Cornplanter State Forest
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Detailed maps can help you plan your trip. Download the public use map and other trail and recreational activity maps. |
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.
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Ingraham Trail Closed The Ingraham Trail will be closed until further notice due to active timber sale operations. 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.
History The Cornplanter State Forest District is named in honor of Chief Cornplanter (1750-1836), a famous Native American Chief of the Seneca tribe. One of Chief Cornplanter’s most notable accomplishments was negotiating and maintaining peace between the new American government and the League of the Iroquois between 1784 and 1812.  Like much of the surrounding area, the state forest was once part of a vast expanse of American chestnut, white pine, Eastern hemlock and oak forests. Remnants of old American chestnut stumps can still be found on the two tracts of forest land in Forest County. Early on, much of the land was settled and at least partially cleared for subsistence farming. By the late 1800’s timbering in northwestern Pennsylvania was reaching it’s peak and another industry, oil exploration, was about to be launched with the drilling of the first successful oil well in August 1859 in nearby Titusville. Abundant evidence of past oil exploration activities exist, and new wells are still being drilled. The Commonwealth does not own the oil, gas or minerals under these state forest lands, however, cooperation with the mineral operators tries to keep surface disturbance to a minimum.
DCNR Bureau of Forestry manages our state forests for their long-term health and productivity while conserving native wild plants. These forests are “working forests” and provide a whole suite of uses and values to Pennsylvania citizens, all 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, and many other uses and values. The management of our state forests is guided by the State Forest Resource M Ecosystem Management 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. A Working Forest 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 and gypsy moth spraying. Others are more subtle, such as the protection of a vernal pool, the buffering of a stream from timber harvesting, or the 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.  Certified “Well Managed” Pennsylvania’s 2.2-million-acre state forest system is one the largest certified forests in North America. The forest is certified (FSC-C017154) by the Rainforest Alliance™ under the Forest Stewardship Council™ standards. The FSC® is an independent organization supporting environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests.  Hiking is offered throughout the district on over ten miles of trails, including the Hunter Run Trail, Lashure Trail, and McCaferdy Run Trail. The Anders Run Natural Area provides over two miles of hiking opportunities while the Ingraham Tracts offer several easy, level hiking trails. Benches and signage are located along all the trails to enhance the visitor’s experience. Trail difficulty ratings range from easy to more difficult. No “most difficult” trails exist in the district.
Hiking Hiking is offered throughout the district on over ten miles of trails, including the Hunter Run Trail, Lashure Trail, and McCaferdy Run Trail. The Anders Run Natural Area provides over two miles of hiking opportunities while the Ingraham Tracts offer several easy, level hiking trails. Benches and signage are located along all the trails to enhance the visitor’s experience. Trail difficulty ratings range from easy to more difficult. No “most difficult” trails exist in the district. Picnicking Several state forest tracts feature picnic tables and there are multiple small benches along many of the trails. The arboretum around the District office features several picnic tables and easy access to the North Warren hike/bike trail. The largest tract of the Ingraham properties near Townville, CrawfordCounty contains a covered pavilion with several picnic tables; and there is one additional picnic table behind the headquarters building on the Hunter Run tract in Forest County. Camping Primitive camping is permitted along the trails of the Cornplanter State Forest. One motorized campsite is available for public use at the Hunter Run Division. Anyone wishing to reserve this site should contact the district office for further details. Hunting The Cornplanter State Forest, the Allegheny National Forest, and nearby State Game Lands offer excellent white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, woodcock and squirrel hunting opportunities. Red and gray fox, mink, raccoon, and muskrat are also plentiful for trapping enthusiasts. Pennsylvania Game Commission hunting seasons and regulations apply. Fishing and Boating Fishing is available in several small streams (Jamison, McCaferdy, and Hunter) running through the Cornplanter State Forest, as well as the nearby Allegheny River, Allegheny Reservoir, and Tionesta Lake. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission seasons and regulations apply. Sightseeing Points of interest in the Cornplanter State Forest are the Hunter Run Forest Demonstration Area and the Lashure Trail. This is a combined interpretive area with about 1.5 miles of self-guided foot trails. It is available for use by educational groups and schools for environmental education. Winter Activities Six miles of cross-country ski trails wind through the forest. Mountain Biking Mountain Biking is permitted on all trails except the Lashure Trail and those located within the Anders Run Natural Area. Horseback Riding Horseback Riding is permitted only on the Ingraham Tract #3 in Crawford County. Geo-Caching Several geo-caches exist on the Cornplanter State Forest. All rules and regulations regarding this activity must be followed.
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 and conserve outstanding examples of natural beauty. Wild areas are generally extensive tracts managed to protect the forest’s wild character and to provide back country recreational opportunities. Anders Run Natural Area A true remnant of years gone by, this 96-acre tract located near Irvine in Warren County, contains white pine and hemlock that date back hundreds of years. Intermixed among the conifer giants are a variety of hardwood trees, common to northwestern Pennsylvania including, red and white oaks, sugar and red maples, black and yellow birches and beech trees. Adding to the diversity is a wide spectrum of wildflowers, including trilliums, violets and trout lilies to name a few. To supplement the natural history of the area, a stone house dating back to 1841 stands in a clearing near the southern boundary of the property, as if to help the visitor take a walk back in history.
For more information and maps to State Parks visit the "Find a Park" page. Oil Creek State Park This park which is located in Venango County is 7,244 acres in size and offers picnicking, hunting, hiking on 52 miles of trails, and a 9.7-mile paved bicycle path through the Oil Creek Gorge. Warm and cold water fishing and canoeing is popular on Oil Creek while winter enthusiasts can enjoy 10 miles of cross-country skiing. Chapman State Park This Warren County park is 805 acres and features picnicking, hunting, biking, and hiking on 12 miles of trails. The 68-acre lake offers swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities. This park has 83 campsites as well as an organized group camping area. It features a boat rental facility and boat mooring and launching are available. Winter activities include ice-skating, ice-fishing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, tobogganing and a winter festival. Presque Isle State Park This 3,200-acre park is located in Erie County and extends out into Lake Erie. A sandy peninsula that contains many unique habitats and features, it is home to a number of the state’s rare, endangered, and threatened species. Operated as a day use park, it offers a variety of year round recreational opportunities including swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, biking, and in-line skating. Erie Bluffs State Park This fairly recent addition to the state park system encompasses 540 acres and is located just 12 miles west of the city of Erie. It is the largest undeveloped length of Lake Erie shoreline remaining in Pennsylvania and is noted for its unique natural elements including 90 foot bluffs that overlook the lake. It also contains a world-class shallow stream steelhead fishery, old growth forest, endangered and threatened flora, uncommon oak savannah sand barren ecosystem, exceptional value wetlands, and significant archeological sites. Pymatuning State Park At some 21,112 acres, this Crawford County gem is the largest state park in Pennsylvania. The 17,088-acre reservoir is the largest lake in the Commonwealth and offers boating, fishing, and swimming. Other recreational activities that are available include hunting, picnicking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, camping and cabin rental. Federal Recreation Areas Allegheny National Forest This forest is managed by the U.S. Forest Service to sustain a variety of uses for this and future generations and is located in Warren, McKean, Forest, and Elk Counties. This 513,000-acre area offers over 600 miles of trails that crisscross its ridges and valleys. It provides recreational opportunities which include hunting, fishing, swimming, hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, boating, mountain biking, ATV riding, and much more. Kinzua Dam and Allegheny Reservoir This 27-mile lake, located in Warren and McKean Counties, is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and features nearly 100 miles of forested shoreline. Fishing, swimming, power boating, and a full service marina are just a few of the things that draw visitors to the lake. Tionesta Lake Also managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this 480-acre, 6-mile lake located in Forest County lake provides camping, picnicking, fishing, boating, a marina and hiking and dam tours. For more information about Cornplanter State Forest, feel free to contact us at: Cornplanter District Office |
anagement Plan. 