{{Short description|State forest in Pennsylvania, US}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Pinchot State Forest | iucn_category = | iucn_ref = <!-- images --> | image = Lackawanna State Forest.jpg | image_caption = Looking southwest from Pine Hill, Pinchot State Forest, Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties <!-- map --> | map = | image_map = Lackawanna State Forest Locator Map.PNG | map_size = | map_caption = Location of Pinchot State Forest in Pennsylvania | relief = <!-- location --> | location = Pennsylvania, United States | nearest_city = | nearest_town = | coordinates = {{coord|41|34|10|N|75|42|30|W|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = <!-- stats --> | length = | length_mi = | length_km = | width = | width_mi = | width_km = | area_acre = 49635 | area_ref = | elevation = {{convert|2265|ft|m|abbr=on}} | elevation_avg = | elevation_min = | elevation_max = | dimensions = | designation = <!-- dates & info --> | authorized = | created = | designated = | established = 1902 | named_for = [[Gifford Pinchot]] | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | governing_body = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources | administrator = | operator = | owner = <!-- website, embedded --> | website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20150817031556/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/pinchot/index.htm Pinchot State Forest] | module = }}
'''Pinchot State Forest''' is a [[List of Pennsylvania state forests|Pennsylvania State Forest]] in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #11. The main offices are located in [[Lackawanna State Park]] in [[North Abington Township, Pennsylvania|North Abington Township]] in [[Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania|Lackawanna County]], [[Pennsylvania]], in the [[United States]].
The forest is located on several tracts in Lackawanna, [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Luzerne]], [[Wyoming County, Pennsylvania|Wyoming]], [[Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania|Susquehanna]], and [[Wayne County, Pennsylvania|Wayne]] counties. {{As of|2022|February|8|df=US}}, the total area is {{Convert|49635|acre|ha}}.<ref name="DCNR details">{{Cite web|title=DCNR details|url=https://www.media.pa.gov:443/pages/dcnr_details.aspx?newsid=724|access-date=2022-02-09|website=Pennsylvania Pressroom|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Spruce Swamp Natural Area]] receives extra protection.
The reorganization of Pennsylvania State Forests that took effect {{Date|July 1, 2005}}, added the southern part of Luzerne County to District #11 (it was previously in the defunct [[Wyoming State Forest]]). Other aspects of the realignment include moving the District #11 office from [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]] {{convert|10|mi|km|0}} north to Lackawanna State Park, and the acquisition of a new tract, "Theta Forest" (not included in the description above).
==History== [[File:Entering the Lackawanna State Forest.JPG|thumb|left|Entering the Lackawanna State Forest]]
=== Depletion of natural resources === Pinchot State Forest was formed in response to the depletion of the forests of Pennsylvania during the mid-to-late 19th century. Conservationists like Dr. [[Joseph Rothrock]] feared that the forests would not regrow if they were not managed properly. Lumber and Iron companies had harvested the [[old-growth forest]]s on a massive scale. 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 lumber and iron companies were more than willing to sell their land since that 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>
=== Legislative response === A change began 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 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" /> Pinchot State Forest began a few years later, in 1902, with the purchase of {{Convert|2,854|acre|ha}} of land in [[Thornhurst Township, Pennsylvania|Thornhurst Township]], Lackawanna County, from William and Catherine McMurtry for $3,567.40. It was originally known as Lackawanna State Forest.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}
=== Expansion and renaming === Since 2005, the state forest has expanded from {{Convert|7735|acre|ha}} to {{Convert|49635|acre|ha}}. Added tracts include {{Convert|3183|acre|ha}} in [[Mocanaqua, Pennsylvania|Mocanaqua]], the {{Convert|540|acre|ha|adj=on}} [[Seven Tubs Recreation Area]], {{Convert|862|acre|ha}} at Deep Hollow, the {{Convert|1210|acre|ha|adj=on}} [[Moon Lake State Forest Recreation Area]], {{Convert|7683|acre|ha}} on Montage Mountain, and {{Convert|528|acre|ha}} in the Thornhurst section in [[Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania|Lackawanna County.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_20031665.pdf|title=2016 Management Activity Plan|website=Pinchot State Forest|publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources}}{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="DCNR details"/> In 2015, Lackawanna State Forest was renamed Pinchot State Forest in honor of [[Gifford Pinchot]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvania-dcnr-renames-lackawanna-state-forest-district-in-honor-of-gifford-pinchot-300127033.html|title=Pennsylvania DCNR Renames Lackawanna State Forest District In Honor of Gifford Pinchot}}</ref>
==Gallery== A view of Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties from Pine Hill (in Pinchot State Forest): <gallery> File:Pine Hill (Revisited) (2) (9449538588).jpg File:Pine Hill (Revisited) (1) (9446749969).jpg File:Pine Hill (Revisited) (3) (9449525666).jpg File:Flickr - Nicholas T - Pine Hill Vista (Revisited) (4).jpg File:Flickr - Nicholas T - Pine Hill Vista (Revisited) (3).jpg File:Flickr - Nicholas T - Pine Hill Vista (Revisited) (5).jpg </gallery>
==Neighboring state forest districts== The [[U.S. state]]s of [[New York (state)|New York]] and [[New Jersey]] are to the north and east, respectively. *[[Delaware State Forest]] (southeast) *[[Weiser State Forest]] (south) *[[Loyalsock State Forest]] (west)
==Nearby state parks== *[[Archbald Pothole State Park]] in Lackawanna County *[[Lackawanna State Park]] in Lackawanna County *[[Prompton State Park]] in Wayne County *[[Salt Springs State Park]] in Susquehanna County *[[Varden Conservation Area]] in Wayne County
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/lackawanna/index.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110610070405/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/lackawanna/index.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 10, 2011 | title = Lackawanna State Forest | access-date = 2011-03-15 | 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 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060515050052/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/images/district_realignment.gif <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-05-15}} ''Note: Map showing districts after the July 1, 2005 realignment'' {{Protected areas of Pennsylvania}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Pennsylvania state forests]] [[Category:Protected areas of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Wayne County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Wyoming County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1902]] [[Category:1902 establishments in Pennsylvania]]