Visiting the Allegheny National Forest in Northwestern Pennsylvania

A few months ago we took a road trip up through northwestern Pennsylvania and through western New York. This was the first time in about 30 years that we've driven through this specific area, so we were excited to see how it changed.

On our drive we came upon the Allegheny National Forest located in northwestern Pennsylvania. This national forest was established in 1923 and is Pennsylvania's only national forest. Even though it's our only one, it sure is beautiful and it has a LOT to offer to people who enjoy the great outdoors. It's managed by the United States Forest Service and is the least densely populated area east of the Mississippi River.

The national forest covers approximately 517,000 acres of land and is situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. You'll find elevations of approximately 2,300 feet with valleys down to approximately 1,000 feet above sea level. When you're in the middle of the forest...all you see is trees and mountains for miles, upon miles.

In regards to official ranger stations, you'll find two. The first one is located in Marienville, Forest County, and the second one is located in Bradford, McKean County. If you're looking for the nearest city, you'll find Warren, Pennsylvania within driving distance. You'll find several roads in and out of the area and some small towns & villages that surround it.

According to locals, the forest is famously known for having a good assortment of hardwood trees growing in it, such as: maple, black cherry, eastern hemlock, white pine and others. The areas that we visited were thick with tree, bush and shrub growth, so you'll definitely want to stay on the marked hiking and walking trails when visiting.

If you're looking for some fun outdoor adventures, you'll find campgrounds, boat launches, beaches, picnic areas, hiking trails and overlooks around the reservoir shoreline and elsewhere throughout the designated forest area. If you're into hunting and fishing, you'll find that available in approved areas too!

On this particular trip we drove through the area and did get out three times to check out the scenery. We've completely fell in-love with the area and are planning a return trip to do some camping and hiking in the very near future. In the meantime, we wanted to share some information with you and show you a few photographs that we took during our visit.

You can learn more about the Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania by visiting the government's official website on the park. They update the website often with news, information and special events.