Sproul State Forest

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.

History
The ancient forests which covered this region before the arrival of European settlers were cleared for various forest products including lumber, bark, tannin for leather, chemical wood, and paper pulp. Ultimately, uncontrolled wildfires burned most of the cut-over forest, accelerating erosion and sedimentation which, in turn, caused degradation of watersheds and streams. Concern about potable water was one catalyst which led to the creation of the state forest system.

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.

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
The Chuck Keiper Trail is a 50 mile double looped system which includes trails in the Fish Dam Wild Area and Burns Run Wild Area.

Donut Hole Trail
The Donut Hole Trail is approximately 90 miles in length and connects with the Susquehannock Trail System. The trail traverses Kettle Creek Park and terminates at Hyner Run State Park.

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
Horseback riding is permitted on all roads and trails except the Donut Hole Trail, the Chuck Keiper Trail and any trails posted closed. A map of the 15-mile equestrian trail loop from Kettle Creek State Park trailhead, is available at the district office.

Mountain Biking
The only areas closed to bicycles are the Chuck Keiper Trail, the Donut Hole Trail and any trails posted closed. The Eagleton Mine Camp Shared Use Trail consists of 21 miles of easy to difficult trails designed specifically for mountain bikers. Riders will find some challenging slopes and riding surfaces, but relatively little single-track technical riding is available. Bicycle tour riding is very scenic on PA Route 120 and PA Route 144.

Motorized Trails
The ATV Management Area has been designated for ATV use during certain seasons of the year. Whiskey Springs ATV trail is 45 miles long and Bloody Skillet ATV Trail measures 30 miles. All roads and trails outside the area are closed to ATVs year round. The ATV Management Area is open from the Friday before Memorial Day through the last full weekend in September. The area is reopened from the end of muzzle-loader season until April 1. The area is then closed from April 1 until the Friday before Memorial Day. Within the area, riding surfaces vary from single track woods trails to stony un-reclaimed strip mine sites. The area has many challenging looped trails for several days of riding. For more information follow this link to visit the ATV Information pages.

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
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
The Chuck Keiper Trail is a 50 mile double looped system which includes trails in the Fish Dam Wild Area and Burns Run Wild Area.

Donut Hole Trail
The Donut Hole Trail is approximately 90 miles in length and connects with the Susquehannock Trail System. The trail traverses Kettle Creek Park and terminates at Hyner Run State Park.

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
Picnicking is available at the Jesse Hall State Forest Picnic Area located just east of PA Route 144 in Clinton County. Grills, three picnic pavilions, and latrines are available.

Camping
A camping permit is required for overnight camping on state forest land. However, primitive or backpack camping doesn’t require a permit for single night camping. Certain watersheds near exceptional value or high quality waters are posted closed to camping. Camping permits can be obtained in advance by calling or stopping by the district office during business hours. Special permits are needed for groups larger than ten people. Please call or write for details.

Hunting
The rugged forested slopes of Sproul State Forest are home to Pennsylvania big game including black bear, whitetail deer, and wild turkey. The state bird, the ruffed grouse, is found in good numbers. All state forest land, except for a few safety zones around buildings and picnic areas, is open for public hunting.

Fishing & Boating
Over 400 miles of freestone, cold-water the streams flow through Sproul State Forest. This includes 12 designated Wilderness Trout Streams.

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
Sproul State Forest has more than 300 miles of roads. About half of the roads are limestone surfaced and the rest are native stone. Scenic driving is popular to view spring green up, summer mountain laurel blooms, autumn color and many vistas on the plateau offering panoramic views of the river valleys.

Horseback Riding
Horseback riding is permitted on all roads and trails except the Donut Hole Trail, the Chuck Keiper Trail and any trails posted closed. A map of the 15-mile equestrian trail loop from Kettle Creek State Park trailhead, is available at the district office.

Mountain Biking
The only areas closed to bicycles are the Chuck Keiper Trail, the Donut Hole Trail and any trails posted closed. The Eagleton Mine Camp Shared Use Trail consists of 21 miles of easy to difficult trails designed specifically for mountain bikers. Riders will find some challenging slopes and riding surfaces, but relatively little single-track technical riding is available. Bicycle tour riding is very scenic on PA Route 120 and PA Route 144.

Motorized Trails
The ATV Management Area has been designated for ATV use during certain seasons of the year. Whiskey Springs ATV trail is 45 miles long and Bloody Skillet ATV Trail measures 30 miles. All roads and trails outside the area are closed to ATVs year round. The ATV Management Area is open from the Friday before Memorial Day through the last full weekend in September. The area is reopened from the end of muzzle-loader season until April 1. The area is then closed from April 1 until the Friday before Memorial Day. Within the area, riding surfaces vary from single track woods trails to stony un-reclaimed strip mine sites. The area has many challenging looped trails for several days of riding. For more information follow this link to visit the ATV Information pages.

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
Cranberry Swamp Natural Area is located in Clinton Co., south of Renovo. A 144-acre mountain bog along the Chuck Keiper Trail in the headwaters of Cranberry Run.

East Branch Swamp Natural Area
East Branch Swamp Natural Area is located along Route 144, south of Renovo. Old growth eastern hemlock shading the headwaters of the East Branch of Big Run in a 186-acre mix of plant communities resulting from turn-of-the-century logging, fires and recent tornadoes.

Tamarack Swamp Natural Area
Tamarack Swamp is located northeast of the town of Tamarack, Clinton County. This 267-acre track supports eight wetland types including the tamarack and black spruce swamp for which it is named.

Bucktail State Park Natural Area
Bucktail State Park Natural Area commemorates the service of the Bucktail Regiment during the Civil War. State forest land, from mountain rim to mountain rim, along PA Route 120 is included from Lock Haven to Emporium.

Burns Run Wild Area
Burns Run, an exceptional value stream, empties into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, supporting a naturally reproducing population of wild trout. The escarpment of Burns Run Wild Area is covered in a diverse forest of second growth hardwoods. There are individual and small groves of large white pine trees from the nineteenth century. Remnants of an old railroad grade used to haul timber during the logging boom of the late 1800’s are evident, but there are no roads in Burns Run.

Russell P. Letterman Wild Area
This wild area encompasses 4,715 acres of steep mountains bordering Fish Dam Run, Clinton County. Fish Dam Run can be viewed from a vista along PA 144 south of State Camp. The Russell P. Letterman Wild Area joins the Bucktail Natural Area to the north and PA 144 on the south. This is a rugged and remote area that can only be explored on foot.

Proposed Maurice K. Goddard Wild Area
This proposed wild area includes the Mill Run watershed, the Commissioner Run watershed, and a part of the Montour Run watershed. It is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Maurice Goddard, longtime Secretary of the Department of Forests and Waters and the Department of Environmental Resources. Dr. Goddard was responsible for purchasing 2,500 acres of interior land holding, which became the proposed wild area.

Old Growth Forest Area
This proposed 14,000-acre area combines part of the Bucktail State Park Natural Area, Burns Run Wild Area, Fish Dam Wild Area, and the Barneys Run, Jews Run, Yost Run, Fields Run and Smith Run escarpments. The West Branch of the Susquehanna River flows through the Old Growth area, which will be managed to encourage tree longevity and patchy sequence of many successional stages of forest growth.

Kettle Creek State Park
Kettle Creek State Park, located 7 miles north of Westport, includes more than 800 acres of land. The focal point of the area is a 160 acre lake impounded by the Alvin R. Bush Dam.

Hyner Run State Park
Hyner Run State Park derives its name from Hyner Run, which flows through the area. The Park is entirely surrounded by State Forests and is located on Hyner Run Road, three miles north of Pennsylvania Route 120.

Bald Eagle State Park
Bald Eagle State Park is a 5,900 acre park which includes a 1,730 acre lake with a beach, swimming area, boat launching ramps, a marina, camping and picnic areas.

For more information about Sproul State Forest feel free to contact us at:

Sproul District Office
15187 Renovo Road
Renovo, PA 17764
(570) 923-6011
fd10@pa.gov

State Forest Rules and Regulations

State Forest Picnic Area Rules and Regulations