Pine Tree Trail Natural Area

{{Short description|Natural area in Pennsylvania}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Pine Tree Trail Natural Area | alt_name = | iucn_category = | image = | image_alt = | image_caption = | image_size = | map = USA Pennsylvania | map_alt = | map_caption = Location within Pennsylvania | map_width = | location = [[Elk County, Pennsylvania|Elk County]], [[Pennsylvania]] | nearest_town = [[Dents Run, Pennsylvania|Dents Run]] | coordinates = {{coord|41.3840|N|78.2986|W|region:US-PA|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = | area = {{convert|276|acre}} | established = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | governing_body = | url = }} '''Pine Tree Trail Natural Area''' is a {{convert|276|acre|ha|adj=on}} [[protected area]] in [[Elk County, Pennsylvania|Elk County]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. It is part of [[Elk State Forest]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Elk State Forest Wild and Natural Areas |url=https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateForests/FindAForest/Elk/Pages/Wild_NaturalAreas.aspx |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Fergus">{{Cite book |last=Fergus |first=Charles |title=Natural Pennsylvania: Exploring the State Forest Natural Areas |publisher=Stackpole Books |year=2002 |location=Mechanicsburg, PA |pages=178–180}}</ref>

== Description == The Natural Area was established to protect an [[Old-growth forest|old-growth]] grove of [[List of Pinus species|white pine]] trees. Unusually, the area was [[Clearcutting|clearcut]] and turned into a farm very early in the history of Pennsylvania [[Logging|logging industry]], and then reforested naturally from cones blown in from nearby surviving trees. The current trees are about 170 years old, technically making them old-growth.<ref name="Fergus" /> The area is home to uncommon birds such as the [[black-throated green warbler]], and some members of the Pennsylvania [[elk]] population have been seen.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schneck |first=Marcus |date=2019-09-16 |title=Take the 127-mile Elk Scenic Drive as an elk-spotting alternative to crowded Winslow Hill |url=https://www.pennlive.com/life/2019/09/take-the-127-mile-elk-scenic-drive-as-an-elk-spotting-alternative-to-crowded-winslow-hill.html |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=PennLive |language=en}}</ref> The Natural Area is accessed via various hiking trails with educational displays.<ref name=":8" />

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Protected areas of Elk County, Pennsylvania]]