A Recreational Guide to WPC's Conserved Properties
For 76 years, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has conserved nearly 225,000 acres of our region’s awe-inspiring
natural places that include unparalleled forestland, cascading waterways and rare or endangered wildlife. Guided
by our scientists, WPC continues to build on a legacy of conserving and restoring lands and waters that have
ecological and recreational value.
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The recreational guide that follows highlights areas conserved by WPC and its partners that are available for public
recreation, and indicates the many activities to be explored and enjoyed there. [click for printable version ]
Activities
1. Backpacking
2. Biking
3. Boating
4. Camping
5. Canoeing
6. Climbing and
Rappelling
7. Cross-country
Skiing
8. Downhill Skiing
9. Fishing
10. Hiking
11. Horseback Riding
12. Hunting |
13. Ice Fishing
14. Ice Skating
15. Picnicking
16. Self-guided trails
17. Sledding
18. Snowmobiling
19. Swimming
20. Mountain Biking
21. Waterslides
(Natural)
22. Whitewater
Boating
23. Wildlife Watching
24. Windsurfing |
WPC-Owned Properties
1. Bear Run Nature Reserve (Fayette Co.) 1, 4, 7, 10, 23
2. Beaver Creek* (Fayette
County) 1, 7, 9, 10, 23
3. Beechwood Farms Nature
Reserve (Allegheny Co.) 10, 23
4. Bennett Branch Forest*
(Clearfield and Elk Counties) 10,
12, 23
5. Lake Pleasant (Erie County) 1,
5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 15, 23
6. Lowville Fen** (Erie County)
10, 12, 15, 23
7. Toms Run* (Allegheny County)
10, 12, 23
8. Tyron-Weber Woods Natural
Area* (Crawford County) 10
9. Wolf Creek Narrows Area
(Butler County) 9, 10, 23
* These
properties do not have
parking, marked trails
or maps.
** Lowville Fen includes
parking, but no maps or
marked trails.
Other WPC Conserved
Properties
The owners of these properties
have entered into voluntary
conservation agreements with
WPC that include the following
public recreational rights.
10. Crawford Reserve (Venango
County) 3, 7, 9, 10, 12, 23
11. Loyalhanna Gorge
(Westmoreland County) 10, 12, 23
State Parks
WPC has helped to create
and/or expand 12 state parks,
beginning with its first major
acquisition, McConnells Mills, to
the recent protection of the 540
acres of uninterrupted shoreline
that comprise Erie Bluffs State
Park.
12. Blue Knob State Park
(Bedford County) 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 15, 18, 19, 23
13. Canoe Creek State Park
(Blair County) 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15,
17, 19, 23
14. Clear Creek State Park
(Jefferson County) 4, 5, 7, 9, 10,
12, 15, 17
15. Cook Forest State Park
(Clarion, Forest and Jefferson
Counties) 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 19, 23
16. Erie Bluffs State Park (Erie
County) 9, 10, 23
17. Laurel Ridge State Park
(Westmoreland County) 1, 7, 10,
12, 18
18. McConnellís Mill State Park
(Lawrence County) 6, 9, 10, 12,
15, 22, 23
19. Moraine State Park (Butler
County) 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11,
12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24
20. Ohiopyle State Park (Fayette
County) 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23
21. Oil Creek State Park
(Venango County) 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10,
12, 15, 16
22. Raccoon Creek State Park
(Beaver County) 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11,
12, 15, 16, 19, 23
23. Shawnee State Park
(Bedford County) 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19
11, 12, 13
State Game Lands
Twenty-seven WPC-created/
expanded state game lands offer
seasonal hunting and other recreational
opportunities, including
the 12,670 acre Cherry Run State
Game Lands #295, which hosts a
Pennsylvania designated Wilderness
Trout Stream. Hiking and
biking opportunities can be found
along the rail trail at Roderick
Reserve/State Games Lands #314.
24. State Game Lands #26
(Blair/Bedford/Somerset/Cambria
Counties)
25. State Game Lands #42
(Westmoreland County) 12, 23
26. State Game Lands #44 (Elk
County) 12, 23
27. State Game Lands #50
(Somerset County) 12, 23
28. State Game Lands #51
(Fayette County) 12, 23
29. State Game Lands #53
(Fulton County) 12, 23
30. State Game Lands #54
(Jefferson County) 12, 23
31. State Game Lands #82
(Somerset County) 12, 23
32. State Game Lands #95
(Butler County) 12, 23
33. State Game Lands #97
(Bedford County) 12, 23
34. State Game Lands #109
(Erie County) 12, 23
35. State Game Lands #130
(Mercer County) 12, 23
36. State Game Lands #150
(Lawrence County) 12, 23
37. State Game Lands #153
(Cambria/Indiana/Westmoreland
Counties)
38. State Game Lands #174
(Indiana County) 12, 23
39. State Game Lands #213/
Conneaut Marsh (Crawford
County) 5, 9
40. State Game Lands #223
(Greene County) 12, 23
41. State Game Lands #228
(Somerset County) 12, 23
42. State Game Lands #232
(Washington County) 12, 23
43. State Game Lands #259
(Armstrong County) 12, 23
44. State Game Lands #283
(Clarion County) 12, 23
45. State Game Lands #284/
Schollards Run Wetlands (Mercer
County
46. State Game Lands #295/
Cherry Run (Centre/Clinton
Counties)
47. State Game Lands #302/
Enlow Fork (Washington/Greene
Cos.)
48. State Game Lands #311/
Winslow Hill (Elk County) 12, 23
49. State Game Lands #314/
Roderick Reserve (Erie County) 2,
10, 23
50. State Game Lands #322
(Huntingdon County) 12,23
State and National Forests
Pennsylvania’s forestland is its defining
feature and WPC has helped to conserve
nine state and national forests that are
available for camping, fishing and hiking.
Earlier this year, WPC added 3,870 acres
to Moshannon State Forest, 2,300 acres
to Forbes State Forest and 3,300 acres
along the Clarion River to Clear Creek
State Forest.
51. Allegheny National Forest (Forest/
Elk/Warren/McKean Counties)
52. Clear Creek State Forest (Jefferson
County) 10, 12, 23
53. Elk State Forest (Cameron County) 1,
2, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 23
54. Forbes State Forest (Fayette/
Somerset/Westmoreland Counties)
55. Gallitzen State Forest (Cambria
County) 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15
56. Michaux State Forest (Adams/
Cumberland/Franklin Counties)
57. Moshannon State Forest (Clearfield
County) 1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 11, 23
58. Sproul State Forest (Centre/Lycoming
Counties) 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11
59. Susquehannock State Forest (Potter/
McKean/Clinton Counties)
60. Tioga State Forest (Tioga/Bradford
Counties) 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11,
61. Tuscarora State Forest (Cumberland/Huntingdon/Juniata/Mifflin)
Natural, Wild and
Wilderness Areas
Ten WPC-conserved natural areas
provide memorable hiking opportunities
including fens WPC’s conserved natural areas offer
excellent wildlife
viewing opportunities.
62. Allegheny Islands (Allegheny County) 3, 5, 9, 23
63. Anders Run Natural Area (Warren
County) 10
64. Hearts Content (Warren County) 1, 3,
4, 7, 9, 10, 18, 23
65. Hickory Creek Wilderness (Warren
County) 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 23
66. Jennings Environmental Education
Center (E.E.C.) (Butler Co.)
67. Quebec Run Wild Area (Fayette
County) 1, 9, 10, 23
68. Tamarack Swamp Natural Area
(Clinton County) 23
69. Tionesta Research Natural Area
(McKean/Warren Counties) 10, 23
70. Western Maryland Railway Trail
(Fayette County) 2, 10
71. Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve
(Westmoreland County) 10
Conserved Waterways
WPC has conserved the life-sustaining
properties of many watersheds in
Western Pennsylvania. Many offer unique
wildlife viewing opportunities. Below is a
list of some of the recreational
opportunuties to be explored in the
Western Pennsylvania waters that WPC,
its member and partners have protected.
All of WPC’s conserved rivers and
streams offer great fishing opportunities.
72. Allegheny River (Allegheny County) 3,
4, 5, 9, 10, 23
73. Blackleggs Creek (Indiana County) 4,
9, 15, 23
74. Buffalo Creek (Washington County)
9, 23
75. Clarion River (Clarion County)
3, 4, 5, 23
76. French Creek (Erie County) 5, 9, 23
77. Juniata River (Juniata County)
5, 9, 23
78. Little Mahoning Creek (Indiana
County) 5, 9, 23
79. Loyalhanna Creek (Westmoreland
County) 5, 9, 10, 23
80. North Park Lake (Allegheny County)
3, 5, 23
81. Redbank Creek (Jefferson County) 5,
9, 23
82. Shenango River (Mercer County)
5, 9, 23
83. Sideling Hill Creek (Bedford County)
9, 10, 23
84. Youghiogheny River (Westmoreland
County) 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 22, 23
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