Tuscarora State Forest

Tuscarora State Forest derives its name from Tuscarora Mountain, which was named for the Iroquois-nation tribe that once inhabited the area. Comprising 96,025 acres, Tuscarora includes tracts in:

Cumberland County
Franklin County
Huntingdon County
Juniata County
Mifflin County
Perry County

Tuscarora State Forest lands cover the narrow valleys and steep, rocky ridges of the ridge and valley region of Pennsylvania. These fertile, well-watered sites are ideal for growing majestic oak and hemlock forests.

There are abundant populations of most wildlife species native to this region. Forests of the lower slopes are essentially mixed-oak communities with pockets of white pine among:

Black birch
Sugar maple
Beech
Hickories
Basswood
Tuliptree

Researchers from West Virginia University are currently monitoring the migration of golden eagles along the ridges of Tuscarora State Forest.

Tuscarora State Forest Management

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry manages our state forests for their long-term health and productivity while conserving native wild plants.

These forests are managed as “working forests” and provide a suite of uses and values to Pennsylvania citizens, while maintaining the forest’s wild character.

Our state forests are managed for:

Pure water
Recreation
Scenic beauty
Plant and animal habitat
Sustainable timber and natural gas
Many other uses and values

The management of our state forests is guided by the State Forest Resource Management Plan.

Tuscarora State Forest Resource Management Plan

A district-level state forest resource management plan is written for each of the bureau’s 20 forest districts across the state.

Using public input and building on the statewide 2016 management plan, the Bureau of Forestry revised and completed a new Tuscarora State Forest Resource Management Plan (PDF). setting district-level management priorities.

2024 Management Activities

The Tuscarora State Forest’s 2024 Management Activities (PDF) provides information about upcoming projects and events to implement the State Forest Resource Management Plan.

Harvest Schedule

Local state forest harvest schedules promote and maintain desired forest landscape conditions while providing a sustainable flow of forest products.

Ecosystem Management

The Bureau of Forestry has adopted “ecosystem management” as its principal strategy for managing state forests. This approach seeks to conserve the natural patterns and processes of the forest while advancing long-term sustainability.

Ecosystem management promotes the conservation of plant and animal communities and the landscapes and habitats that support them. It also accounts for needs and values of people and communities.

This results in a holistic, integrated approach to managing forest resources.

A Working Forest

As you travel throughout the state forest, you’ll see examples of our forests “at work.” Some of these management practices are more noticeable than others, such as:

Active timber harvests
Deer exclosure fences
Natural gas drilling sites
Prescribed fires
Spongy moth (formerly known as Gypsy moth) spraying

Others are more subtle, such as the:

Protection of a vernal pool
Buffering of a stream from timber harvesting
Setting aside of a special area to conserve its wild character or protect a rare plant community

Each of these management practices and activities play a vital role in the management and conservation of our state forest system.

Dual Certified Forest

Pennsylvania’s 2.2-million-acre state forest system is one of the largest dual certified forests in North America. The forest is certified under Forest Stewardship Council™ and Sustainable Forestry Initiative© standards.

The Forest Stewardship Council™ is an independent organization supporting environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

Sustainable Forestry Initiative© certification focuses on protection of water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and forests with exceptional conservation value.

Dual certification ensures that Pennsylvania’s state forests are managed to the highest third-party standards.