Beartown Woods Natural Area Explained

Beartown Woods Natural Area is a 27acres protected area in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States, that is part of Michaux State Forest.^{[1] [2]}

Description

The Natural Area protects a grove of northern hardwood forest that is uncommon for the southern edge of Pennsylvania and more likely to be seen in New York State and New England. The grove includes sugar maple, yellow birch, American beech, and eastern hemlock trees, some of which are old growth.^[3]

Beartown Woods is found at the side of PA 16 and is traversed by the Appalachian Trail.^[4] The area includes several educational displays on local forest ecology.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Michaux State Forest Wild and Natural Areas . 2024-07-05 . Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources . en-US.
2. Book: Fergus, Charles . Natural Pennsylvania: Exploring the State Forest Natural Areas . Stackpole Books . 2002 . Mechanicsburg, PA . 27.
3. Web site: Schneck . Marcus . 2022-07-18 . With another old-growth forest banked, Pennsylvania continues to lead . 2024-07-05 . PennLive . en.
4. Web site: Hess . David E. . 2022-07-14 . DCNR Celebrates Induction Of Beartown Woods Natural Area, Franklin County, Into Old-Growth Forest Network . 2024-07-05 . PA Environment Digest.