Allegheny National Forest (ANF)
The Allegheny National Forest (ANF), Pennsylvania's only National Forest, is approximately 517,000 acres and includes land in Elk, Forest, McKean and Warren counties in the northwestern corner of the State. About 463,000 acres are forested, 42,000 acres are non-forest, and 11,000 acres are covered by water (primarily the Allegheny Reservoir). The ANF is administratively divided into two Ranger Districts: Bradford and Marienville.
The Forest Service brought new concepts in forest management to the Allegheny Plateau -- multiple benefits and sustainability. The Organic Act of 1897 introduced the National Forest mission: to improve the forest, provide favorable conditions for water flows, and furnish a continuous supply of wood to meet people's needs. On these lands, seedlings for tomorrow's forest are the focus of forest management activities. Watersheds are managed to ensure clear water for fisheries like trout and clean drinking water for all.
Recreation
The Allegheny has a rich variety of outdoor activities. There are over 600 campsites, 6 boat launches, 6 canoe access sites, 2 nationally designated wilderness areas and many miles of hiking, snowmobiling and ATV trails.
About the Forest
The creation of the Allegheny Reservoir when the Kinzua Dam was completed in 1965 brought the most dramatic change to developed recreation on the ANF. Within ten years, a tremendous development program resulted in campgrounds, boat launches, beaches, picnic areas, hiking trails and overlooks around the reservoir shoreline and elsewhere throughout the forest.
Over time, people's changing and more sophisticated expectations led to campground improvements like electricity, hot showers, and baby-changing stations. Areas to watch wildlife (Buzzard Swamp, Little Drummer), trails for cross-country skiing and motorized recreation (all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles) and fully accessible fishing piers, trails and restrooms have been added, too.
The ANF fulfills many ecological and social functions and continues to evolve as an important component of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. From the high points and ridgelines of the Allegheny Plateau to the river bottoms and stream valleys below, the ANF provides unique opportunities for watershed protection, plant and animal habitats, cultural history, recreation, wood products and research, not only today but for generations to come.
A Vital Watershed
As a result of industrialization and widespread unregulated logging of the Allegheny Plateau, many rivers and streams were threatened with intense pollution and channel instability. President Calvin Coolidge recognized the importance of watershed health and established the ANF with the aim of restoring and protecting the Allegheny River watershed. Since that time, conservation efforts to protect and restore the Allegheny River watershed led to a remarkable recovery of the Allegheny and Clarion rivers. This recovery resulted in their designation as wild and
scenic rivers for having outstanding scenic, natural, recreational, scientific, historic, ecological and fisheries resource values. Protection of the Allegheny River watershed is one of the most important conservation efforts in the Commonwealth and the region. The ANF is uniquely positioned to help contribute to continued watershed conservation efforts
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