Outdoor Science and Learning

Come explore the Allegheny! Visit one of the interpretive areas or just take a hike through the woods and see how many birds, butterflies, wildflowers or trees you can identify. Travel down the Allegheny or Clarion rivers and see what kind of aquatic life you observe.

Ever seen a boulder the size of a house? Remains of glacial history are strewn through the forest in the form of these giant boulders. Visit Minister Creek, Jakes Rocks, or Rimrock to get an up-close view of these towering giants of the woods. And don't be surprised if you see a tree or two growing out of a boulder!

Whatever season you choose to visit, and whatever aspect of nature you turn to for inspiration, you'll be able to find it here.

Whether you are a photographer, artist, naturalist, or just seek to find yourself in nature, nature viewing on the Allegheny is a source of inspiration. As the seasons progress, you will be treated to different images of the Forest. The deep greens and blues of summer days change to a spectacular red and gold fall. Fall is followed by the hushed white of winter, broken by the sound of running water and the smell of wet earth in the spring.

Interpretive Areas/Exhibits

As you wander through the old growth forest at Hearts Content, see if you can still find signs of the F-4 tornado from the May 31, 1985 tornado outbreak that wreaked havoc on much of Ohio and western Pennsylvania.

Interested in history? Visit the Old Powerhouse, a part of Pennsylvania's oil history.

Hike on the Timberdoodle Flats Trail, Little Drummer or through Buzzard Swamp and learn about the wildlife that live in the Allegheny.

Viewing Wildlife

If you move silently and remain alert, wildlife viewing opportunities abound in the forest. A host of species leave clues to their presence including, 50 mammals, 200 birds, 25 amphibians, 20 reptiles, 80 fishes, and 25 freshwater mussels. A white-tailed deer, black bear, grey fox, wild turkey, squirrel, chipmunk, red-backed salamander, wood frog, beaver, raccoon, ruffed grouse, rattlesnake, snowshoe hare, or river otter could all cross your path.

For many people, seeing our bald eagles, ospreys, hawks, or owls is a thrilling sighting, but don’t discount their smaller cousins. With a pair of binoculars, a close-up look at songbirds reveals stunning colors and intriguing behaviors. In the correct season, you may find warblers, finches, oriels, swallows, thrushes, sparrows, chickadees, or hummingbirds, to name a few.

Check out these sites for more information:

Keep forest creatures wild

Do not approach or follow wildlife—observe from a distance.
Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
Leash your dog to keep it and wildlife safe.
Do not feed wildlife—let them feed themselves. Store your rations and trash safely, securely, and out of reach.
No picture is worth endangering the animals, other subjects, or the photographer. People are killed every year when they get too close to large animals, such as bear. Smaller animals become stressed when we get too close.

If you think you've found a sick or injured animal please call the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Viewing Plants

From early spring, well into fall, the Allegheny offers visitors an array of plant viewing opportunities.

Starting early in the spring, as the trees begin to leaf, the forest floor is carpeted in trillium, spring beauty, hepatica, trout lily and many other early spring wildflowers.

Don't enter the rhododendrum mazes, once in, they are very difficult to leave. Found all over the forest, in ravines, hollows, and along watercourses, these plants can grow upwards of 10 feet with an impenetrable tangle of branches, leaves and flowers. The best place to view the rhododendrum, from afar, is Jakes Rocks from June to July when the flowers are out.

Heading in to fall, the Allegheny offers spectacular views of the trees changing their leaves from the overlooks for the Allegheny Reservoir, particularly Jakes Rocks and Rimrock. To catch a glimpse of the Allegheny River, stop by the Tidioute Overlook.

On the ground during the fall, you will still see a wide variety of fall wildflowers, including asters.

Viewing Scenery

You can find beauty in any area of the forest. From the sun filtering through the trees, creating a greenish-golden glow, to the breathtaking vistas of the overlooks scattered around the Allegheny Reservoir.

Grab a motor vehicle use map and take a drive on the hundreds of miles of forest roads and see what you can find. Prefer sticking to pavement? Take a trip down the Longhouse National Scenic Byway.