Pinchot State Forest facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pinchot State Forest
Looking southwest from Pine Hill, Pinchot State Forest, Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties
Location of Pinchot State Forest in Pennsylvania
Location	Pennsylvania, United States
Area	49,635 acres (200.87 km2)
Elevation	2,265 ft (690 m)
Established	1902
Named for	Gifford Pinchot
Governing body	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Website	Pinchot State Forest

Pinchot State Forest is a special forest area in Pennsylvania. It's managed by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry. Its main office is found inside Lackawanna State Park in North Abington Township, Pennsylvania, USA.

This forest isn't just one big piece of land. It's made up of several separate areas across Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Susquehanna, and Wayne counties. As of early 2022, the forest covers about 49,635 acres (20,087 ha) of land.

In 2005, the way Pennsylvania's state forests were organized changed. The southern part of Luzerne County became part of District #11. Before this, it was in a different forest area called Wyoming State Forest, which no longer exists. Also, the main office for District #11 moved about 10 miles (16 km) north from Scranton to Lackawanna State Park. A new section of forest, called "Theta Forest," was also added.

History of Pinchot State Forest

Entering the Lackawanna State Forest

Why the Forest Was Created

Pinchot State Forest was created because Pennsylvania's forests were being used up very quickly in the late 1800s. People who cared about nature, like Dr. Joseph Rothrock, worried that the forests wouldn't grow back if they weren't looked after properly.

Large companies that cut down trees and made iron had harvested huge amounts of old, tall trees. They would cut down all the trees in an area, leaving behind only dry tree tops and rotting stumps. Sparks from passing steam locomotives (old trains) often started big wildfires. These fires stopped new trees from growing back.

Conservationists (people who protect nature) were afraid the forests would never recover. They believed that the state needed to buy land from these companies and manage the forests carefully. The lumber and iron companies were happy to sell their land because they had already used up most of the trees.

Growing and Changing Names

Since 2005, Pinchot State Forest has grown a lot. It started at about 7,735 acres (3,130 ha) and is now 49,635 acres (20,087 ha). Many new areas were added, including:

• 3,183 acres (1,288 ha) in Mocanaqua
• The 540-acre (220 ha) Seven Tubs Recreation Area
• 862 acres (349 ha) at Deep Hollow
• The 1,210-acre (490 ha) Moon Lake State Forest Recreation Area
• 7,683 acres (3,109 ha) on Montage Mountain
• 528 acres (214 ha) in the Thornhurst section of Lackawanna County

In 2015, the forest, which was once called Lackawanna State Forest, was renamed Pinchot State Forest. This was done to honor Gifford Pinchot, a very important person in American conservation history.

Neighboring State Forest Areas

The U.S. states of New York and New Jersey are located to the north and east of Pennsylvania, respectively. Pinchot State Forest is also near other state forest districts:

• Delaware State Forest (to the southeast)
• Weiser State Forest (to the south)
• Loyalsock State Forest (to the west)

Nearby State Parks

If you visit Pinchot State Forest, you might also want to check out these nearby state parks:

• Archbald 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

Images for kids

A view of Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties from Pine Hill (in Pinchot State Forest):