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 forests of the Moshannon State Forest lie within the Allegheny Plateau Ecological Region in the transition zone between the northern hardwood and Allegheny hardwood forests to the north and the mixed oaks, and oak hickory forest to the south. This central portion of the Allegheny Plateau typically has black cherry, sweet birch, red oak, red maple, beech, cucumber, and some tulip poplar. The forests of the outer edges of the plateau are made up of red oak, white oak, chestnut oak, black oak, red maple, and white pine. The poorer soils of the drier sites are dominated by chestnut oak, sassafras, black gum, and pitch pine. Along the streamsides and cooler moister sites, species typically found are eastern hemlock, white pine, sweet birch, red maple, beech, and some sugar maple.
History
The major tracts which now comprise the Moshannon State Forest were once held by large lumber companies, land holding companies, and private individuals. The first purchase was 353 acres along Montgomery Run north of Clearfield in 1898, for $65.45 in delinquent taxes. White pine and hemlock stands occupied the shady slopes and moist plateaus in the earliest recorded forests of the area. Many areas were covered with a mixture of beech, yellow poplar, birches, maples, oaks, cherry, hickory and chestnut. Some of the best white pine areas in the United States were located here and contained upwards of 100,000 board feet per acre. "...the wood is so thick, that for a mile at a time we could not find a place the size of a hand where the sunshine could penetrate, even in the clearest day...," said Conrad Weiser in 1737. All this "virgin" timber was removed between 1860 and 1921. The high pine stumps, logging railroad tie marks, logslides and remnants of splash dams are all that remain to remind us of this earlier time. Human-caused fires following these cuttings destroyed the humus and organic matter that nature took centuries to build. Some areas, even today, are open fields of bracken ferns and huckleberries between giant stumps of the previous forest. The resultant oak-chestnut timber type took another blow when the chestnut blight wiped out the chestnut prior to 1925. Today, work continues to establish natural chestnut on the Moshannon State Forest. The now-retired Dague Nursery was established in 1911 on 1/10 acre to provide pine seedlings for reforestation work. Peak production reached 35 million seedlings annually. Most of the pine plantations evident today on the Moshannon are the result of this nursery and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) projects. Ten CCC camps on the Moshannon constructed and maintained roads, trails, bridges, tree plantations and recreational areas, including S.B. Elliott, Parker Dam, and Black Moshannon State Parks. The nursery site is currently being used as an orchard to supply tree seeds for the Bureau’s only remaining facility—Penn Nursery near Potters Mills.
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 anagement Plan. 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.
Moshannon State Forest boasts an extensive 244-mile hiking trail system. Quehanna Trail
The Mosquito Creek Bridge on the Quehanna Trail is temporarily closed due to flood damage.
The longest trail in the Moshannon system is the Quehanna Trail, a designated state forest hiking trail loop. The Quehanna Trail begins at Parker Dam State Park, traverses the Moshannon State Forest to meet the Sinnemahoning Trail in the Elk State Forest, and then loops back to the Moshannon State Forest to its start at Parker Dam. Both the experienced and inexperienced primitive backpack hiker may exercise body and mind on this 73-mile trail and its interconnecting loops. Allegheny Front Trail
The Allegheny Front Trail is another major hiking trail on the eastern edge of the Allegheny Plateau. Spectacular vistas and upland bogs are the highlight of this 41-mile trail. Further information and maps are available from the district office. Horseback Riding
Horses may be ridden on all the state forest roads and trails except the Quehanna Trail and the Allegheny Front Trail. Horseback riding is not permitted in natural areas. The Reservoir Road Equestrian Camping Area provides an opportune jumping off point to enjoy over 10 miles of scenic equestrian trails in the Three Runs Region of both Moshannon and Elk State Forests. Horses may be ridden on all the state forest roads and appropriately signed usage of other trails except the Quehanna Trail. The Benner Run Road Camping area also offers some great opportunities for equestrians. Mountain Biking
Mountain bikes may be used on all the roads and most of the trails in Moshannon State Forest. Trails and other areas closed to mountain biking include the natural areas, the Quehanna Trail System and portions of the Allegheny Front Trail. Contact the district office to get more information about what trails or areas are open to mountain biking. Degree of difficulty varies considerably. Motorized Trails
There are no trails open to All-Terrain Vehicle riding within the Moshannon State Forest. Please visit the ATV Information web pages for more information on riding opportunities within the State Forest system. Winter Activities
Cross-country Skiing: Moshannon State Forest offers 56 miles of cross-country skiing on three separate trail systems, Snowmobiling: Moshannon State Forest provides a 208-mile integrated system of designated state forest roads and specially constructed and groomed snowmobile trails. During winter months, these trails and roads are sometimes inaccessible by conventional vehicles. Maps of the trails are available from the district office.
Hiking
Moshannon State Forest boasts an extensive 244-mile hiking trail system. Major trail systems are detailed on the "Trails" tab of this web page. Shorter local trails are mapped on the Moshannon State Forest Public Use Map. Picnicking
Picnicking is permitted anywhere on state forest land although the Moshannon State Forest does not have any designated picnic areas. Camping
Primitive backpack camping is allowed throughout the entire forest. Primitive backpack campers do not need a permit if they stay no more than one night at any campsite. Motorized and tent camping is permitted at many designated sites. Camping permits are required for these sites. Further information and maps are available from the district office. Hunting
Hunting for deer, turkey, grouse, rabbits, and black bear is a popular use of the forest during designated seasons. Other than a few safety zones around buildings, hunting is permitted throughout the state forest. Much of the Moshannon State Forest is enrolled in the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP). Contact the district office for more information. Fishing & Boating
Cold and warm water fishing are available during the appropriate season in several creeks that wind through Moshannon State Forest such as Mix Run, Medix Run, Six-Mile Run, Mosquito Creek, Laurel Run, and Black Moshannon Creek. Two shallow water impoundments offer warm water fishing and an opportunity to view migrating waterfowl. The nearby West Branch of the Susquehanna River offers some excellent canoeing opportunities as well. Sightseeing
The District offers the Hoover Farm wildlife viewing site as well as the Beaver Run Viewing site. These sites provide an opportunity to see white-tailed deer, an enormous variety of song birds, eastern wild turkey, predatory birds, foxes, coyotes and possibly an occasional elk, along with many other species of mammals, reptiles, insects, flowers and grasses. Moshannon has more than 200 miles of forest gravel roads. About half of the roads are limestone surfaced and the rest are of native soil materials. Scenic driving to view spring green up, summer mountain laurel blooms and autumn color is a favorite recreational pursuit. The keen observer may note some subtle vistas overlooking Mosquito Creek and other stream valleys draining the Allegheny Plateau. Horseback Riding
Horses may be ridden on all the state forest roads and trails except the Quehanna Trail and the Allegheny Front Trail. Horseback riding is not permitted in natural areas. The Reservoir Road Equestrian Camping Area provides an opportune jumping off point to enjoy over 10 miles of scenic equestrian trails in the Three Runs Region of both Moshannon and Elk State Forests. Horses may be ridden on all the state forest roads and appropriately signed usage of other trails except the Quehanna Trail. The Benner Run Road Camping area also offers some great opportunities for equestrians. Mountain Biking
Mountain bikes may be used on all the roads and most of the trails in Moshannon State Forest. Trails and other areas closed to mountain biking include the natural areas, the Quehanna Trail System and portions of the Allegheny Front Trail. Contact the district office to get more information about what trails or areas are open to mountain biking. Degree of difficulty varies considerably. Motorized Trails
There are no trails open to All-Terrain Vehicle riding within the Moshannon State Forest. Please visit the ATV Information web pages for more information on riding opportunities within the State Forest system. Winter Activities
Cross-country Skiing: Moshannon State Forest offers 56 miles of cross-country skiing on three separate trail systems, Snowmobiling: Moshannon State Forest provides a 208-mile integrated system of designated state forest roads and specially constructed and groomed snowmobile trails. During winter months, these trails and roads are sometimes inaccessible by conventional vehicles. Maps of the trails are available from the district office.
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 backcountry recreational opportunities. Marion Brooks Natural Area
This natural area is located adjacent to the Quehanna Highway at the edge of the Quehanna Wild Area. Marion Brooks Natural Area contains 975 acres, a portion of which is an almost pure stand of white birch. This area will be left to the forces of nature, free from human intervention. Quehanna Wild Area
Quehanna Wild Area, is set aside to maintain the undeveloped character of the forest environment. This 50,000-acre tract was originally state forest land that was leased to the Curtiss Wright Corporation for jet engine and nuclear research in 1955. It was returned to the Commonwealth in 1966. The Quehanna Wild Area is jointly administered by Moshannon and Elk state forest districts. Snowmobiling, vehicular camping, and off-road vehicle use are prohibited to protect the wild character of the area.
For more information and maps to these and other State Parks visit the "Find a Park" page. Black Moshannon State Park
Black Moshannon State Park, located in Centre County, is a 3,394-acre park popular for its picnicking, hunting, mountain biking, and hiking. The 250-acre Black Moshannon Lake provides opportunities for fishing, boat rentals, mooring, and launching S. B. Elliot State Park
This 318-acre park located in Clearfield County offers picnicking, hunting, and hiking on three miles of trails. Camping is available at 25 campsites and rustic cabins. Parker Dam State Park
Camping and lake-based activities are enjoyed at this 968-acre park in Clearfield County.
For more information about Moshannon State Forest feel free to contact us at: Moshannon District Office 3372 State Park Road Penfield, PA 15849 (814) 765-0821 fd09@pa.gov
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