Quehanna Shared-Use

Trail Map

Elk and Moshannon State Forests

2016

Yellowsnake Camping Area Map

Open Fires

Open fires are prohibited from March 1st through May 25th and when the forest-fire danger is determined by the Department to be high, very high or extreme.

Open fire is defined as the ignition and subsequent burning of any combustible material out-of-doors. The use of propane or gas stoves, charcoal briquette grills, or the use of tobacco in any form is not covered. Any camp fire built during this time frame must be in a designated fire ring. Fires must be attended at all times. Extinguish all fires prior to leaving the site. Take all un-burned debris with you when you leave the campsite.

A person causing a wildfire, in addition to possible criminal penalty, is liable for all damages, costs of extinction and fines. Please be aware that the cost to suppress wildfires started in remote areas can be quite substantial.

Yellowsnake Camping Area Special Guidelines

Camping Area suited for motorized camping usage located at mile marker 1, north of Piper/Quehanna Boot Camp at the intersection of the Quehanna Highway and

Reservoir Road. (LAT: 41.197777 LONG: -78.150811)

There are six sites that can be reserved with a free camping permit obtained from the District Office on a first come, first served basis. A horse stall, picnic table and a fire ring are located at each site.

Motorized camping is available year-round (limited winter maintenance). Eques-trian use is limited to Memorial Day Weekend to October 31st.

All sites are carry-in carry-out in regards to trash (including trash in the fire rings). You must utilize a self-contained toilet.

Horseback riding is permitted on all State Forest Roads and shared-use trails (red trail blazes). Equestrians are not permitted on District or State Hiking Trails (orange and yellow trail blazes).

Do not allow horses to chew bark or mark trees or otherwise damage any vegetation.

Dogs should be kept on a leash or otherwise under control at all times.

Stalls and roofed high-line area must be used. Do not tie to stalls outside the roofed area, other high-lines, corrals or fences.

Horse manure must be cleaned up and disposed of at the manure pit centrally located at the Yellowsnake Camping Area.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY - CALL 911

Hospitals:

Penn Highlands Clearfield (36 min. driving time from Yellowsnake Camping Area)

809 Turnpike Ave Clearfield, PA 16830 Ph: 814-765-5341 Mt. Nittany Medical Center (51 min. driving time from Yellowsnake Camping Area)

1800 E Park Avenue State College, PA 16803 Ph: 814-231-7000 Penn Highlands Elk (55 min. driving time from Yellowsnake Camping Area)

763 Johnsonburg Road St. Marys, PA 15857 Ph: 814-788-8000

Camping Permit Information

Note: Camping permits are for Moshannon State Forest lands only. Within State Park bound-

aries, backpackers must camp at the designated campground.

Camping permits are free of charge.

Motorized Camping without a valid camping permit issued by the District Forestry office

is prohibited.

Primitive backpack campers not using developed facilities do not need a permit if they

stay no more than 1 night on a trail. {Primitive backpackers are strongly urged to obtain a

permit in the interest of safety and documentation of use.}

Group camping and organized activities are prohibited without written authorization of

the District Forester or a designee.

A camping permit is normally issued for no more than 10 people at a site unless a special

Letter of Authorization is issued by the District Forester.

Additional information and rules and regulations can be obtained from the Moshannon State

Forest office during regular business hours M-F 8-4. {Closed State & Federal holidays.}

Moshannon State Forest 3372 State Park Road Email: fd09@pa.gov Penfield, PA 15849 Ph: 814-765-0821 Fax: 814-765-0621

Non-Motorized Trails Guidelines

State Forest and Parks shared-use trails and trailheads are marked at trail and road intersections, with a brown triangle containing three permitted use symbols.

Shared-use trails open to horseback, mountain bike and foot travel, are marked with vertical red reassurance blazes.

The State Forest Hiking Trails are marked with vertical orange reassur-ance blazes.

Cross-country Ski Trail blue rectangle signs are posted at the trailhead with the international symbol of a white skier on a brown background. Trail reassurance markers will be blue rectangles.

Local Hiking Trails (Bureau of Forestry-posted CLOSED to all other uses) are marked with yellow blazes along the trail.

Double Blazes mean “caution” or “heads up”.

When Two Differently Marked Trails Share the Same Path or corridor.

TRAIL ENCOUNTERS WHILE HORSEBACK RIDING:

All other non-motorized trail users: Equestrians have the right-of-way in nearly all situations. However, you know best how your horse will react in different situations. Take appropriate action to keep all encounters safe. Speak to others if they have not spoken at your approach. If other users move to the high side of the trail, ask them to move to the lower side, explain-ing that horses perceive animals above them as predators.

TRAIL ENCOUNTERS WHILE BICYCLING:

Another biker approaching from the same direction: Call out, “on your right” or “on your left,” if you wish to overtake or pass the biker in front of you to let them know on which side you will be passing them. Use extreme care and pass only where there is room on the trail to safe-ly do so. If you are being overtaken by another rider and hear, “on your right” or “on your left,” maintain course on the trail or move to the side opposite the callout to permit the other rider to pass safely.

Another biker approaching from the other direction: Dismount and clear the trail if you are traveling downhill to allow the uphill biker to continue his climb without breaking stride. If you are traveling uphill, make sure the downhill rider is giving way before continuing your climb. If in doubt, give way and clear the trail.

An equestrian: Look up occasionally while you ride because you might be approaching horses that may not hear you. Speak to the rider as they approach. This lets the horse know that you are a human and not a predator. Dismount and get off the trail on the lower side to allow the rider to pass. Do not make direct eye contact with the horse as it nears or passes. This is per-ceived by the horse as a threat. Predators stare before they attack.

**Do not attempt to touch the horse unless invited to do so by the rider.

A hiker: Dismount to pass the hiker unless the hiker is obviously giving way to permit you to continue your ride.

A hunter: Acknowledge the hunter with a silent nod and continue on your way. Do not inten-tionally interfere with a hunt. This is illegal in Pennsylvania and punishable by law.

TRAIL ENCOUNTERS WHILE HIKING:

Another hiker with a dog: Speak to the hiker as they approach. This lets the dog owner take appropriate action based on their dog’s behavior and lets the dog know that you are not a threat or prey. Do not make direct eye contact with the dog. This is perceived as a threat by most dogs and they may react defensively. Do not attempt to pet the dog unless invited to do so by the owner, and even then, only carefully. Allow the dog to first smell the back of your hand. If the dog is off the leash, stop and allow the hiker to regain control of their pet.

A bicyclist: Step off of the trail and allow the biker to pass.

An equestrian: Speak to the rider as they approach. This lets the horse know that the hiker is human and not a predator. Step off of the trail on the lower side to allow the rider to pass. Do not stare directly at the horse as it nears or passes — this is perceived by the horse as a threat. Predators stare before they attack. Do not attempt to touch the horse unless invited to do so by the rider.

A hunter: Acknowledge the hunter with a silent nod and continue on your way. Do not inten-tionally interfere with a hunt. This is illegal in Pennsylvania and punishable by law.

Wild and Natural Areas

Pennsylvania’s state forest system includes dozens of special wild and natural areas set aside to protect unique or unusual biologic, geologic, scenic and histori-cal features or to showcase outstanding examples of the state’s major forest communities.

Quehanna Wild Area

Quehanna Wild Area is set aside to maintain the undevel-oped character of the forest environment. This 50,000-acre tract was originally state forest land that was leased to the Curtiss Wright Corporation for jet engine and nucle-ar research in 1955. It was returned to the Commonwealth in 1966. The Quehanna Wild Area is jointly administered by Moshannon and Elk State Forest Districts.

Marion Brooks Natural Area

This natural area is located adjacent to the Quehanna Highway at the edge of the Quehanna Wild Area. In 1975, the Bureau of Forestry renamed the Paige Run Natural area, the Marion Brooks Natural Area in honor of Marion E. Brooks, who was a pioneer in early envi-ronmental and civic efforts. Marion Brooks Natural Area contains 975 acres, a portion of which is an al-most pure stand of white birch. This area will be left to the forces of nature, free from human intervention.

M.K. Goddard/Wykoff Run Natural Area (Elk State Forest) This 1,215 acre tract is an area representing hydric hemlock and white birch forests.

Other than this efforts to mitigate past impacts, this area will be left to the forces of nature, free from human intervention.

Featured Shared-Use Trails

Erie Camp Trail The trail begins between sites #3 and #4 in Yellowsnake

Camping Area and traverses through a mix of huckleberry patches, regenerating forest and within view of wildlife openings and forest meadows. The trail provides an in stream watering opportunity at the ford of Twelve Mile Run near the old site of Erie Camp. The trail is moderately difficult and utilizes improved trail and mowed administra-tive roads. Erie Camp Trail ends at the intersection with Chipper Road. You can continue on to Bellefonte Posse Trail or cross over the Quehanna Highway to Number 11 Trail and Twister Trail.

Moyer Run Loop The Moyer Run Loop is made up of several segments of trails/

roads. The loop starts at Yellowsnake Camping Area and utiliz-es Reservoir Road, Old Sinnemahoning Trail, Three Runs Road, Three Runs Tower Road, Moyer Run Trail, Upper Three Runs Road and Black Powder Trail. The 13.5 mile loop follows the drainage of Upper Three Runs and descends into the hollow on Moyer Run Trail to the ford of Upper Three Runs. The 13.5 mile loop is a great trail to view wildlife including elk, deer, bear and turkey.

Mohawk Trail The Mohawk Trail gives the user options with many lateral

trails that create large and small trail loops. Spend a couple hours on the trails or choose a route that lasts all day in the Quehanna Wild Area. The Mohawk Trail begins at the Que-hanna Highway and ends at the powerline at Fisher Trail. Mohawk Trail also has 14 designated ADA Hunting sites that are marked with numbered posts. The dryer and rocky heath forest type is conducive for white oak, chestnut oak and mountain laurel that begins to flower in late May.

NOTE: Moshannon State Forest does not offer designated ATV

Trails. Use of an ATV in Moshannon State Forest without written

permission from the District Forester is prohibited.

Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry - Mission Statement

“The Bureau of Forestry’s mission is to ensure the long-term health, viability and

productivity of the Commonwealth’s forests and to conserve native wild plants.

The bureau will accomplish this mission by: Managing state forests under sound

ecosystem management, to retain their wild character and maintain biological

diversity while providing pure water, opportunities for low-density recreation….”

Erie Camp Trail

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