Sweet Root Natural Area

Sweet Root Natural Area
Sweet Root Natural Area is located in Pennsylvania
Sweet Root Natural Area
Location within Pennsylvania
LocationBedford County, Pennsylvania
Nearest townChaneysville
Coordinates39°50′25″N 78°31′42″W / 39.8402°N 78.5282°W / 39.8402; -78.5282
Area1,526 acres (618 ha)

Sweet Root Natural Area is a 1,526-acre (618 ha) protected area in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of Buchanan State Forest.

Description

The Natural Area was originally established to protect a small grove of old-growth hemlock trees, but most of those were damaged by a woolly adelgid infestation. However, a 69-acre parcel of old-growth hemlocks survived and are protected within the Natural Area. The area has since been expanded to protect a second-growth forest of oaks and other hardwoods.

The area has been added to the Old-Growth Forest Network because even the second-growth trees have surpassed 150 years old, never having been harvested by loggers during the Pennsylvania logging era because of the rugged terrain. The area has a history of saltpeter mining dating back to the American Revolution, and if protects the watershed of Sweet Root Run, which in turn has been designated as a protected wild trout stream.

References

  1. 1 2 "Buchanan State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Fergus, Charles (2002). Natural Pennsylvania: Exploring the State Forest Natural Areas. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 43–47.
  3. 1 2 Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. "Sweet Root Natural Area" (PDF). Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  4. ↑ Miller, Cassie (March 16, 2022). "Deep in Bedford Co., Pa. protects its 19th old-growth forest • Pennsylvania Capital-Star". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  5. ↑ Crable, Ad (October 31, 2022). "Maryland, Pennsylvania add tracts to Old-Growth Forest Network". Bay Journal. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  6. ↑ Schneck, Marcus (March 23, 2022). "Never harvested, old growth Pennsylvania forest added to national registry". PennLive. Retrieved June 2, 2026.