Bald Eagle State Forest, Central PA
Bald Eagle State Forest encompasses almost 200,000 acres in central Pennsylvania. As a state forest, Bald Eagle is managed for multiple uses. Water quality, recreation, habitat, and timber and natural gas are the top priorities.
Bald Eagle State Forest is in five counties in Central Pennsylvania: Centre, Clinton, Mifflin, Snyder, and Union. There are over 300 miles of trails for hiking, biking, ATV and motorcycle riding, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. Four picnic areas provide areas to relax and enjoy a meal.
Fees: No Entry Fee
Bald Eagle State Forest Activities
ATVing, Backpacking, Biking, Camping, Fishing, Group Camping, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hunting, Picnicking, Skiing Cross Country, Snow MobilingActivities:
Yes, there is ATVing.
ATVs must be registered with the DCNR. The East Kettle ATV trail south of Route 235 is the best place to ride ATVs. It is open Memorial Day through the last full weekend in September to ATVs less than 58 inches wide and less than 1200 pounds that are Class I or II. There are also two motorcycle trails.
Yes, there is backpacking.
Yes, there is biking.
Natural areas, the Mid State Trail, and district hiking trails are off-limits to mountain bikes. Anywhere else is available. Check the map to see which trails are easy or difficult.
Yes, there is camping.
Anyone camping in or near a vehicle needs a permit. There are 45 campsites throughout the forest. Permits may be needed for primitive camping under some circumstances, but generally if you are staying only one night in a location and don't have a fire, you do not need a permit.
Yes, there is fishing.
Penns Creek and White Deer Creek are favorites among fishermen. There are also a number of tributaries to these.
Yes, there is hiking.
Any road or trail is open to hiking, but if you want a hiking-only path, use the local district trails. There are over 300 miles of hiking trails in Bald Eagle State Forest.
Yes, there is horseback riding.
The Central Mountains Shared Use Trail is the best place for horseback riding.
Yes, there is hunting.
Hunting is allowed in season anywhere except for areas around picnic and camp sites. Check the map to be sure.
Yes, there is picnicking.
There are four designated picnicking areas. In Centre County, there is Hairy Johns Picnic Area; in Mifflin County, Bear Gap Picnic Area, and in Centre County, Rock Springs Picnic Area and Snyder-Middleswarth Picnic Area.
Yes, there is cross country skiing.
Trailheads for cross country skiing are in R. B. Winter State Park and Hairy Johns Picnic Area.
Yes, there is snow mobiling.
Properly registered snowmobiles can be used from the end of deer season through April 1 on the 250 miles of roads and trails open to snowmobiles.
There is no information available on collecting.
There is no information on DRONEs available.
There is no information on geocaching available.
There is no information available about snowshoeing.
No, there is no bacci ball.
No, there is no baseball or softball.
No, there is no basketball.
No, there is no boating.
No, there is no canoeing or kayaking.
No, there is no disc golf.
No, there is no football.
No, there is no gold panning.
No, there is no golfing.
No, there is no group camping.
No, there are no guided tours.
No, there is no hang gliding.
No, there is no horseshoes.
No, there is no ice boating.
No, there is no ice fishing.
No, there is no ice skating.
No, there is no jet skiing.
No, there are no junior ranger programs.
No, there is no kite surfing.
No, there is no mini golf.
No, there is no pedal boating.
No, there is no pickleball.
No, there is no pontoon boating.
No, there is no power boating.
No, there are no ranger programs.
No, there is no rock climbing.
No, there is no row boating.
No, there is no sailboarding.
No, there is no sailing.
No, there is no SCUBA diving.
No, there is no shuffleboard.
No, there is no skateboarding.
No, there is no downhill skiing.
No, there is no sledding.
No, there is no snorkeling.
No, there is no snow tubing.
No, there is no soccer.
No, there is no stand up paddleboarding.
No, there is no surfing.
No, there is no swimming.
No, there is no tennis.
No, there is no trap shooting.
No, there is no volleyball.
No, there is no water skiing.
No, there is no whitewater rafting.
No, there is no wind surfing.
No, there is no zipline.
Bald Eagle State Forest Amenities
Parking Lot, Pavilion, Picnic Tables, ToiletsAmenities:
Yes, there is a parking lot.
There is parking at each of the picnic areas and many trailheads.
Yes, there is a pavilion.
There are pavilions at the picnic areas.
Yes, there are picnic tables.
There are picnic tables at the picnic areas and one at each campsite.
Yes, there are toilets.
There are pit toilets at each of the picnic areas.
Yes, there are vault (pit) toilets.
There is no information on handicap accessibility.
No, there is no amphitheater.
No, there is no archery range.
No, there is no auditorium.
No, there are no batting cages.
No, there are no beach showers.
No, there are no benches.
No, there is not a bike rack.
No, there are no bleachers.
No, there is no boardwalk.
No, there is no boat ramp.
No, there are no cabins or cottages.
No, there is no camp store.
No, there are no classrooms.
No, there is no dog park.
No, there is no driving range.
No, there is no dump station.
No, there are no electricity hookups.
No, there is no food concession.
No, there is no gazebo.
No, there is no gift shop.
No, there is no green space.
No, there are no grills.
No, there is no inn or lodge.
No, there is no laundry.
No, there is no marina.
No, there are no meeting facilities.
No, there is no observation deck or tower.
No, there is no observatory.
No, there is no park office.
No, there is no pier.
No, there is no playground.
No, there are no recreational buildings.
No, there are no recycling cans.
No, there is no restaurant.
No, there are no sewer hookups.
No, there is no shooting range.
No, there are no showers.
No, there is no skate park.
No, there is no splash pad.
No, there is no swimming pool.
No, there are no flush toilets.
No, there is no port-a-potty.
No, there are no trash cans.
No, there are no vending machines.
No, there is no visitor center, museum, or environmental education center.
No, there is no water fountain or pump.
No, there are no water hookups.
No, there are no wellness stations.
No, there is no WiFi.
No, there are no yurts.
Bald Eagle State Forest Features
Forest, Mountain, Stream - River, WetlandsFeatures:
Yes, there is forest.
Yes, there are mountains.
Bald Eagle State Forest is in the Ridge and Valley region of Central Pennsylvania.
Yes, there is a stream or river.
Yes, there are wetlands.
There is no available information on geologic features.
There is no information available about a lake.
No, there is no bog.
No, there is no canal.
No, there is no canyon.
No, there is no cave.
No, there is no coral reef.
No, there is not a covered bridge.
No, there is no cultural significance.
No, there is no dam.
No, there is no desert.
No, there is no fort.
No, there is no fountain.
No, there is no furnace.
No, there is no grassland.
No, there is no historical monument.
No, there is no historical significance.
No, there is no lake beach.
No, there is no lighthouse.
No, there is no mill.
No, there is no pond.
No, there is no prairie.
No, there are no sand dunes.
No, there is no shore beach.
No, there is no veterans memorial.
No, there is no volcano.
No, there are no waterfalls.
No, there is no windmill.
Watershed
Watershed Address: West Branch Susquehanna River - Susquehanna River - Chesapeake Bay - Atlantic Ocean
There are 14 streams in Bald Eagel State Forest, all within the West Branch of the Susquehanna and Susquehanna River watersheds. The larger ones are Penns Creek, which flows into the Susquehanna River, and White Deer Creek, which flows into the West Branch of the Susquehanna.
Pictures
