Quehanna Wild Area

Quehanna Wild Area is a nature reserve in Pennsylvania that covers three counties and connects wooded tracts with wetlands, streams, and trails. The paths wind through hardwood and conifer forests, past small waterfalls and over gentle hills that form the Allegheny Plateau relief.

After decades of timber operations and a period as a nuclear research site in the 1950s, the area was protected by Pennsylvania in 1965. The conversion allowed nature to reclaim abandoned clearings and former access routes.

The name Quehanna comes from a Lenape term meaning elk pasture, linking the reserve to the animals that once roamed this region in great numbers. Today hikers and naturalists walk through old growth stands where birch and hemlock create pockets of cool shade and soft light.

The best months for walking are spring and fall when insects are less active and trees show color or fresh growth. Visitors should bring navigation tools because some sections have minimal markers and the terrain can become pathless.

The birches in Marion Brooks Natural Area rank among the largest of their kind east of the Mississippi and form a pale contrast to the darker conifers around them. Table Run Falls lies off the main routes and reveals a small pool that becomes a good spot for watching amphibians in warmer months.

Location: Pennsylvania

Operator: Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry

GPS coordinates: 41.27420,-78.25670

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28