Loyalsock State Forest

{{Short description|State forest in Pennsylvania, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Loyalsock State Forest | iucn_category = | iucn_ref =  | image = Loyalsock Creek Cascades.jpg | image_caption = [[Loyalsock Creek]] in Loyalsock State Forest in Sullivan County  | map = | image_map = Loyalsock State Forest Locator Map.PNG | map_width = | map_caption = Location of Loyalsock State Forest in Pennsylvania | relief =  | location = Bradford, Lycoming, & Sullivan Counties in Pennsylvania, United States | nearest_city = | nearest_town = | coordinates = {{coord|41|30|39|N|76|43|13|W|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref =  | length = | length_mi = | length_km = | width = | width_mi = | width_km = | area_ref = | elevation = {{convert|1765|ft|m|abbr=on}} | elevation_avg = | elevation_min = | elevation_max = | dimensions = | designation =  | authorized = | created = | designated = | established = 1929 | named_for = [[Loyalsock Creek]] | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | governing_body = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources | administrator = | operator = | owner =  | website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20110625053127/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/loyalsock/index.htm Loyalsock State Forest] | module = }}

'''Loyalsock State Forest''' is a [[List of Pennsylvania state forests|Pennsylvania state forest]] in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #20. The forest spans across the northern tier's "Endless Mountains" and is a total of {{convert|114552|acre}}. The Loyalsock is a “working forest” and is managed for pure water, recreation, plant and animal habitats, sustainable timber, and natural gas.

In 2008, the District 20 office was moved into a new facility on the districts far eastern boundary in [[Dushore, Pennsylvania|Dushore]], [[Pennsylvania]] in [[Sullivan County, Pennsylvania|Sullivan County]] in the [[United States]]. The Hillsgrove Ranger Station, which also houses the districts maintenance section, is located in [[Hillsgrove, Pennsylvania|Hillsgrove]], [[Pennsylvania]] in [[Sullivan County, Pennsylvania|Sullivan County]].

==History== [[File:Flickr - Nicholas T - Boughs.jpg|220px|thumb|right|A trail in Loyalsock State Forest]] The [[List of Pennsylvania state forests|state forests]] of Pennsylvania were 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. [[Joseph Rothrock]] became concerned that the forests would not regrow if they were not managed properly. Lumber and Iron companies had harvested the [[old-growth forest]]s for various reasons. They [[clearcutting|clear cut]] the forests and left behind nothing but dried tree tops and rotting stumps. The sparks of passing [[steam locomotives]] ignited [[wildfire]]s that prevented the formation of [[Secondary forest|second growth forest]]s.

Conservationists feared that the forest would never regrow if there was not a change in the philosophy of forest management. They called for the state to purchase land from the lumber and iron companies, and the companies were more than willing to sell their land since they had depleted the natural resources of the forests.<ref name="vfsfhistory">{{cite web |url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/valleyforgehistory.aspx |title = History of the William Penn State Forest |access-date = 2007-08-29 |publisher = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070823033728/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/valleyforgehistory.aspx |archive-date = 2007-08-23}}</ref> The changes began to take place in 1895 when Dr. Rothrock was appointed the first commissioner of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, the forerunner of today's [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]]. The [[Pennsylvania General Assembly]] passed a piece of legislation in 1897 that authorized the purchase of "unseated lands for forest reservations." This was the beginning of the State Forest system.<ref name="vfsfhistory"/>

The history of the Loyalsock state forest goes back to 1929, when following the great lumber era the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, a precursor to the modern Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, began purchasing land from the Central Pennsylvania Lumber Company. Much of it had been devastated by logging and wild fires, but it would go on to create the Wyoming State Forest. Throughout the forest ran a network of narrow gauge railroad tracks on which steam powered locomotives had pulled flatcars loaded with logs to sawmill towns that grown up overnight and disappeared just as quickly. During the 1930s and early 1940s the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] (CCC), developed camps which replaced these, now ghost, sawmill towns and logging camps. CCC Camps 80, 95, 96, 126, 128, and 145 were all located within the Loyalsock State Forest. The Hillsgrove Ranger Station is actually located on the site of old Camp 96. In 2005, the Loyalsock State Forest was designated by combining the Wyoming State Forest in [[Sullivan County, Pennsylvania|Sullivan County]] with the eastern half of the [[Tiadaghton State Forest]]) in eastern [[Lycoming County, Pennsylvania|Lycoming County]], and a portion of the [[Tioga State Forest]]) in eastern [[Bradford County, Pennsylvania|Bradford County]]. The newly re-aligned state forest district was named after the Loyalsock Creek which flows through the center of the district.

==Marcellus Shale Development==

The Loyalsock State Forest lies in the heart of the [[Marcellus natural gas trend|Marcellus Shale Fairway]]. Out of its total 114,552 acres the Commonwealth controls the mineral rights to 72,752, and of those 20,646 have been leased by [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources|DCNR]] to drilling companies. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141002215344/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_20029147.pdf 2014 Shale Gas Monitoring Report, Table 1.1. - Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources] This includes Seneca Resources, a division of [[National Fuel Gas|National Fuel]], and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. Seneca claims wells drilled in the area are highly productive.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jacobs|first=Nicole|title=Seneca Resources Gets Innovative to Reduce Impacts|url=http://energyindepth.org/marcellus/seneca-resources-gets-innovative-to-reduce-impacts/|date=2012-06-12}}</ref>

===Clarence Moore Lands=== The Clarence Moore Lands refers to approximately 25,000 acres within the Lycoming County area of the Loyalsock State Forest. It includes the Old Logger’s Path, the headwaters and a portion of the Rock Run waterway, Pleasant Stream Valley, Sharp Top Vista and the ghost-town of Masten. The controversy centers over ownership and access rights to the natural gas under this area.<ref>{{cite web|last=Blakenship|first=Karl|title=Conservationists fight to save one of PA's gem streams|url=http://www.bayjournal.com/article/conservationists_fight_to_save_one_of_pas_gem_streams1}}</ref> Of the approximately 25,000 acres of Loyalsock State Forest, Commonwealth Court in 1989 found that the right of the subsurface owner (Clarence Moore) to enter upon the surface expired in 1983 on about 18,000 acres, but on the remaining 7,000 acres, which are in scattered blocks throughout the Clarence Moore Lands, the state cannot prohibit surface access to the subsurface mineral rights.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clipper|first=Justice David|title=Opinion Signed COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA THE ESTATE OF CLARENCE MOORE and : BEFORE THE BOARD OF CLAIMS PENNLYCO, LTD., a Maryland : Corporation : VS. : : COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, : DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION : AND NATURAL RESOURCES|url=http://www.boc.state.pa.us/pdf/opinion/1010.pdf}}</ref> Anadarko Petroleum Corp. have since claimed they have acquired 50% of the subsurface mineral rights for the entire 25,000 acres, and they have subsequently approached DNCR about developing their subsurface resources. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130502210733/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_20026829.pdf Loyalsock State Forest Clarence Moore Lands Fact Sheet - Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]

==Neighboring state forest districts== The [[U.S. state]] of [[New York State|New York]] is to the north

*[[Pinchot State Forest]] (east) *[[Weiser State Forest]] (south) *[[Tiadaghton State Forest]] (southwest) *[[Tioga State Forest]] (northwest)

==Nearby state parks== *[[Worlds End State Park]] *[[Ricketts Glen State Park]]

==Attractions==

===High Knob Overlook=== High Knob Overlook is a scenic vista located inside of the Loyalsock State Forest.<ref name="hknobover">{{cite web|title=High Knob Overlook {{!}} visitPA|url=http://www.visitpa.com/contact-us|publisher=The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development|access-date=23 January 2012}}</ref> At 2,020 ft above sea level, it is possible to see the mountain tops of seven counties.<ref name="hknobover"/><ref>{{cite web|title=High Knob Overlook, Sullivan County PA|url=http://www.placenames.com/us/p1201310/|publisher=Placenames.com|access-date=23 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115091529/https://www.placenames.com/us/p1201310/|archive-date=15 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

High Knob Overlook offers parking, free admission, bicycling, and 6.75 miles of trails for hiking.<ref name="hknobover"/><ref>{{cite web|title=High Knob Overlook {{!}} Hillsgrove|url=http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=HGN190-027|publisher=Stackpole Books|access-date=23 January 2012}}</ref> Because High Knob is located in the rural area of [[Hillsgrove Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania|Hillsgrove]], PA, High Knob Overlook has a [[Bortle Dark-Sky Scale|Bortle-rating]] of 3 (rural level light pollution) and it has its own [http://cleardarksky.com/c/WrldEdSpPAkey.html?1 Clear Dark Sky Chart].<ref>{{cite web|last=Danko|first=Attilla|title=High Knob Overlook: Clear Sky Chart|url=http://cleardarksky.com/c/WrldEdSpPAkey.html|access-date=23 January 2012}}</ref>

{{wide image|Loyalsock State Forest High Knob Panorama.JPG|2000px|Panorama of the Loyalsock State Forest from the High Knob Overlook in Hillsgrove Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, United States. There is a relatively level horizon as this area is part of the [[dissected plateau|dissected]] [[Allegheny Plateau]].}}

===Hiking=== There are approximately 200 miles of marked and unmarked trails located throughout the Loyalsock State Forest. *[[Loyalsock Trail]], {{convert|59.3|mi|km}} along [[Loyalsock Creek]] in Lycoming and [[Sullivan County, Pennsylvania|Sullivan]] counties *[[Old Loggers Path]], a loop of {{convert|27.8|mi|km}} in the Pleasant Stream and Rock Run valleys in northeast Lycoming County

===Natural and wild areas=== * [[Devil's Elbow Natural Area|Devils Elbow Natural Area]], {{convert|404|acre}}, is noted for its many emergent, shrub, and forested wetlands and is home to wetland carnivorous plants such as sundew and pitcher plant. * [[Kettle Creek Gorge Natural Area]], {{convert|774|acre}}, which was set aside in 1970 to permit scientific observation of natural systems, protect examples of typical or unique flora and fauna communities. * [[Tamarack Run Natural Area]], {{convert|234|acre}}, is a boreal conifer wetland that provides protection for the plants, amphibians, and reptiles of the area. * [[Kettle Creek Wild Area]], {{convert|2600|acre}}, buffers the Kettle Creek Gorge Natural Area and is home to Kettle Creek, a wilderness trout stream. * [[McIntyre Wild Area]], {{convert|7500|acre|sigfig=4}}, holds the complete watersheds of four streams that cascade into numerous [[waterfall]]s. It gets its name from the old 19th-century mining town of McIntyre, whose ruins of buildings and facilities can still be found. The Band Rock Vista is also located in this area and provides views of the Lycoming Creek Valley.

==References== {{Commons category}} {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/loyalsock.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060923071035/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/loyalsock.aspx | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 23, 2006 | title = Loyalsock State Forest | access-date = 2007-09-01 | publisher = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] }} *{{cite web |url=http://www.state.pa.us/papower/cwp/view.asp?Q=443999&A=11 |title=DCNR REALIGNING FOREST DISTRICTS |access-date=2006-07-12 |date=June 2005 |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070724231552/http://www.state.pa.us/papower/cwp/view.asp?Q=443999&A=11 |archive-date=July 24, 2007 }} *{{cite web |url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/images/district_realignment.gif |title=State Forest Districts |access-date=2006-07-12 |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515050052/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/images/district_realignment.gif |archive-date=2006-05-15 |url-status=dead }} ''Note: Map showing districts after the July 1, 2005 realignment'' *{{cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/hiking/index.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040219030844/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/hiking/index.aspx | url-status = dead | archive-date = February 19, 2004 | title = National & State Forest Hiking Trails | access-date = 2006-07-14 | publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources }}

[[Category:Pennsylvania state forests]] [[Category:Protected areas of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Bradford County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 2005]]