The area was set aside primarily to protect a remnant of old growth timber. It is not truly a virgin timber stand, in that scattered white pine was cut around 1900 as evidenced by the large stumps that still remain. Conjecture is that after the white pine was cut, a boundary dispute developed in the vicinity of the Beech Bottom Hollow and the logging companies withdrew from the area before it was settled.

The foot trail parallels Beech Bottom Run up about 1,100 feet of elevation gain, following an old log slide almost a mile long. Second growth hardwoods flank the trail until near the top, where the old growth stand is located. When you pass through the old growth you emerge onto the plateau with younger forest on all sides. The largest tree in the old growth stand is a hemlock 43" in diameter breast height and 112 feet in height.

This tree is located on the south side of the Beech Bottom Trail. Numerous other hemlocks range from 32 to 40 inches DBH. In addition there are white pine, red oak, beech, hard maple and gum that are old growth. Black cherry, basswood, white ash, red maple, black birch, white and chestnut oaks also occur in the old growth stand, but probably became established after the original white pine was cut.

Access Details

The area can be reached by way of a dirt road which intersects PA Rt 144 about 4.5 miles south of the village of Cross Forks. There are actually two entrances to this road, but only the northerly one is open; the other one crosses a small bridge which is marked "closed." The dirt road proceeds north one-half mile through private land paralleling the Hammersley Fork Run, before entering State Forest land. The road fords the stream but is closed to vehicles; a two-cable foot bridge crosses the stream. Follow the road on the west side of the stream about one mile north to a small sign for Beech Bottom Run Trail, the main access to the Natural Area. The old growth area is at the top of the trail.

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