Moshannon State Forest
Moshannon State Forest | |
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IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources) | |
Location | Pennsylvania, United States |
Coordinates | 41°12′30″N 78°34′32″W / 41.20833°N 78.57556°W |
Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Website | Moshannon State Forest |
Moshannon State Forest is a Pennsylvania State Forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #9. The main offices are located in the unincorporated village of Penfield in Huston Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania in the United States.
The forest is located chiefly in Centre, Clearfield, and Elk Counties, with small parts of the forest also in Cameron and Clinton Counties.
History
Moshannon State Forest was formed as a direct result of the depletion of the forests of Pennsylvania that took place during the mid-to-late 19th century. Conservationists like Dr.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania began purchasing tracts of land for what is now Moshannon State Forest on September 28, 1898.[2] The first purchase was 352 acres (142 ha) on the banks of Montgomery Run to the north of Clearfield. It was purchased for just $65.45 to settle a delinquent tax payment. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' web page, the state is still acquiring land that meets the "current guidelines" to become state forest land.
Much of the land that is now Moshannon State Forest has been purchased from lumber and land holding companies. At the time of purchase the land was largely devoid of trees. It was mostly dried brush and burnt scrub. This was a direct result of the
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 would penetrate, even on the clearest day.[2]
All of the virgin forest was gone by 1921. It has since been replaced by a thriving
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A winter scene in Moshannon State Forest
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The Panther Rocks formation in Moshannon State Forest
Activities
- Hiking
- Mountain Biking
- Kayaking
- Fishing
- Camping
- Snowmobiling
- Cross Country Skiing
Horseback Riding
Horses may be ridden on most of Moshannon State Forest's hundreds of miles of shared-use trails (blazed red) and state forest roads. Horses are not permitted on Quehanna hiking trail, District hiking trails (yellow blazes), or in Natural Areas. Due to diverse terrain, trails range in difficulty from easy to very difficult. A popular area for riding is around Black Moshannon State Park, which offers Benner Run Day Use area and North Run Equestrian Camping Area. Yellowsnake Camping Area near Karthaus offers access to extensive trails in Quehanna Wild Area.[4]
Neighboring state forest districts
- Elk State Forest (north)
- Sproul State Forest (east)
- Rothrock State Forest (southeast)
- Gallitzin State Forest (south)
- Clear Creek State Forest (west)
Nearby state parks
Three Pennsylvania State Parks are located within Moshannon State Forest:
- Black Moshannon State Park (Centre County)
- Parker Dam State Park (Clearfield County)
- S. B. Elliott State Park(Clearfield County)
References
- ^ a b "History of the William Penn State Forest". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
- ^ a b c "History of the Moshannon State Forest". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
- ^ "Horseback Riding". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
- "Moshannon State Forest". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on February 26, 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-18. Note: As of July 2006, this web page has not been updated to reflect the Pennsylvania State Forest Districts realignment.
- "State Forest Districts". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 2006-05-15. Retrieved 2006-07-18. Note: Map showing districts after the July 1, 2005 realignment