# Tuscarora State Forest

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State forest in Pennsylvania, United States

Tuscarora State Forest Location of Tuscarora State Forest's headquarters in PennsylvaniaLocation Map of Tuscarora State Forest Holdings Location Pennsylvania, United States Coordinates 40°20′14″N 77°30′38″W / 40.33722°N 77.51056°W / 40.33722; -77.51056 Area 91,165 acres (368.93 km2) Governing body Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Website Tuscarora State Forest

**Tuscarora State Forest** is a [Pennsylvania state forest](/source/List_of_Pennsylvania_state_forests) in [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania) Bureau of Forestry District #3. The main office is located in [Blain](/source/Blain%2C_PA) in [Perry County](/source/Perry_County%2C_Pennsylvania), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania) in the [United States](/source/United_States).

Tuscarora State Forest contains 91,165 acres (36,893 ha) in several tracts and is located in [Cumberland](/source/Cumberland_County%2C_Pennsylvania), [Franklin](/source/Franklin_County%2C_Pennsylvania), [Huntingdon](/source/Huntingdon_County%2C_Pennsylvania), [Juniata](/source/Juniata_County%2C_Pennsylvania), [Mifflin](/source/Mifflin_County%2C_Pennsylvania), and [Perry](/source/Perry_County%2C_Pennsylvania) counties.

## History

Tuscarora State Forest was 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](/source/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 forests](/source/Old-growth_forest) for various reasons. They [clear cut](/source/Clearcutting) the forests and left behind nothing but dried tree tops and rotting stumps. The sparks of passing [steam locomotives](/source/Steam_locomotives) ignited [wildfires](/source/Wildfire) that prevented the formation of [second growth forests](/source/Secondary_forest). The 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 these companies were more than willing to sell their land since they had already depleted the natural resources of the forests.[1] 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](/source/Pennsylvania_Department_of_Conservation_and_Natural_Resources). The [Pennsylvania General Assembly](/source/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.[1]

The forest is named for Tuscarora Mountain, which is within the state forest boundaries. The mountain was named for the [Tuscarora](/source/Tuscarora_(tribe)), a tribe that joined the [Iroquois](/source/Iroquois) Nation around 1714 following the [Tuscarora War](/source/Tuscarora_War) in [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina).

Tuscarora State Forest was originally part of the Rothrock Forest Reserve. It was merged with the Pennypacker and McClure reserves to form what is now Tuscarora State Forest. Much of the land was acquired from lumber and iron companies who had used the [old-growth forest](/source/Old-growth_forest) of [hemlock](/source/Tsuga_canadensis), [chestnut](/source/American_chestnut) and [oak](/source/Oak) to produce lumber and [charcoal](/source/Charcoal) to fire the many iron furnaces that dotted the Pennsylvania landscape. Dr. [Joseph Rothrock](/source/Joseph_Rothrock) was an early pioneer in Pennsylvania [forestry](/source/Forestry). In his position as commissioner of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, he led the statewide effort to acquire lands that had been [clear cut](/source/Clearcutting) and left barren. Land was purchased from the lumber companies at minimal cost to the state, just a few dollars per acre.[2]

The newly purchased land was largely barren. This was due to the widespread [wildfires](/source/Wildfire) that swept over the hills and through the valleys when the sparks cast off by passing [steam trains](/source/Steam_train) would ignite fires in the dried tree tops that were left behind by the lumbermen. The founding of the [Civilian Conservation Corps](/source/Civilian_Conservation_Corps) by President [Franklin D. Roosevelt](/source/Franklin_D._Roosevelt) during the [Great Depression](/source/Great_Depression) was vital in creating the thriving [second growth forests](/source/Secondary_forest) that make up Tuscarora State Forest today. The young men of the CCC cleared the forests and streams of dried brush. They lived in one of six camps spread throughout Tuscarora State Forest. In addition to clearing brush they also built roads, bridges and trails in the forests and constructed many of the recreational facilities still in use today at several [state parks](/source/List_of_Pennsylvania_state_parks) in the Tuscarora State Forest area.[2]

## Natural and wild areas

- [Hemlocks Natural Area](/source/Hemlocks_Natural_Area): 120 acres (49 ha) of [old-growth](/source/Old-growth_forest) [Eastern Hemlock](/source/Eastern_Hemlock) forest in a narrow ravine.

- [Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area](/source/Hoverter_and_Sholl_Box_Huckleberry_Natural_Area): 10 acres (4.0 ha); contains a [Box Huckleberry](/source/Box_Huckleberry) over 1,300 years old.

- [Frank E. Masland Jr. Natural Area](/source/Frank_E._Masland_Jr._Natural_Area): 1,270 acres (510 ha) of old [secondary forest](/source/Secondary_forest).

- [James C. Nelson Wild Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_C._Nelson_Wild_Area&action=edit&redlink=1): 5,345 acres (2,163 ha) of old secondary forest.

## Nearby state parks

Four Pennsylvania State Parks are contained within Tuscarora State Forest:

- [Big Spring State Forest Picnic Area](/source/Big_Spring_State_Forest_Picnic_Area)

- [Colonel Denning State Park](/source/Colonel_Denning_State_Park)

- [Fowlers Hollow State Park](/source/Fowlers_Hollow_State_Park)

- [Little Buffalo State Park](/source/Little_Buffalo_State_Park)

## Neighboring state forest districts

- [Bald Eagle State Forest](/source/Bald_Eagle_State_Forest) (north)

- [Weiser State Forest](/source/Weiser_State_Forest) (east)

- [Michaux State Forest](/source/Michaux_State_Forest) (southeast)

- [Buchanan State Forest](/source/Buchanan_State_Forest) (southwest)

- [Rothrock State Forest](/source/Rothrock_State_Forest) (west)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-vfsfhistory_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-vfsfhistory_1-1) ["History of the William Penn State Forest"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070823033728/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/valleyforgehistory.aspx). [Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources](/source/Pennsylvania_Department_of_Conservation_and_Natural_Resources). Archived from [the original](http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/valleyforgehistory.aspx) on August 23, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2007.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tsfhistory_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tsfhistory_2-1) ["History of the Tuscarora State Forest"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040302204003/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/tuschistory.aspx). [Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources](/source/Pennsylvania_Department_of_Conservation_and_Natural_Resources). Archived from [the original](http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/tuschistory.aspx) on March 2, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2007.

## External links

- ["Tuscarora State Forest"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040226005906/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/tuscarora.aspx). [Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources](/source/Pennsylvania_Department_of_Conservation_and_Natural_Resources). Archived from [the original](http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/tuscarora.aspx) on February 26, 2004. Retrieved July 14, 2006. *Note: As of July 2006, this web page has not been updated to reflect the Pennsylvania State Forest Districts realignment.*

- ["State Forest Districts"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060515050052/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/images/district_realignment.gif). Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from [the original](http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/images/district_realignment.gif) on May 15, 2006. Retrieved July 14, 2006. *Note: Map showing districts after the July 1, 2005 realignment*

- ["Natural and Wild Area of the Tuscarora State Forest"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040226043034/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/tuscwild.aspx). Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from [the original](http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/FORESTRY/stateforests/tuscwild.aspx) on February 26, 2004. Retrieved January 21, 2009.

v t e Protected areas of Pennsylvania Federal National Battlefields and Military Parks Fort Necessity Gettysburg National Fish Hatcheries Allegheny National Forests Allegheny National Historic Sites and Historical Parks Allegheny Portage Railroad Edgar Allan Poe Eisenhower First State Friendship Hill Grey Towers Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church Hopewell Furnace Independence Steamtown Valley Forge National Memorials Benjamin Franklin Flight 93 Johnstown Flood Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Monuments Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Recreation Areas Allegheny Delaware Water Gap National Trails Appalachian Lewis and Clark North Country Potomac Heritage National Wild and Scenic Rivers Allegheny River Clarion River Lower Delaware Middle Delaware Upper Delaware National Wildlife Refuge Cherry Valley Erie John Heinz Ohio River Islands Other National Historic Landmarks (Philadelphia) National Natural Landmarks National Register of Historic Places Wilderness Areas State Natural Areas Alan Seeger Algerine Swamp Anders Run Bark Cabin Bear Meadows Bear Run Beartown Woods Big Flat Laurel Black Ash Swamp Bruce Lake Buckhorn Carbaugh Run Charles F. Lewis Cranberry Swamp David R. Johnson Detweiler Run Devil's Elbow East Branch Swamp Forrest H. Dutlinger Frank E. Masland Jr. Halfway Run Hemlocks The Hook Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Jakey Hollow Johnson Run Joyce Kilmer Kettle Creek Gorge Lebo Red Pine Little Juniata Little Mud Pond Swamp Little Tinicum Island Lower Jerry Run Marion Brooks M.K. Goddard/Wykoff Run Meeting of the Pines Miller Run Mt. Cydonia Ponds Mt. Davis Mt. Logan Pennel Run Pine Creek Gorge Pine Lake Pine Ridge Pine Tree Trail Reynolds Spring Roaring Run Rocky Ridge Rosecrans Bog Ruth Zimmerman Sheets Island Archipelago Snyder-Middleswarth Spruce Swamp Stillwater Sweet Root Tall Timbers Tamarack Run Tamarack Swamp Torbert Island State Parks Allegheny Islands Archbald Pothole Bald Eagle Beltzville Bendigo Benjamin Rush Big Elk Creek Big Pocono Big Spring Black Moshannon Blue Knob Boyd Big Tree Buchanan's Birthplace Bucktail Caledonia Canoe Creek Chapman Cherry Springs Clear Creek Codorus Colonel Denning Colton Point Cook Forest Cowans Gap Delaware Canal Denton Hill Elk Erie Bluffs Evansburg Fort Washington Fowlers Hollow Frances Slocum French Creek Gifford Pinchot Gouldsboro Greenwood Furnace Hickory Run Hillman Hills Creek Hyner Run Hyner View Jacobsburg Jennings Joseph E. Ibberson Kettle Creek Keystone Kings Gap Kinzua Bridge Kooser Lackawanna Laurel Hill Laurel Mountain Laurel Ridge Laurel Summit Lehigh Gorge Leonard Harrison Linn Run Little Buffalo Little Pine Locust Lake Lyman Run Marsh Creek Maurice K. Goddard McCalls Dam McConnells Mill Memorial Lake Milton Mont Alto Moraine Mt. Pisgah Nescopeck Neshaminy Nockamixon Nolde Forest Norristown Farm Ohiopyle Oil Creek Ole Bull Parker Dam Patterson Penn-Roosevelt Pine Grove Furnace Poe Paddy Poe Valley Point Presque Isle Prince Gallitzin Promised Land Prompton Prouty Place Pymatuning R. B. Winter Raccoon Creek Ralph Stover Ravensburg Reeds Gap Ricketts Glen Ridley Creek Ryerson Station Salt Springs Samuel S. Lewis Sand Bridge Shawnee Shikellamy Simon B. Elliott Sinnemahoning Sizerville Susquehanna Susquehanna Riverlands Susquehannock Swatara Tobyhanna Trough Creek Tuscarora Tyler Upper Pine Bottom Varden Vosburg Neck Warriors Path Washington Crossing Whipple Dam White Clay Creek Worlds End Yellow Creek State Forests Bald Eagle Buchanan Clear Creek Cornplanter Delaware Elk Forbes Gallitzin Loyalsock Michaux Moshannon Pinchot Rothrock Sproul Susquehannock Tiadaghton Tioga Tuscarora Weiser William Penn Scenic Rivers Bear Run French Creek Lehigh River LeTort Spring Run Lick Run Lower Brandywine Octoraro Creek Pine Creek Schuylkill River Stony Creek Tucquan Creek Tulpehocken Creek Yellow Breeches Creek State Game Lands 12 13 14 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 179 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 335 Wild areas Algerine Asaph Burns Run Clear Shade Hammersley James C. Nelson Kettle Creek Russell P. Letterman Martin Hill McIntyre Penns Creek Quebec Run Quehanna Russell P. Letterman Square Timber Stairway Thickhead Mountain Trough Creek Wolf Run Other Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Mohn Mill Ponds Wild Plant Sanctuary Stone Valley Recreation Area Local and private Abernathy Field Station Asbury Woods Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center Boyce Park Nature Center Briar Bush Nature Center Carbon County Environmental Education Center Churchville Nature Center Endless Mountains Nature Center Fern Hollow Nature Center Frick Environmental Center Great Valley Nature Center Harrison Hills Park Environmental Education Center Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Honey Hollow Environmental Education Center Jarrett Nature Center John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove Lacawac Lancaster Environmental Center Latodami Nature Center at North Park McKaig Nature Education Center McKeever Environmental Learning Center Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center Myrick Conservation Center Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art Nurture Nature Center Peace Valley Nature Center Pocono Environmental Education Center Pool Wildlife Sanctuary Powdermill Nature Reserve Richard Nixon Park Nature Center Riverbend Environmental Education Center Shaver's Creek Environmental Center Silver Lake Nature Center South Park Nature Center Strawberry Hill Nature Center Tom Ridge Environmental Center Trexler Environmental Center Trexler Nature Preserve Tyler Arboretum Welkinweir Whites' Woods Nature Center Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at Saint Vincent College Woodbourne Forest and Wildlife Preserve Woodcock Creek Nature Center Category Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Philadelphia Pittsburgh Commons

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tuscarora State Forest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuscarora_State_Forest) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuscarora_State_Forest?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.