Pennel Run Natural Area
| Pennel Run Natural Area | |
|---|---|
A sign on the Thunder Swamp Trail directing hikers to Pennel Run Natural Area | |
Location within Pennsylvania | |
| Location | Pike County, Pennsylvania |
| Nearest town | Canadensis |
| Coordinates | 41°10′45″N 75°08′09″W / 41.1791°N 75.1359°W |
| Area | 936 acres (379 ha) |
Pennel Run Natural Area is a 936-acre (379 ha) protected area in Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of Delaware State Forest.[1][2]
Description
The Natural Area was established to protect several tree species from logging, and it includes Utts Swamp where reptiles and amphibians are protected.[1] Some trees had been spared from logging in recent decades due to an unclear boundary between competing logging company claims.[2] Some such trees have been designated as old growth, which is very rare in northeastern Pennsylvania.[3]
The long-distance Thunder Swamp Trail passes nearby, and a side trail leads to the Natural Area.[4] The area suffered a forest fire in the late 2010s that destroyed many trails. After the ecosystem recovered, Pennsylvania forestry trails began a program to build a new loop trail through the area in 2025.[4]
References
- ^ a b "Delaware State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
- ^ a b Fergus, Charles (2002). Natural Pennsylvania: Exploring the State Forest Natural Areas. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 130–131.
- ^ "Old-growth trees live to impress area hikers". Pocono Record. December 8, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
- ^ a b Cramer, Ben (2025). Guide to the Thunder Swamp Trail (2nd ed.). Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Catamount Press. p. 25. ISBN 9798888193532.