylvania.[57][58]
Mt. Logan Natural AreaBald EagleClinton512 acres (207 ha)Also a designated Reptile and Amphibian Protection Area.[11][59]
Pennel Run Natural AreaDelawarePike936 acres (379 ha)[18][60]
Pine Creek Gorge Natural AreaTiogaTioga12,163 acres (4,922 ha)1968Also 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 AreaDelawarePike67 acres (27 ha)[18][62]
Pine Ridge Natural AreaBuchananBedford568 acres (230 ha)Features reclaimed farms and resettlement lands.[63][64]
Pine Tree Trail Natural AreaElkElk276 acres (112 ha)Named after an interpretative trail featuring educational exhibits.[42][65]
Reynolds Spring Natural AreaTiogaLycoming, Tioga1,302 acres (527 ha)[16][66]
Roaring Run Natural AreaForbesWestmoreland3,500 acres (1,416 ha)1975[57][67]
Rocky Ridge Natural AreaRothrockHuntingdon150 acres (61 ha)[3][68]
Rosencrans Bog Natural AreaBald EagleClinton152 acres (62 ha)[11][69]
Ruth Zimmerman Natural AreaWilliam PennBerks33 acres (13 ha)Named after its former landowner; consists of two tracts.[26][70]
Sheets Island Archipelago Natural AreaWeiserDauphin70 acres (28 ha)A series of islands in the Susquehanna River.[40][71]
Snyder-Middleswarth Natural AreaBald EagleSnyder500 acres (202 ha)1921Includes old growth forest that was scheduled to be logged in 1902.[11][72]
Spruce Swamp Natural AreaPinchotLackawanna87 acres (35 ha)Includes a glacial bog.[73][74]
Stillwater Natural AreaDelawarePike1,931 acres (781 ha)Traversed by the Thunder Swamp Trail. Originated as a sanctuary for Civil War deserters.[18][75]
Sweet Root Natural AreaBuchananBedford1,400 acres (567 ha)1921Includes old-growth hemlocks demonstrating woolly adelgid damage.[63][76]
Tall Timbers Natural AreaBald EagleSnyder660 acres (267 ha)[11][77]
Tamarack Run Natural AreaLoyalsockSullivan234 acres (95 ha)[29][78]
Tamarack Swamp Natural AreaSproulClinton267 acres (108 ha)1998Includes a boreal bog.[24][79]
Torbert Island Natural AreaTiadaghtonLycoming18 acres (7 ha)An island in Pine Creek.[6][80]

References

  1. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Bald Eagle State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  12. ↑ Fergus, p. 93
  13. 1 2 3 4 "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. 1 2 3 "Tioga State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  17. ↑ Fergus, p. 187-189
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. 1 2 3 "Sproul State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  25. ↑ Fergus, p. 159-161
  26. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "Weiser State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  41. ↑ Fergus, p. 136-138
  42. 1 2 3 4 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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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