Bear Meadows Natural Area

{{Short description|Protected area in Pennsylvania, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Bear Meadows Natural Area | alt_name = | iucn_category = | image = 2025-08-31 11 31 12 View east from the Indian Wells Overlook along the Mid-State Trail within Rothrock State Forest in Harris Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = View of Bear Meadows from the [[Mid State Trail (Pennsylvania)|Mid State Trail]] | image_size = | map = USA Pennsylvania | map_alt = | map_caption = Map of [[Pennsylvania]] | map_width = | location = [[Harris Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania|Harris Township]], [[Centre County, Pennsylvania|Centre County]], [[Pennsylvania]] | nearest_town = [[Boalsburg, Pennsylvania|Boalsburg]] | coordinates = {{coord|40|43|45|N|77|45|50|W|region:US-PA|display=inline, title}} | area = {{Convert|890|acre}} | established = 1965 | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | governing_body = | url = | module = {{designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = NNL | designation1_date = 1965 }} }} '''Bear Meadows Natural Area''' is a [[National Natural Landmark]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bear Meadows Natural Area |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nnlandmarks/site.htm?Site=BEME-PA. |website=National Park Service}}</ref> located within [[Rothrock State Forest]] in [[Harris Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania|Harris Township]], [[Centre County, Pennsylvania|Centre County]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States, four miles south of [[Boalsburg, Pennsylvania|Boalsburg]], in the [[Appalachian Mountains]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Fergus |first=Charles |title=Natural Pennsylvania: Exploring the State Forest Natural Areas. |publisher=Stackpole Books |year=2002 |location=Mechanicsburg, PA |pages=67–72}}</ref> The area can be accessed via a loop hiking trail, while it is visible from several ridgetop vistas reached via the [[Mid State Trail (Pennsylvania)|Mid State Trail]].<ref name="Thwaites">{{cite book |last1=Thwaites |first1=Tom |title=50 Hikes in Central Pennsylvania |date=2001 |publisher=Backcountry Publications |isbn=088150372X |edition=Fourth |location=Woodstock, Vermont |pages=99–102}}</ref> It is surrounded by [[Thickhead Mountain Wild Area]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Rothrock State Forest Wild and Natural Areas|url=https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-forests/find-a-forest/rothrock/wild-natural-areas|access-date=2026-05-16|website=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Description == Bear Meadows Natural Area was founded in 1965 as a State Forest Natural Area, and has since been expanded to 890 acres. The area contains a [[bog]] surrounded by steep mountains, in an enclosed valley that has been poorly drained for thousands of years. The bog creates a swampy landscape that is unusual for central Pennsylvania, and it is known for providing a habitat for rare plants and insects.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Natural Areas and National Natural Landmarks |url=https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Recreation/WhereToGo/NaturalAreas/Pages/default.aspx |website=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources}}</ref>

Large amounts of [[peat]] have formed at the bottom of the bog. This peat has attracted scientific interest because it preserves spores from plants and trees that have occupied the area for the past 10,000 years. The spores indicate that the area once included species now found only in Siberia and northern Canada, which can in turn be used to study long-term climate changes.<ref name=":0" />

The bog has been forming since the end of the [[last glacial period]] 10,000 years ago and is surrounded by an [[old-growth forest]] of [[boreal forest|boreal]] species typically found much farther north, such as [[black spruce]], [[balsam fir]], [[eastern hemlock]], and [[yellow birch]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nnlandmarks/site.htm?Site=BEME-PA |title= Bear Meadows Natural Area |publisher= [[National Park Service]] |work= nps.gov}}</ref>

==Geology== The bog itself is underlain by the [[Juniata Formation]]. The U-shaped ridge to the north, west, and south is formed by the [[Tuscarora Formation]]. The low hill to the northeast of the bog is formed by the [[Bald Eagle Formation]]. [[Periglacial]] boulders are abundant on the slopes surrounding the bog.<ref>Map 61: Atlas of Preliminary Geologic Quadrangle Maps of Pennsylvania, compiled and edited by Thomas M. Berg and Christine M. Dodge, 1981, Pennsylvania Geologic Survey, 4th Series, Harrisburg, PA ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130302233336/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/publications/pgspub/map/index.htm Map 61]), McAlevys Fort Quadrangle</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:National Natural Landmarks in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Centre County, Pennsylvania]]