Tiadaghton State Forest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tiadaghton State Forest |
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Tiadaghton State Forest: White Deer Hole Creek near the Fourth Gap of South White Deer Ridge, Washington Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
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 Tiadaghton State Forest
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 146,926 acres (594.59 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,493 ft (455 m) |
| Named for | Tiadaghton, an Iroquois name for Pine Creek |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | [1] |
Tiadaghton State Forest (pronounced ty-ə-DAH-tən) is a large forest in Pennsylvania, managed by the state. It is mostly located in western and southern Lycoming County. Smaller parts of the forest are also found in Clinton, Potter, Tioga, and Union Counties.
The forest has flat areas and hills, with deep valleys carved by fast-moving streams. These streams include Pine Creek, Slate Run, and their smaller branches. The Tiadaghton forest stretches south across the lowlands near the west branch of the Susquehanna River. It reaches the narrow tops of Bald Eagle Mountain and North and South White Deer Ridge. Most of the trees are mixed oak forests, with some areas of northern hardwoods. Tiadaghton State Forest is one of eight forest districts in the Pennsylvania Wilds region.
The main office for the forest, called the Tiadaghton Resource Management Center, is north of Waterville in Lycoming County. The name Tiadaghton comes from the Iroquois people and is their name for Pine Creek. Its exact meaning is not known.
Contents
History of Tiadaghton State Forest
Long ago, after many trees were cut down and forest fires happened, many logging companies simply left the land. People who cared about nature, like Dr. Joseph Rothrock, worried that the forests would not grow back if no one took care of them. They asked the state to buy land from the logging companies. They also wanted a new way of managing the forests.
In 1895, Dr. Rothrock became the first leader of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters. This department was the first version of today's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. In 1897, Pennsylvania's government passed a law allowing the state to buy unused land for forest reservations. The first state forest lands were bought the next year.
On July 13, 1898, the state bought a 409-acre piece of land in Cummings Township. They paid $72.99 for it. This was the first purchase for what would become Tiadaghton State Forest. The forest grew to 66,000 acres by 1908. By 1933, it was over 160,000 acres. Most of the big land purchases for the forest happened between 1900 and 1935.
Changes in 2005
Before July 1, 2005, Tiadaghton State Forest included all state forest lands in Lycoming County. It covered about 215,500 acres. After a change in how the state forest districts were organized, the forest lands in eastern Lycoming County became part of the new Loyalsock State Forest.
The main office for District #12 also moved. It went from South Williamsport to Waterville. This new location is where Little Pine Creek and Pine Creek meet. This is also where the largest part of the forest is now located. The southern parts of the forest are along Bald Eagle Mountain, North White Deer Ridge, South White Deer Ridge, and the White Deer Hole Creek area.
As of 2009, Tiadaghton State Forest covered about 146,500 acres. It is mainly in Lycoming County, with smaller parts in Clinton, Potter, Tioga, and Union Counties. The biggest section of the state forest is 105,000 acres in the Pine Creek valley.
Things to Do and See
Tiadaghton State Forest offers many outdoor activities and special natural areas to explore.
Hiking Trails
- Black Forest Trail: This is a loop trail that is 42.1 miles long. It is located west of Pine Creek in northwest Lycoming County.
- Golden Eagle Trail: This is another loop trail, 9.2 miles long. It is found east of Pine Creek in northwest Lycoming County.
- Mid State Trail: This very long trail stretches 327 miles across Pennsylvania. It goes from the Maryland border all the way north to the New York border.
- Pine Creek Trail: This is a 62-mile long trail built on an old railroad line. It goes from Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania north along Pine Creek to Wellsboro Junction in Tioga County.
Special Natural Areas
These are places set aside to protect unique natural features.
- Algerine Swamp Natural Area: This area is 84 acres and protects a swamp habitat.
- Bark Cabin Natural Area: This 73-acre area has very old trees, including Eastern Hemlock, Northern Red Oak, White Ash, Bigtooth Aspen, and Hickories. The Mid State Trail also passes through here.
- Miller Run Natural Area: This 4,000-acre area has oak and hardwood forests. It also has three streams.
- Red Pine Natural Area: This 10-acre area has a stand of very old red pine trees.
- Torbert Island Natural Area: This 54-acre area is an island located in Pine Creek.
Wild Areas
Wild Areas are larger, undeveloped areas where nature is allowed to thrive with minimal human interference.
- Algerine Wild Area: This area is 3,700 acres and includes part of the Black Forest Trail.
- Wolf Run Wild Area: This area is 6,900 acres and includes part of the Golden Eagle Trail.
Nearby State Parks
If you visit Tiadaghton State Forest, you might also want to explore these nearby state parks:
- Little Pine State Park (Lycoming County)
- Ravensburg State Park (Clinton County)
- Susquehanna State Park (Lycoming County)
- Upper Pine Bottom State Park (Lycoming County)
Neighboring State Forests
Tiadaghton State Forest shares borders with several other state forest districts:
- Tioga State Forest (to the north)
- Loyalsock State Forest (to the east)
- Weiser State Forest (to the southwest)
- Bald Eagle State Forest (to the south)
- Sproul State Forest (to the west)
- Susquehannock State Forest (to the northwest)
