Weiser State Forest

White Oak Road Closure

White Oak Road in the Haldeman Tract will be closed on Monday, June 26, 2023, to Friday, June 30, 2023.

This closure will affect the same vicinity of the concurrent construction activities of the maintenance building.

The contractor will be placing a new road surface in this area and it will need a few days to dry.

In preparation of placing this new road, the contractor will be removing some of the existing surface during the week of June 19, 2023.

Once the preparation work is complete, the road can still be driven on, but may be rough. Please use caution while driving on this portion of the road.

Second Mountain Tract Access

Despite ongoing efforts to resolve a right-of-way access issue, public entry to the Second Mountain tract via Weaver Road is not permitted. There are no alternative vehicle rights of way.

Usage of motorized vehicles (including ATVs) on the Second Mountain Tract continues to be prohibited.

No camping permits for the tract will be issued until further notice, and no Deer Management Assistance Program permits (unit 302) were issued for the tract for the 2022-2023 hunting season.

Entrance to the tract is walk-in only with permission of neighboring landowner(s).

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources intends to continue advocating for public access to the tract. Please check back for updates.

Natalie Culm Bank Project

Please be advised that active road construction and stump removal is now underway on and along Culm Bank Road.

All trails intersecting with Culm Bank Road also will be closed to ensure public safety.

Not all closed trails are marked on the map, so please be aware and alert to postings within the state forest tract.

The Map of Natalie Culm Bank Project (PDF) shows the affected area.

The project will include completion of a new parking area and trail head for forest visitors to access the trails on the state forest land in the Natalie area.

If you have any questions, please contact the Weiser State Forest district office at 570-875-6450.

General Advisories

Most of the Weiser State Forest tracts are located on ridges and valleys. Access to the parcels can be difficult.

Visitors should be physically prepared and properly dressed when using these areas.

A number of the tracts are accessible by foot travel only.

Several district tracts contain roads maintained for public access.

Visitors should use caution because many district roads are on steep hillsides making them susceptible to rough conditions and unsuitable for low clearance vehicles.

Roads do become icy because they do not receive winter maintenance.

The Roaring Creek Tract of Weiser State Forest in southern Columbia and Northumberland counties is a special regulations area because of restrictions placed on the deed at the time of purchase.

Visitors should familiarize themselves with these special rules posted at the entrances to the parcel.

The Port Clinton Tract, located in southern Schuylkill County, is considered a protected area for timber rattlesnakes.

The taking of rattlesnakes is prohibited on this tract, including individuals holding a valid rattlesnake permit.

The district has oversight of those river islands within the district where the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources holds title along the North, West, and main stems of the Susquehanna River.

State forest rules and regulations apply on these lands. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulations apply for fishing and boating.

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 forest districts across the state.

In 2018, Weiser State Forest staff collected public comments and responses (PDF) to a draft State Forest Resource Management Plan through public meetings and an online survey.

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

View Weiser State Forest’s 2024 management activities (PDF) for 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
• Gypsy moth spraying

Others are more subtle, such as:

• Protection of a vernal pool
• Buffering a stream from timber harvesting
• Setting aside 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 FSC© is an independent organization supporting environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

SFI© 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.