Sproul State Forest

Sproul State Forest
Sproul State Forest
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
	View of the West Branch Susquehanna River valley and Sproul State Forest, looking east from Hyner View State Park.
	Location of Sproul State Forest's headquarters in PennsylvaniaLocation Map of Sproul State Forest Holdings
Location	Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates	41°19′40″N77°44′58″W / 41.32778°N 77.74944°W
Area	280,000 acres (1,100 km2)
Established	1898
Governing body	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Website	Sproul State Forest

Last updated September 11, 2024

Sproul State Forest is a Pennsylvania state forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #10. The main offices are located in Renovo, Pennsylvania in Clinton County in the United States.

The forest is located in western Clinton County and northern Centre County and contains 280,000 acres (113,310 ha) of land. It also includes several tracts in Potter, Cameron County, and Lycoming Counties. Its forests are part of the Allegheny Highlands forests ecoregion. It was named for former Pennsylvania governor William C. Sproul (in office from 1919 to 1923).

The first land for what became Sproul State Forest was purchased in 1898. This was also the first land purchased by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for what are now the twenty Pennsylvania State Forests, with over two million acres (810,000 ha) of forest.

History

The Sproul State Forest was named in memory of William C. Sproul, Governor of Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1923.^[1] Sproul 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 became concerned that the forests would not regrow if they were not managed properly. Lumber and iron companies had harvested the old-growth forests for various reasons. They clear cut the forests and left behind nothing but dried tree tops and rotting stumps. The sparks of passing steam locomotives ignited wildfires that prevented the formation of second growth forests. 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 the lumber and iron companies were more than willing to sell their land since that had depleted the natural resources of the forests.^[2] 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. The 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.^[2]

Trails

Hiking -- Two hiking trails systems designated as State Forest Trails are located within the Sproul State Forest. The Chuck Keiper Trail is a 50-mile (80 km) double looped system which includes trails in the Fish Dam Wild Area and Burns Run Wild Area. The Chuck Keiper Trail is marked with orange paint blazes.

The Donut Hole Trail is approximately 90 miles (140 km) in length and connects with the Susquehannock Trail System. The trail traverses Kettle Creek Park and terminates at Hyner Run State Park. The Donut Hole Trail is marked with orange paint blazes.

The Eagleton Mine Camp Trail, EMCT, is around a 20-mile loop that has an inter connector. The trail is marked in red. The map is found here ^[3]

There are numerous other foot trails which were originally built for fire access which provide good hiking into most parts of the Sproul State Forest. These trails are not marked or maintained. When hiking in the Sproul State forest persons should dress for the weather and use map and compass

Equestrian Use -- An Equestrian Trail located near Kettle Creek State Park is a 15-mile (24 km) loop. The Eagleton Mine Camp Trail, a multi-use trail, offers a 20-mile (32 km) loop through several historical locations in the area. Additionally with the exception of designated hiking trails and municipal watersheds, horseback riders may utilized the old woods roads and State Forest Road system. Trail maps are available by contacting the Sproul district office.

Mountain Biking -- All trails within the Sproul State Forest are open to mountain biking, with the exception of the Donut Hole Trail and the Chuck Keiper Trail. Most trails are kept clear over the summer, but some do become overgrown. It is recommended you contact the district office to find out which trails are better for riding. The Eagleton Mine Camp Trail offers excellent biking. Many sections are narrow, steep and rocky. The northern section is not as technical as the southern loop.

Cross-country Skiing -- Hiking Bear Ski Trail is located on Hyner Mountain and traverses 14 miles (23 km). The trail covers diverse terrain providing opportunities for both novice and experienced skiers.

Snowmobiling -- Snowmobile Trails are available for use when snow conditions permit. The Hyner Mountain Trail system is marked and groomed. Also, many State Forest Roads are open for joint use of snowmobiles and licensed motorized vehicles.

All Terrain Vehicles -- There is one area in the Sproul State Forest open to All Terrain Vehicles use. The area is located near the Huling Branch of Two Mile Run and consists of old woods roads, old coal mining roads, and unreclaimed surface mining areas. All the rest of Sproul State Forest is closed to All Terrain Vehicle use.

Fishing and Hunting

Fishing -

There are over 400 miles (640 km) of freestone cold water streams within the Sproul State Forest. Included in this total are 12 streams where water quality and native trout populations are such that these streams are classified as Wilderness Trout Streams.

Hunting -

Black bear, whitetail dear, and wild turkey habitat is abundant, and these species are found in good numbers throughout the Sproul State forest.

Other Recreation

Hang Gliding -

Hyner View State Park offers seasonal hang gliding opportunities for recreation. Hang gliders take off from the vista and sail out over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

Neighboring state forest districts

Susquehannock State Forest to the north
Tiadaghton State Forest to the east
Bald Eagle State Forest to the southeast
Rothrock State Forest to the south
Moshannon State Forest to the southwest
Elk State Forest to the west

Nearby state parks

Natural and wild areas

Cranberry Swamp Natural Area
East Branch Swamp Natural Area
Tamarack Swamp Natural Area
Burns Run Wild Area
Russell P. Letterman Wild Area

Related Research Articles

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Tiadaghton State Forest is a Pennsylvania State Forest in the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry. The forest is primarily in western and southern Lycoming County, with small portions in Clinton, Potter, Tioga, and Union Counties. The district's topography consists of narrow, flat to sloping plateaus cut by deep, steep-sloped valleys carved by fast moving mountain streams, including Pine Creek, Slate Run, and their tributaries. The Tiadaghton district extends south across the lowland along the west branch of the Susquehanna River to the narrow crests of Bald Eagle Mountain and North and South White Deer Ridge. The majority of forest cover is dominated by mixed oak forests, with some areas of northern hardwoods. The Tiadaghton State Forest is one of eight forest districts in the Pennsylvania Wilds region.

Loyalsock State Forest is a Pennsylvania state forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #20. The forest spans across the northern tier's "Endless Mountains" and is a total of 114,552 acres (46,358 ha). The Loyalsock is a “working forest” and is managed for pure water, recreation, plant and animal habitats, sustainable timber, and natural gas.

Kettle Creek State Park is a 1,793-acre (726 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Leidy Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is in a valley and is surrounded by mountains and wilderness. It features the Alvin R. Bush Dam built in 1961 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a flood control measure in the West Branch Susquehanna River basin. Many of the recreational facilities at the park were built during the Great Depression by the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Kettle Creek State Park is seven miles (10 km) north of Westport and Pennsylvania Route 120. It is largely surrounded by Sproul State Forest.

Sinnemahoning State Park is a 1,910-acre (773 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Grove Township, Cameron County and Wharton Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park is surrounded by Elk State Forest and is mountainous with deep valleys. The park is home to the rarely seen elk and bald eagle. Sinnemahoning State Park is on Pennsylvania Route 872, eight miles (13 km) north of the village of Sinnamahoning. In 1958, the park opened under the direction of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry: it became a Pennsylvania State Park in 1962.

Lyman Run State Park is a 595-acre (241 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Ulysses and West Branch Townships in Potter County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Lyman Run Lake is a 45-acre (18 ha) man-made lake within the park, surrounded by a northern hardwood forest of mainly maple and cherry trees. Lyman Run State Park is 7 miles (11 km) west of Galeton and 15 miles (24 km) east of Coudersport, and is nearly completely surrounded by the Susquehannock State Forest.

Ole Bull State Park is a 132-acre (53 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Stewardson Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is located on Pennsylvania Route 144, 26 miles (42 km) north of Renovo and 18 miles (29 km) south of Galeton. Ole Bull State Park is in the Kettle Creek Valley, and is surrounded by Susquehannock State Forest. The woods surrounding the park are called the Black Forest because of its once dense tree cover.

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Denton Hill State Park is a 700-acre (283 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Ulysses Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park is a downhill skiing resort. Denton Hill State Park is on U.S. Route 6 between Coudersport and Galeton. In 2000 the park became part of the Hills Creek State Park complex, an administrative grouping of eight state parks in Potter and Tioga counties.

Hyner Run State Park is a 180-acre (73 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Chapman Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Renovo and 3 miles (5 km) north of Hyner on Pennsylvania Route 120. Hyner Run State Park is surrounded by Sproul State Forest.

Penn-Roosevelt State Park is a 41 acres (17 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Harris Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is surrounded by Rothrock State Forest. Penn-Roosevelt State Park is 6 miles (9.7 km) from U.S. Route 322 on either Crowfield Road or Stone Creek Road.

The Susquehannock Trail System (STS) is an 83.4-mile (134.2 km) loop hiking trail in Susquehannock State Forest in Potter County in north-central Pennsylvania, United States. The trail walks through two state parks and passes near three more state parks. It also traverses Hammersley Wild Area, the largest area in Pennsylvania without a road. The loop is supplemented by two cross-connector trails, several short access trails, a shared path with the Donut Hole Trail, and two connectors to the Black Forest Trail. The STS is the oldest backpacking trail in Pennsylvania, and has been noted for its solitude while traversing remote areas with few signs of civilization. The STS also includes several overnight shelters.

Hammersley Wild Area is a 30,253-acre (12,243 ha) wild area in the Susquehannock State Forest in Potter and Clinton counties in north-central Pennsylvania in the United States. It is the largest area without a road in Pennsylvania and the state's second largest wild area. The wild area is named for Hammersley Fork, a tributary of Kettle Creek, which flows through the area. The wild area includes 10.78 miles (17.35 km) of the Susquehannock Trail System, an 83.4-mile (134.2 km) loop hiking trail almost entirely on state forest land.

The Donut Hole Trail is a 94.2-mile (151.6 km) hiking trail in north-central Pennsylvania, through Sproul State Forest and roughly parallel to the West Branch Susquehanna River. Most of the trail is in Clinton County, with a short segment at its western end in Cameron County. The Donut Hole Trail is regarded as one of the most challenging and remote backpacking trails in Pennsylvania, encountering just six paved roads along its entire length and featuring many difficult climbs and creek crossings.

The Jack Paulhamus/Garby Trail is a 13.2-mile (21.2 km) hiking trail in north-central Pennsylvania, through portions of Sproul State Forest. It was built to connect the Donut Hole Trail and Chuck Keiper Trail. A portion of its route is concurrent with the Donut Hole Trail. The JPG is known for its significant climbing, as it features two very low points at Hyner Run and the West Branch Susquehanna River, with high ground on top of the Allegheny Plateau in between.

The Chuck Keiper Trail is a hiking trail system in north-central Pennsylvania, consisting of 50.6 linear miles of trails, forming a loop with a cross-connector through Sproul State Forest. Most of the system is in Clinton County, with a portion of the southwestern segment of the loop in Centre County. The trail is known for traversing one of the least populated regions of Pennsylvania, combining high areas on top of the Allegheny Plateau with many rugged climbs into and out of stream hollows; the trail also visits two state natural areas and two state wild areas. It is often cited as one of Pennsylvania's most remote and difficult backpacking trails.

References

↑ Walker, T. "Sproul State Forest". State Parks. Archived from the original on 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
1 2 "History of the William Penn State Forest". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2021-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links

"Sproul State Forest". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. Retrieved 2006-07-14.Note: As of July 2006, this web page has not been updated to reflect the Pennsylvania State Forest Districts realignment.
"State Forest Districts". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 2006-05-15. Retrieved 2006-07-14.Note: Map showing districts after the July 1, 2005 realignment
"State Parks Info". Stateparks.com. Retrieved 2010-01-21.

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[1] Walker, T. "Sproul State Forest". State Parks. Archived from the original on 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2021-10-11.

[vfsfhistory-2] 1 2 "History of the William Penn State Forest". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-29.

[3] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2021-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

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