Pennsylvania’s state forest system includes dozens of special wild and natural areas set aside to protect unique or unusual biologic, geologic, scenic, and historical features or to showcase outstanding examples of the state’s major forest communities.
Natural areas are “managed” by nature and direct human intervention is limited. They:
- Provide places for scenic observation
- Protect special plant and animal communities
- Conserve outstanding examples of natural beauty
Wild areas are generally extensive tracts managed to protect the forest’s wild character and to provide backcountry recreational opportunities.
Cranberry Swamp Natural Area
Cranberry Swamp Natural Area is located in Clinton County, south of Renovo. It features a 144-acre mountain bog along the Chuck Keiper Trail in the headwaters of Cranberry Run.
East Branch Swamp Natural Area
East Branch Swamp Natural Area is located along Route 144, south of Renovo. Old growth eastern hemlocks shade the headwaters of the East Branch of Big Run in a 186-acre mix of plant communities resulting from turn-of-the-century logging, fires, and recent tornadoes.
Tamarack Swamp Natural Area
Tamarack Swamp is located northeast of the town of Tamarack, Clinton County. This 267-acre tract supports eight wetland types including the tamarack and black spruce swamp, for which it is named.
Bucktail State Park Natural Area
Bucktail State Park Natural Area commemorates the service of the Bucktail Regiment during the Civil War. State forest land is included along Route 120 from mountain rim to mountain rim, from Lock Haven to Emporium.
Burns Run Wild Area
Burns Run, an exceptional value stream, empties into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, supporting a naturally reproducing population of wild trout.
The escarpment of Burns Run Wild Area is covered in a diverse forest of second growth hardwoods. Individual groves of large white pine trees from the nineteenth century persist.
Remnants of an old railroad grade used to haul timber during the logging boom of the late 1800s are evident, but there are no roads in Burns Run.
Russell P. Letterman Wild Area
This wild area encompasses 4,715 acres of steep mountains bordering Fish Dam Run, Clinton County. Fish Dam Run can be viewed from a vista along Route 144, south of State Camp.
The Russell P. Letterman Wild Area joins the Bucktail Natural Area to the north and Route 144 on the south. This is a rugged and remote area that can only be explored on foot.
Old Growth Forest Area
This proposed 14,000-acre area combines part of the Bucktail State Park Natural Area, Burns Run Wild Area, Fish Dam Wild Area, and the Barneys Run, Jews Run, Yost Run, Fields Run, and Smith Run escarpments.
The West Branch of the Susquehanna River flows through the Old Growth area, which will be managed to encourage tree longevity and a patchy sequence of many successional stages of forest growth.