The map below is interactive: use a mouse scroll wheel or the "+" and "-" symbols on the map to zoom in and out, or use your pointing device to shift the map area.
As you zoom in on the map, the appearance of Allegheny National Forest and all the state forests will change to show more detail. At that point you can click on any State Forest area with a green outline or on any part of Allegheny National Forest to view the area's name and some further details (explained below the map).
State Forests: State forests are wooded areas owned by the state which are managed for many different objectives, including wildlife habitat, timber harvests, and many forms of recreation, including hunting. Each forest is part of a larger District, which monitors forest and wildlife health and coordinates human access.
Allegheny National Forest: Pennsylvania's only national forest, Allegheny National Forest is also managed for multiple uses. It includes the Allegheny Reservoir, an enormous recreational lake created following the completion of the Kinzua Dam across the Allegheny River in 1965.
Subareas: The state forest districts include many smaller forest stands. Some are known by other names locally. Within Allegheny National Forest are many acres of privately-owned land. The patchiness of the actual national forest property
Land Ownership: In both the national forest and state forests, the areas outlined on the map when it is zoomed out are interspersed with many small areas of privately-owned land. The resulting land management complications include the need to provide road access, challenges managing deer and other wildlife, and challenges maintaining consistent forest management practices.
Differing Federal and State Policies: One of the most controversial conflicts between federal, state and private land practices is how to manage the mineral and energy resources of north-central, western, and northwestern Pennsylvania. Given the long history of oil drilling in the region and the recent (since about 1908) surge in natural gas drilling, there are many different goals and technologies being pursued throughout.
Natural Areas: The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) defines a Natural Area as one in which they will protect areas of scenic, historic, geologic, or ecological significance. Those areas will remain in an undisturbed state, with development and maintenance for health and safety only.
Wild Areas: The PA DCNR defines a Wild Area as one where development or disturbance of permanent nature is prohibited to preserve the wild character of the area.
| District (State Forest) Name | Natural Area Acres | Wild Area Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bald Eagle | 7,442 | 6,285 |
| Buchanan | 2,109 | 11,676 |
| Clear Creek | 0 | 0 |
| Cornplanter | 99 | 0 |
| Delaware | 6,733 | 2,706 |
| Elk | 11,822 | 26,932 |
| Forbes | 4,130 | 6,094 |
| Gallitzin | 392 | 2,764 |
| Loyalsock | 1,357 | 9,162 |
| Michaux | 1,647 | 0 |
| Moshannon | 900 | 24,240 |
| Pinchot | 70 | 0 |
| Rothrock | 2,714 | 5,881 |
| Sproul | 16,048 | 7,509 |
| Susquehannock | 1,654 | 29,932 |
| Tiadaghton | 5,315 | 11,703 |
| Tioga | 14,518 | 2,783 |
| Tuscarora | 1,366 | 5,345 |
| Weiser | 115 | 0 |
| William Penn | 169 | 0 |
Basemap: Esri, Inc.
PA Forest Districts Map: Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access (PASDA)
PA Forest Districts Data: PADCNR State Forest Conservation Plan 2016
Map Created by: Nathan H. Knisley, Fall 2017
Modifications by: Dr. Geiger, 2017 and 2022.