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Hearts Content Recreation Area
Sleep amongst the 300 to 400-year-old white pines that tower the campground of Hearts Content Recreation Area, a 122-acre area containing old-growth forest.
In an area that was mostly clear-cut in the 1800's, 20 acres of what is now Hearts Content was owned by Wheeler and Dusenbury Lumber Company from 1897 to 1922. Wheeler and Dusenbury deeded the land to the U.S. Forest Service in 1923. Hearts Content is designated as a National Natural Landmark.
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers constructed the campground, picnic area, and pavilion in 1936. An exhibit of a hand-hewn log is adjacent to the picnic area.
The Hickory Creek Trailhead begins just north of the campground. Nearby loop trails for hiking and cross-country skiing, as well as the interpretive trail through the old-growth forest are centered within the Hearts Content Day Use Area located across the road (east) of the campground.
View/Download Brochures:
The recreation area provides access to several trails through the Hearts Content Area.
At a Glance
| Current Conditions: | Open 05/01 - 10/29 |
|---|---|
| Operational Hours: | Quiet hours 10:00 pm to 6:00 am |
| Reservations: | Reservations are accepted for all campground sites from May 1 to Oct. 29. All campground sites are also available as first come, first served. Reservation -
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| Fees: | Campground:
|
| Open Season: | 5/1 - 10/29 |
| Usage: | Light |
| Restrictions: | As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors. These rules are available to you on-line or at any office of the Allegheny National Forest. Please take time to read and understand them. General Topic orders apply across the Forest. Applicable Orders for this Site:
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| Closest Towns: | Tidioute, PA |
| Water: | Drinking Water |
| Restroom: | Vault |
| Operated By: | Allegheny Site Management Phone: 814-363-9090 Email: ecpalleghenysite@gmail.com |
| Information Center: | Bradford Ranger District Address: 29 Forest Service Dr., Bradford, PA 16701 Phone: 814-362-4613 Email: sm.fs.anf@usda.gov |
General Information
Directions:From the Mohawk exit of U.S. Route 6 in Warren
- Take Main Ave. for <1 mile to the intersection with Pleasant Drive/State Route 3005/337.
- Turn right onto Pleasant Drive/State Route 3005/337.
- Travel 10.7 miles on Pleasant Drive/State Route 3005/337.
- Where Pleasant Drive/State Route 3005/337 turns right continue straight on State Route 2002/Hearts Content Road.
- Travel on State Route 2002/Hearts Content Road for 3.7 miles.
- The entrance is located on the left.
Activities
Campground Camping
Recreation areas with activity Campground Camping:Amenities:
- picnic table
- fire ring
- tent pad
- lean-to shelter (2 sites)
- charcoal grill (2 sites)
| No. of Sites |
|
| Reservation Info | no reservations |
| Fire Information | Campfires are permitted as long as fires are maintained in a fire ring and fully extinguished when leaving. |
| No. of Accessible sites | No |
| Sleeping Shelter | 2 shelters |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
|---|
RV Camping
Recreation areas with activity RV Camping:Amenities:
- picnic table
- fire ring
- tent pad
- lean-to shelter (2 sites)
- charcoal grill (2 sites)
| No. of Sites |
|
| Pavement Type for Parking | hardened |
| Hookup - Water | No |
| Hookup - Sewer | No |
| Dump Stations | Yes |
| Fire Information | Campfires are permitted as long as fires are maintained in a fire ring and fully extinguished when leaving. |
| Hookups - Electric | No |
| No. of Accessible sites | No |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
|---|
Group Camping
Recreation areas with activity Group Camping:The group site is a large grassy field with no amenities.
| No. of Sites |
|
| Group Shelter | No |
| Group Cooking Facilities | No |
| Fire Information | Firewood may be obtained from dead and down trees. Do not bring firewood from home to the Allegheny National Forest. Do not unwittingly spread the emerald ash borer, sirex wood wasp, hemlock woolly adelgid or other firewood borne invasive species. Possession of firewood from outside the area of the Allegheny National Forest is prohibited. Firewood is available at or near camping facilities. |
| Hookups - Electric | No |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
|---|
Day Hiking
Recreation areas with activity Day Hiking:The recreation area provides access to several trails through the Hearts Content Area:
- Hearts Content Interpretive Trail - a short 1.1 mile loop trail through the Old-Growth Forest (300+ year old white pine, hemlock and beech forest)
- Tom's Run Loop - 3.2 mile cross-country ski trail (located north of the trailhead)
- Ironwood Loop - 3.3 mile cross-country ski trail (located southeast of the trailhead and
- Wheeler Loop - 1.3 mile cross-country ski trail (located west of the trailhead and encircling Hearts Content Campground.
- Orienteering Trail - 5.9 miles (a competitive sport that involves using a map and compass to find your way in unfamiliar terrain) can also be accessed from this trailhead. There are three orienteering courses to select from:
- Introductory - controls 1 - 10 are designed for easy hiking (all on trails), easy navigation;
- Intermediate - controls 21 - 26 are designed to be easy hiking (mostly on trails) but more difficult navigation;
- Advanced - controls 31 - 35 are designed for off-trail hiking and very difficult navigation.
The trailhead is plowed during winter activity season - generally between December 20 and April 1.
View/Print trail Brochures/Maps -
The Orienteering Trail is located in Hearts Content Recreation Area. The course is self-guided and allows you or your group to follow a permanently marked route as an introduction to the sport of orienteering.
Orienteering is a recreation and competitive sport that involves using a map and compass to find your way in unfamiliar terrain. The object is to select and follow the best route to a series of designated points where markers (controls) will be located.
The challenge results from the fact that the course is marked in no other way than the controls themselves. The fun, and the test lies in determining the best and fastest route. In competitive form, the controls must be found in the least possible time, and the course itself is not known beforehand.
Orienteering provides an opportunity for full involvement by every member of the family improving your knowledge of geography and practical navigation, and enhancing physical and mental fitness as well.
| Difficulty Level: | Intermediate |
|---|
Backpacking
Recreation areas with activity Backpacking:Viewing Wildlife
Recreation areas with activity Viewing Wildlife:Over 70 species of game and non-game fish live in the Allegheny National Forest. Over 300 species of mammals, including raccoon, gray squirrel, snowshoe hare, red and gray fox, beaver, mink, and muskrat as well as game species suck as white-tailed deer, black bear and wild turkey.
For information on species common to Pennsylvania, and the Allegheny National Forest visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website for game and nongame species information.
When you see wildlife, please remember:
- never feed wildlife
- don't interfere with mating, predation or other natural behaviors.
- keep a respectful distance
- preserve habitat by following "leave no trace" principles.
- leave young wildlife where you find them.
If you think you've found a sick or injured animal please call the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
|---|
Viewing Plants
Recreation areas with activity Viewing Plants:The original forest was a mixture of white pine, Eastern hemlock, and American beech, with a multi-layered understory of hobble bush, witch hazel, and many other species.
Time, weather, insects, and disease have all affected the forest in different ways, along with a high population of deer. These have changed, and will continue to change, the species composition and the look and feel of this forest with implications far into the future.
The oldest of the existing trees, mostly white pine and Eastern hemlock, are estimated at 300-400 years old.
Many of the other trees in the stand are younger and have come in through natural succession, displaying multiple vertical layers of vegetation typical of a natural, not human-influenced, forest and occasional open gaps where large old trees have fallen and young seedlings and saplings are filling in to renew the forest.
For more information about the types of plants and trees you may see on the Allegheny:
| Difficulty Level: | Intermediate |
|---|
Interpretive Areas
Recreation areas with activity Interpretive Areas:Picnicking
Recreation areas with activity Picnicking:There is a large grassy area to set-up games, short interpretive trail across the road and an orienteering trail.
Amenities:
- picnic table
- grills
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
|---|
XC Skiing/Snowshoeing
Recreation areas with activity XC Skiing/Snowshoeing:This 10.5 kilometer (7.8 mile) trail utilizes old railroad grades, roads and existing trails to form several loops for your skiing pleasure.
- Tom's Run Loop - 3.2 mile cross-country ski trail (located north of the trailhead)
- Ironwood Loop - 3.3 mile cross-country ski trail (located southeast of the trailhead and
- Wheeler Loop - 1.3 mile cross-country ski trail (located west of the trailhead and encircling Hearts Content Campground.
View/Print: Cross Country Ski Brochure
| Warming Shelters | No |
| Base Conditions | Not groomed |