Search destinations by name, region, activity, or distance. Stories and videos support each place—the destination information comes first.
20 places
Bald Eagle State Forest, named for the famous Native American, Chief Bald Eagle, includes 193,424 acres in Snyder, Union, Centre, Mifflin, and Clinton counties. It spans across the high, sharp ridges of central Pennsylvania and features miles pristine mountain streams and numerous tracts of old growth forest.
Buchanan State Forest covers 71,683 acres across Franklin, Fulton, and Bedford counties. Its 19 tracts occupy upper slopes in Pennsylvania's southern Ridge and Valley region, with mixed oak forests, pine groves, and cool ravines.
Bedford, Franklin, Fulton CountyClear Creek State Forest comprises 14,431 acres in Jefferson, Venango and forest counties. Many of its acres hug the Clarion and Allegheny rivers. Other tracts rest on the Allegheny Plateau and grow a diverse collections of trees, including red and white oak, red maple, birch, beech and tulip poplar. Clear Creek is one of eight state forests located in the PA Wilds region.
Named in honor of Chief Cornplanter,the famous Native American leader of the Seneca tribe, who maintained peace between the fledgling United States government and the Iroquois from 1784 to 1812. Today, Cornplanter State Forest covers 1,585 acres in Forest, Crawford and Warren counties. It is one of eight state forests located in the PA Wilds region.
Delaware State Forest totals 80,267 acres in Pike, Monroe, Northampton, and Carbon counties. Named for the Delaware River, the forest is characteristic of the Pocono region, with remote glacial lakes and bogs rich with plants, wildlife and scenic beauty.
Elk State Forest derives its name from the great numbers of elk that once thrived in the area. Located mainly in Elk and Cameron counties, it comprises 200,000 acres of northern hardwood forest. Today, visitors can once again see elk in the meadows and openings scattered throughout the state forest. This is one of eight state forests located in the PA Wilds region and features the Elk Country Visitor Center and a portion of the Elk Scenic Drive.
Forbes State Forest was named for Gen. John Forbes, who, in 1758, ordered the construction of a road from Bedford to Fort Pitt for the British Armys attack on Fort Duquesne. The forest comprises 15 tracts totaling almost 59,000 acres in Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties. Forbes spreads across the high ridges of the Laurel Highlands, including the 3,213-ft. Mt. Davis, the highest point in PA.
Gallitzin State Forest was named in honor of Dimetrius Augustine Gallitzin, Prince-Priest of the Alleghenies, who established a mission at Loretto in Cambria Country in 1795. The forest is composed of 24,183 acres in northern Somerset, Bedford Cambria and Indiana counties. Much of Gallitzin rests on the Allegheny Front and the Laurel Ridge.
Loyalsock State Forest is named for the Loyalsock Creek, a scenic freestone stream that winds through the heart of its 114,494 acres. The forest spans across the northern tiers Endless Mountains and features flaming fall foliage and cascading waterfalls.
Michaux State Forest encompasses more than 85,000 acres in the South Mountain area of Cumberland, Franklin and Adams counties. Considered Pennsylvanias cradle of forestry, Michaux is the site of first forestry school, Mont Alto. The forest is named for the French botanist, Andre Michaux, who discovered and named many plants in the 18th century.
Moshannon State Forest derives its name from Moss-hanne, or moose stream, the Native American description of the waterway that runs through the area. The forest totals 190,012 acres on the Allegheny Plateau. It lies primarily in Clearfield, Elk, and Centre counties with small tracts in Cameron and Clinton counties and is one of eight state forests located in the PA Wilds region.
Pinchot State Forest is named in recognition of Gifford Pinchot’s monumental contributions to forestry and his legacy of forest land conservation. Pinchot turned a childhood interest in nature into a distinguished career protecting forests and a founding role in America’s emerging conservation movement.
Rothrock State Forest is named for Dr. Joseph Trimble Rothrock, a native of Mifflin County and the Commonwealths first forestry commissioner. He is recognized as the Father of Forestry in Pennsylvania. Rothrock State Forest comprises 96,956 acres that spread across the rugged ridges of Huntingdon, Centre and Mifflin counties.
Sproul State Forest is located in north-central Pennsylvania, primarily in western Clinton and northern Centre counties. The largest in the state forest system, Sproul covers 305,450 acres, or slightly more than 476 square miles. It features steep and rugged hillsides cut by the West Branch of the Susquehanna and its tributaries. This is one of eight state forests located in the PA Wilds region.
Susquehannock State Forest derives its name from the Susquehannock tribe that once inhabited the region. It comprises 265,000 acres in Potter, Clinton and McKean counties. The forest grows some of the most productive stands of black cherry trees in the world and is one of eight state forests located in the PA Wilds region.
Tiadaghton State Forest is comprised of 155,000 acres mostly in Lycoming County. Other tracts extend into Tioga, Sullivan, Potter, Clinton, and Union counties. Tiadaghtons forest features high-country flats bisected by clean, fast-moving mountain streams, including the legendary Pine Creek and Slate Run. It is one of eight state forests located in the PA Wilds region.
Tioga State Forest derives its name from the Seneca phrase meeting of two rivers. It covers 160,000 acres in Bradford and Tioga counties. The forest hosts the Pine Creek Gorge, also known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Tioga features awe-inspiring views and miles of clean, cool streams, like Cedar Run and Babbs Creek and is one of eight state forests located in the PA Wilds region.
Tuscarora State Forest derives its name from Tuscarora Mountain, which was named for the Iroquois-nation tribe that once inhabited the area. Comprising 95,780 acres, the Tuscarora includes tracts in Cumberland, Franklin, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, and Perry counties.The forest spans across the heart of south-central Pennsylvanias distinctive ridges and mountain gaps.
Weiser State Forest is located in the ridge-and-valley region of eastern PA. Named for the frontier diplomat, Conrad Weiser, the forest covers almost 30,000 acres on 16 tracts throughout the region. Weiser also encompasses a series of river islands on the Susquehanna River called the Sheets Island Archipelago.
Named for the founder of Penns Woods, William Penn State Forest contains 901 acres in five separate tracts across southeastern PA. The forest protects and conserves unique Pennsylvania ecosystems, including the Goat Hill Serpentine Barrens and Little Tinicum Island on the Delaware River.