Varden Conservation Area
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Conservation areas are donated to the PA Bureau of State Parks and therefore are governed by different rules. |
A gift from veterinarian Dr. Mead Shaffer, the 430-acre Varden Conservation Area is located in Wayne County. This land was a magnanimous gift in an area that was once a remote section of the state, which is now beginning to feel the pressure of development. It will be protected and used for future generations as a respite from daily life. Varden is a place to learn about Pennsylvania’s wonderful natural history. The property is managed by Promised Land State Park, which is in Pike County.
"Environmental education always has been a primary concern of mine. I trust this land will allow present and future generations to observe and study the diverse ecology found in the Varden Conservation Area." - Dr. Shaffer
Visit www.vardenconservationarea.com for more information.
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Fishing: The pond in the Tannery Tract has largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish and catfish. Middle Creek provides trout fishing. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply.
Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for ADA accessible hunting information. Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. Other visitors use the park during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment used for hunting may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner's car, trailer or leased campsite. The only exception is that law enforcement officers and individuals with a valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms may carry said firearm concealed on their person while they are within the park. Complete information on hunting rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Game Commission Web site. Hiking: The Varden Conservation Area offers a variety of short hiking trails through farm fields, forests and wetlands. Please stay on the trails and respect private property. Tannery Tract Trails: 4.03 miles of trails Bluebird Trail: 0.71 mile Middle Creek Trail: 0.45 mile
Shortcut Trail: 0.1 mile Steel Tower Trail: 0.27 mile Tall Timber Trail: 0.35 mile Tannery Trail: 0.63 mile Wildcat Trail: 0.37 mile Wood Tower Trail: 0.79 mile Mid Valley Tract Trails: 3.32 miles of trails Bear Paw Trail: 0.62 miles Beechwood Trail: 0.15 mile Critters Run: 0.08 mile Deer Run: 0.12 mile Holster Creek Trail: 0.55 mile Overlook Ridge Trail: 1.14 miles Pond View Trail: 0.43 mile Shaffers Way: 0.23 mile Cross-country-Skiing: All trails are recommended for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when conditions permit. Environmental Education and InterpretationVarden Conservation Area offers a wide variety of environmental education programs. Through hands-on activities, guided walks, and special events, participants gain appreciation and understanding, as well as develop a sense of stewardship toward natural and cultural resources. Standards-based environmental education programs are available to school and youth groups. Programs must be arranged in advance and may be scheduled by contacting environmental education specialist at the Promised Land State Park office. Programs are offered from April through October. Many programs feature the abundant wildlife and forest management practices that can be seen in the conservation area. For more detailed information on programs, contact Promised Land State Park. Explore the Calendar of Events for a listing of events from today forward. Explore environmental education and interpretation for more information. Access for People with Disabilities
In an EmergencyContact a park employee or dial 911. Nearest Hospital There are many opportunities to see wildlife in the conservation area. The forest consists of numerous planted trees, including: blue and white spruce, ash, white birch, red pine, Norway spruce, white pine, Douglas fir and balsam fir. Hemlock and red maple are also present in the conservation area. The diverse forest and wetland habitats produce ideal conditions for amphibians, mammals and birds. White-tailed deer, black bear, squirrel, wild turkey, beaver and many species of birds inhabit the area. The land that became Varden Conservation Area was part of the frontier region under considerable turmoil during the later portion of the 18th century. The Susquehanna Company was formed to encourage settlement by the Connecticut people in an area along the east branch of the Susquehanna River. In 1754, the Onondaga tribal council deeded the greater part of this land to the Susquehanna Company. However, the French and Indian War prevented settlement until after 1760. From this time and prior to the Revolutionary War, Connecticut and Pennsylvania waged a bitter battle for the land. From 1770 to 1784, the Yankee-Pennamite Wars took part in the region. After the Revolutionary War in 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a commission to settle the dispute. The conclusion favored Pennsylvania, effectively ending land rights for Connecticut. In the 1780’s, European-American pioneers entered the area and set up settlements along Middle Creek and it’s tributaries. The settlers engaged in farming the land and tapped into Middle Creek to supply water to power tanneries, and water powered mills of various types. Increased settlement was established because of the large degree of transportation routes established throughout the early 1800’s. The Northern Road, Belmont and Easton Turnpike, and another turnpike connecting Milford, PA and Oswego, NY were completed by 1815. Other industries were limited to lumbering, milling and tanning. The white and yellow pine, white and red beech, maple, hemlock, and birch were abundant in the area. In the early years of settlement, many people of German descent inhabited the Varden area. One well-known family was the Shaffer’s. John Shaffer, probably born in Germany came to America sometime before the Revolutionary War. According to family tradition, John was a stowaway in a ship on its passage to America. Very little of his early life is known. John may have lived in Orange County, New York where he married. Family tradition states he was married three times. It is claimed that John served in the Orange County Militia during the Revolutionary War. After the war, John heard of land near Middle Creek. John probably came to the area sometime between 1783 and 1786. Hans Ulrich Swingle and Henry Curtis accompanied John on the trip to Pennsylvania, spending their first night sleeping under a large tree in what is now Varden. The area John settled was first known as the Dutch Settlement and later as Shaffertown, Shaffer’s Hollow, and Millville. William Rufus Shaffer, who became postmaster in 1886, chose to name the town Varden, taking the name from his favorite literary character, Dolly Varden from Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens. Throughout the years, Shaffer acquired land that would later become Varden Conservation Area. Here the Shaffer family has lived for over 200 hundred years. The agricultural past is evident in the area. Old foundations, stonewalls, stone piles, a barn, and the famous Shaffer chimney are still present. Dr. Mead ShafferFor over 200 years, the Shaffer family has been living in Northeastern Pennsylvania. First settled by John Shaffer, the Shaffer Homestead has experienced much through several generations of Shaffer families. The latest resident is Dr. Mead Shaffer of Boothwyn Township, Delaware County. Dr. Shaffer spent his childhood years living on the Shaffer Homestead. He spent two years at war, came home and became a veterinarian. Mead has planted many trees, created a pond, and preserved the superb habitat. Mead has stated that he wishes future generations would benefit from the donation of the conservation area. With the vast history of the Shaffer family in the area, and at Varden specifically, Mead’s donation greatly illustrates his devotion and admiration of the Varden area. Keep in TouchAdd yourself to the DCNR's online community to receive info on this park, or parks in general. Volunteering
Becoming a Conservation Volunteer is easy.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Make a DonationTo a park - find this park's address below To a park or the Bureau of State Parks - Pennsylvania Parks and Forestry Foundation www.paparksandforests.org Through a purchase at a park gift shop Thank you for your support! Education ProgramsWe love when young people ask us how to get involved!
In Watershed Education, teachers and students assess water quality of a local stream on a quarterly basis and develop strategies to solve local water quality problems. ECO Camp - Exploring Careers Outdoors - is a week-long residential camp for a cross-section of high school youth from across Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Participate in action-packed, hands on activities and recreational adventures in Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests that expose youth to conservation, recreation and careers in natural resources. Learn how people make a living working in the outdoors. Explore education for more information on these and other programs. Explore the Calendar of Events to find a program near you. iConservePA
Come Work with UsPennsylvania State Parks and the Department of Conservation and Natrual Resources offer a wide range of civil service and non-civil service jobs, from foresters, to rangers, to engineers, to educators, to botanists and so much more. Learn what is currently available. Tell us What You ThinkContact this park with compliments, concerns and issues about the park. Varden Conservation Area Nearby AttractionsInformation on nearby attractions is available from: Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau www.800poconos.com Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau. www.endlessmountains.org Maps and Downloadables
You must have the free Adobe Reader to view the maps and brochures that are in pdf format (.pdf). Alternate versions of the text of the brochures are in rich text and text formats. Click on the files to view them. To download (.rtf) files: Recreational GuideVarden Conservation Area Map (.pdf) (1,033 kb, 4/13) Interactive GIS MapThe Interactive GIS Map uses Geographic Information Systems to create a map that does not need to be downloaded and features driving directions, searchable park amenities and customizable maps. Please note that the background maps are maintained by a variety of public sources and driving directions usually go to the nearest large road.
 
Varden is at the intersection of PA 196 and PA 296, in Wayne County. Tannery Road provides access to the Tannery Tract. Mid Valley Road provides access to the Mid Valley Tract. Driving Directions: The Interactive GIS Map has turn-by-turn driving directions to the park office from the Park Information Window. Please note that the background maps are maintained by a variety of public sources and driving directions usually go to the nearest large road. Varden Conservation Area
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Like to spend time in the outdoors, meet friendly people and help make Pennsylvania State Parks great? Volunteering at a park might be for you.
Believing that each generation is responsible for leaving behind a better legacy of good conservation, the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) was created in 1999 to give supporters and users of Pennsylvania's parks and forests a positive way to contribute to the conservation of our publicly-owned properties. The Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation welcomes the support of individuals and businesses who share a commitment to conserving, protecting, and enhancing the natural, scenic, and recreational areas of this commonwealth. 
Do you take conservation personally? iConservePA is a Web site managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources whose vision is to inspire citizens to value their natural resources, engage in conservation practices and experience the outdoors. 
Below are many of the maps and publications for this park. You can read them or download them and might need special software (all free) to view the publications.