{{Short description|Natural area in Pennsylvania}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Jakey Hollow Natural Area | alt_name = | iucn_category = | image = Flickr - Nicholas T - Spring Green (1).jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = Trees in Jakey Hollow Natural Area | image_size = | map = USA Pennsylvania | map_alt = | map_caption = Location within Pennsylvania | map_width = | location = [[Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Columbia County]], [[Pennsylvania]] | nearest_city = [[Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania|Bloomsburg]] | coordinates = {{coord|41.0646|N|76.4893|W|region:US-PA|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = | area = {{convert|59|acre}} | established = 1990 | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | governing_body = | url = }}
'''Jakey Hollow Natural Area''' is a [[protected area]] in Jakey Hollow in [[Columbia County, Pennsylvania]], in the United States.<ref name = "inventory">{{Citation|author = The Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy|url = http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/cnai_pdfs/columbia%20county%20nai%202004.pdf|title = Columbia County Natural Areas Inventory 2004|year = 2004|accessdate = July 14, 2014}}</ref> The natural area has an area of 59 acres. A hiking trail known as the Ward Crawford Trail is in the area and hunting is also permitted there. Part of the natural area is [[old-growth forest]] and recognized by the [[Old-Growth Forest Network]]. Some logging was historically done in portions of Jakey Hollow. The area was purchased by Ward Crawford and his brother in the 1950s. They sold it to the [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] in 1990.
==Location and description== [[File:Flickr - Nicholas T - Jakey Hollow Natural Area (4).jpg|thumb|left|A stream in Jakey Hollow Natural Area]] Jakey Hollow Natural Area is located in [[Hemlock Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Hemlock Township]], [[Madison Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Madison Township]], and [[Mount Pleasant Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Mount Pleasant Township]], in [[Columbia County, Pennsylvania]]. A small portion of Jakey Hollow is in the northeastern corner of Hemlock Township and the southeastern corner of Madison Township. The vast majority of the hollow is in Mount Pleasant Township, which is also where the entirety of the natural area is located.<ref name = "inventory"/> With an area of {{convert|59|acre}}, the natural area is one of the smallest natural areas in [[Pennsylvania]].<ref name = "hiking">{{Citation|author = Jeff Mitchell|publisher = Stackpole Books|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=1FqtMQ4Z2rsC&dq=Jakey+Hollow&pg=PA114|page={{page needed|date=July 2014}}|title = Hiking the Endless Mountains: Exploring the Wilderness of Northeastern Pennsylvania|date = January 1, 2011|isbn = 9780811744232}}</ref>
Jakey Hollow Natural Area is located on a small tributary of [[Little Fishing Creek]].<ref name = "hiking"/> It is near the community of Mordansville and {{convert|5|mi|km}} north of [[Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania|Bloomsburg]].<ref name = "hiking"/><ref name = "outbound"/> A [[glen]] is also located in the natural area. The area is accessed via Crawford Road.<ref name = "hiking"/>
Two cornfields lie next to Jakey Hollow Natural Area and the area in the vicinity of it is being developed.<ref name = "inventory"/><ref name = "outbound">{{Citation|author = Marcia M. Bonta|authorlink=Marcia Bonta|publisher = Penn State Press|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=j9k8XzChTIUC&dq=%22Jakey+Hollow%22&pg=PA31|page={{page needed|date=July 2014}}|title = More Outbound Journeys in Pennsylvania: A Guide to Natural Places for Individual and Group Outings|isbn=0271038861}}</ref> Some of the woods surrounding the natural area is privately owned. Some timber is cut in these woods, but no logging has been done in the upper half of Jakey Hollow.<ref name = "outbound"/><ref name = "nativetree">{{Citation|author = Ernie Ostuno|url = http://www.nativetreesociety.org/fieldtrips/penna/jakey_hollow_natural_area.htm|title = Jakey Hollow Natural Area, PA|date = July 27, 2004|accessdate = July 17, 2014}}</ref> Additionally, a [[stone quarry]] is found near the natural area.<ref name = "outbound"/> It is possible that in the future, it could become fully surrounded by developed land, specifically [[housing development]]s. [[Surface runoff|Runoff]] from nearby [[agriculture|agricultural]] lands is also found in the natural area.<ref name = "inventory"/>
==Biology== Jakey Hollow Natural Area is considered to be a Northern Conifer Forest Natural Community.<ref name = "inventory"/> Approximately half of the natural area is [[old-growth forest]].<ref name = "nativetree"/> The main tree species in the natural area are [[second-growth]] [[eastern hemlock]], a small amount of [[Old-growth forest|virgin]] hemlock, and [[hardwood]] trees. Additionally, numerous other tree species inhabit the area. There are three [[oak]] species: [[chestnut oak]], [[Quercus rubra|red oak]], and [[white oak]]. Other tree species include [[American beech]], [[Betula lenta|black birch]], [[black cherry]], [[Pinus strobus|white pine]], and [[Fraxinus americana|white ash]].<ref name = "inventory"/> The white pine population in the natural area consists of dozens of individuals, some of which more than {{convert|100|ft|m}} high.<ref name = "nativetree"/>
There is also a layer of [[herb]]s and [[shrub]]s in Jakey Hollow Natural Area. Three species of [[fern]]s inhabit the area, as do plants such as [[Virginia creeper]], [[goldenrod]], [[Medeola virginiana|Indian cucumber]], [[foamflower]], [[Symplocarpus foetidus|skunk cabbage]], and others.<ref name = "inventory"/> [[Clubmoss]]es also inhabit the area in the summer.<ref name = "hiking"/> A number of [[bird]] species inhabit Jakey Hollow Natural Area. These include the [[cedar waxwing]], the [[ovenbird]], the [[barred owl]], several species of [[Thrush (bird)|thrushes]] and [[warbler]]s, and others.<ref name="inventory" /> A large population of [[bluejay]]s also lives in Jakey Hollow.<ref name="outbound" /> A number of [[invasive species]] inhabit Jakey Hollow Natural Area, including [[garlic mustard]]. Large populations of [[deer]] also over-browse in the area. A [[pest (organism)|pest]] known as the [[Adelges tsugae|hemlock wooly adelgid]] is found there as well.<ref name="inventory" />
==History== Jakey Hollow Natural Area was originally part of a larger forest that covered the region.<ref name = "hiking"/> The [[hardwood]] trees in the natural area are 200 years old.<ref>{{Citation|author = Mark Crawford|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=o3kfAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Jakey+Hollow%22|page={{page needed|date=July 2014}}|title = Habitats and Ecosystems: An Encyclopedia of Endangered America|year = 1999|isbn = 9780874369977}}</ref> Historically, [[timber]]ing was done in the hollow and former logging grades are still present.<ref name = "hiking"/>
In the 1950s, Ward Crawford and his brother purchased the land that Jakey Hollow Natural Area is on and protected it.<ref name = "hiking"/> The [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] purchased the land from Ward Crawford in 1990.<ref name = "inventory"/><ref name = "hiking"/> It remains a protected area.<ref name = "inventory"/> In the 1990s, the natural area was part of the [[Wyoming State Forest]].<ref name = "nativetree"/>
==Recreation== [[File:Weiser State Forest Walking Path.jpg|thumb|A walking trail in Jakey Hollow Natural Area]] [[Hunting]] is permitted in Jakey Hollow Natural Area.<ref name = "inventory"/> The trail system of the natural area is not formal or well-established.<ref name = "hiking"/><ref name = "naturalpennsylvania">{{Citation|author = Charles Fergus|publisher = Stackpole Books|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=E9PJxejJsigC&dq=%22Jakey+Hollow%22&pg=PA137|title = Natural Pennsylvania: Exploring the State Forest Natural Areas|page = 137|year = 2002|isbn = 9780811720380}}</ref> However, there is an [[Trail blazing|unblazed]] trail known as the Ward Crawford Trail. This trail starts at the [[parking lot]] for the natural area and climbs down into Jakey Hollow, where it crosses the stream at the bottom of the hollow and climbs up the other side, reaching a field. There are also [[footpath]]s that run parallel to the stream.<ref name = "hiking"/> The paths in the natural area were created by previous visitors.<ref name = "naturalpennsylvania"/>
The Ward Crawford Trail is {{convert|1|mi|km}} long and takes one hour to complete. The elevation change is {{convert|100|ft|m}}. Jeff Mitchell describes the trail as easy in his book ''Hiking the Endless Mountains: Exploring the Wilderness of Northeastern Pennsylvania''.<ref name = "hiking"/>
==See also== *[[Weiser State Forest]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Jakey Hollow Natural Area}} *[http://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=3816705&DocName=FD18%20Weiser%20Jakey%20Hollow%20Natural%20Area%20factsheet.pdf Jakey Hollow Natural Area] Pennsylvania DCNR Bureau of Forestry
{{Protected Areas of Pennsylvania}}
[[Category:Protected areas of Columbia County, Pennsylvania]]