Pinchot State Forest

Seven Tubs Recreation Area

The Seven Tubs Recreation Area (PDF)(opens in a new tab) will be closed for extended periods on high use days due to parking capacity limitations.

Aside from the developed parking lot, there is no legal alternative for​ parking in the area​.

The area has experienced a substantial increase in visitor usage over the last several years. This has led to crowded parking areas, increased litter, noise, and other complaints.

In an effort to mitigate these issues, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources increased staff presence in the area.

Visitors are reminded of the area rules:

• No parking along entrance road
• No open fires, including charcoal grills
• No organized picnicking
• No biking or horseback riding on trails
• Dogs must be on a leash
• No diving or jumping off rocks or cliffs
• No loud music
• No camping
• No hunting

Visitors are required to practice “carry in, carry out” for trash and dog waste.

Visitors are encouraged to find other recreation options if the parking area is​ full.

The Seven Tubs Recreation Area is closed to organized​​ picnicking to reduce the negative impacts from site compaction and litter. This decision was made to:

• Protect the forest and geologic formations
• Protect riparian buffers adjacent to Wheelbarrow Run and Laurel Run, both wild trout streams

Alternate picnic locations are available at the Manny Gordon Picnic Area and Moon Lake Recreation Area.

Moon Lake Boat Launch Open

The boat launch work at Moon Lake is complete and the facility is open for use.

D and L Trail Closure

Please be advised that the D and L Trail has been closed for public use from Seven Tubs (Mile Marker 152.25) to Oliver Mills Crossing (Mile Marker 149.5) to accommodate construction.

Firewood and ADA Permits

All firewood, ADA, and other permit requests will be processed through the district office. Please email Pinchot State Forest(opens in a new tab) for assistance.

Group Activities in Pinchot State Forest

Organized group activities are becoming increasingly popular within Pinchot State Forest. If you are looking to hold an organized or large group event on Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ​lands, you must get approval and obtain the appropriate authorization or agreement.

The Department’s Bureau of Forestry uses letters of authorization, special activities agreements, or commercial activities agreements (PDF)(opens in a new tab) to evaluate and manage these large group activities on state forest land.

Any organized or group event occurring on state forest lands must be reviewed and approved through one of these means.

Letters of authorization are completed at the district office and may take up to 15 business days to approve. Special activity and commercial activity agreements require 90 days for internal legal review.

Requests should be made in advance of this 90-day period, prior to the scheduled event.

Restroom Closed at Mocanaqua Trailhead

The restroom at the Mocanaqua trailhead parking lot is closed indefinitely due to vandalism.

Areas Closed to Hunting

Seven Tubs Recreation Area and Manny Gordon Recreation Area are closed to hunting.

Moon Lake Recreation Area is closed to hunting but open for furtaking/trapping.

All other areas of the state forest are open to hunting, unless otherwise posted.

Stone Collecting Permits Suspended

After review, a decision has been made to suspend the issuing of stone collecting permits on Pinchot State Forest until the District Resource Management Plan is completed.

The reason for this suspension is to evaluate and determine if and where stone collection is permissible based on ecological, historical, and cultural reasons, and to complete the district forest resource management plan.

Don’t Move Firewood

To help protect the forest from invasive insects that can kill trees and devastate the ecosystem, please do not transport firewood over long distances. Firewood can harbor insects such as emerald ash borer.

Cut or purchase your firewood where you intend to burn it.​​​​​

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry manages our state forests for their long-term health and productivity while conserving native wild plants. These forests are managed as “working forests” and provide a suite of uses and values to Pennsylvania citizens, while maintaining the forest’s wild character.

Our state forests are managed for:

• Pure water
• Recreation
• Scenic beauty
• Plant and animal habitat
• Sustainable timber and natural gas
• Many other uses and values

The management of our state forests is guided by the State Forest Resource Management Plan.

A district-level state forest resource management plan is written for each of the bureau’s 20 state forest districts across the state.

Using public input and building on the statewide 2016 management plan, the Bureau of Forestry revised and co​mpleted a new Pinchot State Forest Resource Management Plan (PDF), setting district-level management priorities.

The Pinchot State Forest ​2024​ ​Management Activities (PDF) provides information about upcoming projects and events to implement the State Forest Resource Management Plan.

Local state forest harvest schedules promote and maintain desired forest landscape conditions while providing a sustainable flow of forest products.

The Bureau of Forestry has adopted “ecosystem management” as its principal strategy for managing state forests.

This approach seeks to conserve the natural patterns and processes of the forest while advancing long-term sustainability.

Ecosystem management promotes the conservation of plant and animal communities and the landscapes and habitats that support them.

​It also accounts for needs and values of people and communities.

This results in a holistic, integrated approach to managing forest resources.

As you travel throughout the state forest, you’ll see examples of our forests “at work.” Some of these management practices are more noticeable than others, such as:

• Active timber harvests
• Deer exclosure fences
• Natural gas drilling sites
• Prescribed fires
• Spongy moth (formerly known as gypsy moth)​ sprayin​g

Others are more subtle, such as the:

• Protection of a vernal pool
• Buffering of a stream from timber harvesting
• Setting aside of a special area to conserve its wild character or protect a rare plant community

Each of these management practices and activities play a vital role in the management and conservation of our state forest system.

Pennsylvania’s 2.2-million-acre state forest system is one of the largest dual certified forests in North America. The forest is certified under Forest Stewardship Council™ and Sustainable Forestry Initiative© standards.

The Forest Stewardship Council™ is an independent organization supporting environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

Sustainable Forestry Initiative©​ certification focuses on protection of water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and forests with exceptional conservation value.

​Dual certification ensures that Pennsylvania’s state forests are managed to the highest third-party standards.