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Buchanan State Forest
State Park Information

State Park Overview

History of the Area
The Buchanan State Forest was named in honor of James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States. The area consists of five principle tracts that cover seventy-five thousand acres of Commonwealth owned forest lands -dministered by the Bureau of Forestry.

In Bedford County there is a saltpeter cave within the Sweet Root Natural Area where saltpeter had been produced for gunpowder before and during the American Revolution. Close by are the Resettlement lands, containing several old cemeteries that date back to pre-Civil War days.

Winding through Allens Valley and westward over Sideling Hill in Fulton County are traces of an early military highway known as the Forbes or Forbes-Burd Road, built by General John Forbes and Colonel James Burd. This served as a link between Carlisle and Pittsburgh. It provided the means to carry British military supplies to their western outposts at Fort Pitt and Fort Duquesne.

Cowans Gap marks the home site of one of the earliest settlers, British Major Samual Cowan who farmed the area which is now Cowans Gap State Park.

Further south - Cove Gap, is Buchanans Birthplace Historical Park, the birthplace of James Buchanan. The site, formerly known as Stoney Batter, is marked by an imposing stone pyramid surrounded by 3000 Norway spruce trees.

On Sideling Hill Mountain -long old logging trails bearing such names as Hinish and Sproat, there are remnants of logging railroad spurs built by the Reichly Brothers at the turn of the century. Nestled at the foot of the western slope of Sideling Hill, - Oregon Creek, is the Oregon Ranger Station, site of the former CCC Camp No. S-52 which was built in 1933. During the great depression several hundred young men without jobs lived here and constructed most of the forest roads and trails which still exist - this area.

In 1940 this camp became quarters for conscientious objectors, draftees who were excused from bearing arms during World War II.

In 1944, the site was surrounded with a high barbed wire fence and used again by the Army, to house German prisoners of war. Today, the observant visitor can still find evidence of the P.O.W. and CCC Camp facilities.

Less than a quarter mile from the Oregon Camp is the unused west portal of the Sideling Hill Tunnel. This tunnel and the Rays Hill Tunnel were built in 1939 as part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which opened October 1, 1940. Millions of vehicles passed through these portals until a bypass was constructed over the two mountains in 1968.

Almost hidden in Woodridge Hollow is an aqueduct or culvert - masterpiece of native sandstone measuring approximately 15 feet wide, 10 feet high and 199 feet in length. It was constructed by several hundred stone masons and laborers brought in from Sicily. The structure was completed sometime in 18842885 and was meant to carry the waters of Woodridge Run beneath the South Penn Railroad which would have traversed northern Fulton County via tunnels through Sideling Hill and Rays Hill. The South Penn line was never finished but much of the route, including the two tunnels, was utilized by the Pennsylvania Turnpike.



More Info

Activities - Buchanan State Forest. Bear Valley Picnic Area - beautiful location away from all the traffic and hubbub, is secluded between Broad Mountain and Kittatinny Mountain. It may be...Highland Pulling Association. Cochranton home page Crawford County Resources. Cochrantons 12th Annual Poker Run...2001. Welcome to this years brand new hosting site for the Cochranton Poker...Quick Links. DEPARTMENTS. County Commissioners. County Administrator. County Attorney. County Clerk. Animal Control. Community Services. Detention Center. Economic Development. Election Office....Come ride with us,The best ATV trail maps in Pennsylvania on the web.Many locations for Pennsylvania ATV trails.Under the PA Forest Lands Beautification Program, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has teamed up with nonprofit PA CleanWays to remove illegally dumped...Under the PA Forest Lands Beautification Program, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has teamed up with nonprofit PA CleanWays to remove illegally dumped...

Area Attractions
Bear Valley Picnic Area,a beautiful location away from all the traffic and hubbub, is secluded between Broad Mountain and Kittatinny Mountain. It may be reached from Fort Loudon by turning north on Bear Valley Road off old Route 30 on the east end of Fort Loudon - lovely wooded drive for 13 miles through the State Game Lands and State Forest Lands, or south from the Fannettsburg-Upper Strasburg Road, just three miles to the picnic area.

Sideling Hill Picnic Area is on Route 30 at the summit of Sideling Hill Mountain. Available are picnic tables, fireplaces, horseshoe courts - open field to throw a ball or frisbee. Take the family, take a lunch, spend the day, get a tan and enjoy the cool mountain breezes.

Steeped in history, the Sweet Root Picnic Area is on Route 326, one mile north of Chaneysville in southern Bedford County. The tall pines provide a cool place to enjoy a basket lunch. The picnic area adjoins the 1,400 acre Sweet Root Natural Area. A walk through the Sweet Root Gap to see the virgin hemlocks and enjoy the ferns along the gushing mountain brook will make you want to return to this fascinating area.

Blankley Picnic Area takes us back to the mountains of southern Bedford County. High in the bend of Friends Cove, it can be reached by turning on to Blankley Road from PA 326 south of Rainsburg at the summit of Rainburg Mountain. Many good overlooks into Friends Cove, Rainsburg Gap and Sweet Root Gap on the drive in will help to provide for a quiet, peaceful place to spend a day.

Cowans Gap State Park is located off Route 75 north of Fort Loudon. Swimming, boating and fishing are offered on 42-acre Cowans Gap Lake.

Redbud Valley Birdwatchers and wildflower lovers should enjoy visiting Redbud Valley - 514 acre tract of the Buchanan State Forest, situated along Pa. Route 928, just south of the Big Cove Tannery in Fulton County.

Redbud Valley, otherwise known as the Kerper Tract, was originally the property of Ohio-born layer and amateur naturalist Edmund Kerper who purchased the property in 1934 and built a frame house with native materials.

Most of the bottom land was under cultivation when Kerper moved there but one of his goals was to create a sanctuary for song birds and each spring he hired temporary workers to plant trees, flowers and flowering shrubs, thus creating a kind of botanical garden and arboretum. Kerpers dream was to come true in that the area today probably boasts more species of song birds than any other spot in Fulton County. The once beautiful, well-manicured gardens, however, have become wild jungle-like havens for many species of wildlife.

During the 1970s youth groups, including the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), Neighborhood Youth Corps and others, constructed foot trails, stream crossings, stream improvement devices, parking areas and outdoor learning stations. The improvements, covering approximately 40 acres of the tract, have helped to make the area more accessible and attractive to the public.

Area Campgrounds

Friendship Village
348 Friendship Village Rd
Bedford, PA
(814) 6232677

Shawnee Sleepy Hollow Cmpgrnd
147 Sleepy Hollow Rd
Schellsburg, PA
(814) 733-4380

Choice Camping Court
209 Choice Campground Rd
Manns Choice, PA
(814) 623-9272

Wilderness
3261 Elk Lick Rd
Everett, PA
(814) 784-3363

Hideaway Campground
449 Pointer Rd
Everett, PA
(814) 735-3605



Area Fishing Related Businesses

Shawnee Bait & Sporting Goods
1541 Market St
Schellsburg, PA
(814) 733-4000

Ed's Bait
1411 Shawnee Rd
Schellsburg, PA
(814) 733-4887

Archers & Anglers Warehouse
907 Frame Church Rd
Everett, PA
(814) 652-2457


Buchanan State Forest