Roaring Run Natural Area
| Roaring Run Natural Area | |
|---|---|
  Location within Pennsylvania | |
| Location | Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania |
| Nearest town | Jones Mills |
| Coordinates | 40°03′32″N 79°18′25″W / 40.0589°N 79.3070°W |
| Area | 3,582 acres (1,450 ha) |
Roaring Run Natural Area is a 3,582-acre (1,450 ha) protected area in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of Forbes State Forest.[1][2]
Description
The Natural Area was established in 1975 to protect the watershed of Roaring Run nearly in its entirety. It is the largest protected area within a state forest in western Pennsylvania,[3] and was originally donated to the state after having been acquired by Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.[2]
Within the Natural Area's boundaries, Roaring Run descends more than 1,200 feet down the west side of Laurel Hill,[1] and foresters have documented more than 50 of the 120 tree species that occur naturally in Pennsylvania.[2] The area can be explored via an extensive network of hiking trails,[2] and the long-distance Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail passes through a corner of the area.[4]
References
- ^ a b "Forbes State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ a b c d Fergus, Charles (2002). Natural Pennsylvania: Exploring the State Forest Natural Areas. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 58–62.
- ^ Thwaites, Tom (2000). 50 Hikes in Western Pennsylvania (3rd ed.). Woodstock, VT: Backcountry Guides. pp. 66–69. ISBN 0881504734.
- ^ Mitchell, Jeff (2005). Backpacking Pennsylvania: 37 Great Hikes. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. p. 208. ISBN 0811731804.