DCNR Home : Forestry : State Forests : Sproul
Sproul 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. |
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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 In 1898, the first purchase of land for Sproul State Forest occurred near Bull Run on Young Woman's Creek. The location is marked with a suitable monument. Since then, Sproul State Forest has grown to 305,000 acres—the largest in the Pennsylvania’s state forest system. The southern tract of Sproul State Forest is bounded on three sides by the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Within this area are about 450 square miles where there is no electricity, permanent homes, or commercial telephone service. For the Eastern United States, this is certainly a remote area. The south-side is bisected by PA 144 from Snow Shoe to Renovo. The northern tract of Sproul State Forest is bounded by the West Branch of the Susquehanna River on the south and PA Route 44 on the north. 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. Two State Forest Hiking Trail systems located within the Sproul State Forest are designated for foot traffic only. Both are marked with orange rectangular blazes. Chuck Keiper Trail Donut Hole Trail There are numerous other foot trails which were originally built for fire access which provide good hiking into most parts of the Sproul State Forest. These trails are not marked or maintained. When hiking in the Sproul State forest persons should dress for the weather and use map and compass. Horseback Riding Mountain Biking Motorized Trails Winter Activities Cross-country skiing: Cross-country skiing trailhead parking is located near Ritchie Road and PA. Route 44 near Reeder Hollow. The Hiding Bear Ski Trail system is a series of loops that include some moderately steep terrain and is marked with rectangular blue paint blazes. A map of the trail is available at the district office. Snowmobiling: Snowmobile riding is available on the Hyner Mountain Snowmobile Trail, which is part of a complex of trails in North Central Pennsylvania. Additionally, many state forest roads are open for joint use of snowmobiles and licensed motorized vehicles. Call the snowmobile hotline at 1-877-766-6253 to obtain up-to-date information on trail conditions. Snowmobile trails are open from the end of antlerless deer season until April 1 each year. All snowmobiles must be registered to use the trail. All riders are required to wear safety equipment. Hiking Chuck Keiper Trail Donut Hole Trail There are numerous other foot trails which were originally built for fire access which provide good hiking into most parts of the Sproul State Forest. These trails are not marked or maintained. When hiking in the Sproul State forest persons should dress for the weather and use map and compass. Picnicking Camping Hunting Fishing & Boating The West Branch of the Susquehanna River from Karthaus to Keating is a spectacular voyage by canoe. Some of the feeder streams are marked by name where the stream enters the river, which helps to orient paddlers. Sproul State Forest maintains a canoe access area south of the Karthaus Bridge on PA Route 879. Additional canoe access areas are found at North Bend, Hyner, the Flaming Foliage grounds along PA Route 120 in Renovo and Lock Haven. Several canoe rental businesses feature vehicle shuttles. Sightseeing Horseback Riding Mountain Biking Motorized Trails Winter Activities Cross-country skiing: Cross-country skiing trailhead parking is located near Ritchie Road and PA. Route 44 near Reeder Hollow. The Hiding Bear Ski Trail system is a series of loops that include some moderately steep terrain and is marked with rectangular blue paint blazes. A map of the trail is available at the district office. Snowmobiling: Snowmobile riding is available on the Hyner Mountain Snowmobile Trail, which is part of a complex of trails in North Central Pennsylvania. Additionally, many state forest roads are open for joint use of snowmobiles and licensed motorized vehicles. Call the snowmobile hotline at 1-877-766-6253 to obtain up-to-date information on trail conditions. Snowmobile trails are open from the end of antlerless deer season until April 1 each year. All snowmobiles must be registered to use the trail. All riders are required to wear safety equipment. 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. Cranberry Swamp Natural Area East Branch Swamp Natural Area Tamarack Swamp Natural Area Bucktail State Park Natural Area Burns Run Wild Area Russell P. Letterman Wild Area Proposed Maurice K. Goddard Wild Area Old Growth Forest Area For more information and maps to these and other State Parks visit the "Find a Park" page. Kettle Creek State Park Hyner Run State Park Bald Eagle State Park For more information about Sproul State Forest feel free to contact us at: Sproul District Office |
The Sproul State Forest was named in memory of William C. Sproul Governor of Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1923. Governor Sproul was best known for expansion of the public education system in Pennsylvania. The Sproul contains 305,450 acres of State Forest land in western Clinton and northern Centre counties, north of the Allegheny Front on the Allegheny Plateau. This area is a rolling plateau underlain by sedimentary rocks, featuring steep narrow valleys created by down-cutting streams.
anagement Plan. 