Description

Weiser State Forest is located in the ridge and valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. Named for the frontier diplomat, Conrad Weiser, the forest covers over 30,000 acres on over a dozen tracts throughout the region. The Weiser Forest District includes Dauphin, Carbon, Columbia, Lebanon, Montour, Northumberland, and Schuylkill Counties.

For more information visit the Weiser State Forest website and Facebook page.

Geography:

Most tracts of the Weiser State Forest are located on ridge and valley terrain. Access can be challenging; some tracts are accessible only by foot. The Weiser State Forest is mostly within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in eastern PA.

It is dominated by oak forests with a main composition of chestnut and red oaks. Some areas include large portions of pitch pine-scrub oak forests which provide valuable habitat. There are many other unique natural features throughout the state forest and some are even designated for their importance as State Forest Natural Areas. The Jakey Hollow Natural Area includes a tract of old growth eastern white pine, hemlock, oak, and other hardwoods. The Sheets Island Archipelago supports many resident and migratory species of waterfowl and songbirds. Visitors are sure to observe other interesting plant and wildlife in the many diverse ecosystems.

The Weiser State Forest has oversight on over 500 river islands on all three branches of the Susquehanna River which lies within the district boundary. The islands located on the middle section of the main branch, Sunbury to Harrisburg, are part of the Susquehanna River Trail Middle Section.

Some tracts also contain some evidence of past coal mining. These areas are of historical interest and some trails were even developed by miners as they traveled to and from work.

For maps of these trails and areas visit the

Recreation:

The Weiser State Forest offers a wide variety of low-density recreational opportunities. Since the state forest land is broken up into thirteen tracts covering five counties there is a wide spectrum of forest visitors. The more common recreational activities are: mountain biking, hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, kayakingcanoeing and motorized, roadside camping.

The Weiser is a premier destination for mountain biking in particular. The Rattling Creek Trail System located in the Haldeman Tract has even been designated an Epic trail system by the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA). An extensive single-track system is also found in the Roaring Creek Tract. Equestrians will find rewarding riding opportunities in the Haldeman where the equine camping area is located. There are several hiking destinations to note including several unique trails in the Roaring Creek Tract, the Split Rock Trail in the Haldeman, and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail which enters some of the smaller, ridge top tracts.

Camping in the Weiser State Forest is a great way to get away from it all and spend a night in the great outdoors. The designated, roadside campsites are identified by signpost and campsite name. They are remote, designated sites with no amenities other than a fire ring and picnic table.

Facilities:

The Weiser State Forest is managed primarily for dispersed recreation and facilities are limited throughout. It does offer the Rowland, Minnich’s Hit, and C.Q. McWilliams State Forest Picnic Areas where restrooms, pavilions, picnic tables, and charcoal grills are provided. In addition to the more remote and primitive trails, the Roaring Creek Trail is improved and ideal for families. It offers restrooms and well-maintained parking areas.

There are also twelve designated roadside campsites and several equine camping sites available in the Weiser State Forest. These permanently located sites contain a parking pad, picnic table, and fire ring.

Nearby Attractions:

Nearby attractions include Swatara, Locust Lake, Tuscarora, Memorial Lake, Lehigh Gorge, Hickory Run, Beltzville, Shikellamy, and Milton State Parks. Additionally there are two Conservation Areas: Boyd Big Tree and Joseph E. Ibberson. Other notable recreation opportunities include numerous State Game Lands for hunting, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and Susquehanna River Trail.

Season Schedule

• General Rules