Loyalsock Forest District

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

It's time for your Week 2 Fall Foliage Report! 🍂🍁

While autumn colors continue to spread across much of the Commonwealth, recent cold nights have helped fall colors reach their peak in the north. Bright, colorful leaves are now easy to spot in most Pennsylvania forests.

The best places to enjoy the season right now are the northern counties, the northern Poconos, and the Laurel Highlands.

Photo 1: Denton Hill (Susquehannock State Forest)
Photo 2: Route 850 (Perry County)
Photo 3: State Game Lands 159 (Wayne County)

View the full report: pa.gov/fallfoliage

10/07/2026

Fall doesn’t mean that ticks take a break!

Tick bites can happen well into the cooler months. Reduce your risk of Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illnesses by following these bite prevention tips.

10/07/2026

DCNR is seeking four passionate advocates to fill voluntary positions on the Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee. Apply today and help shape the future of Pennsylvania's trails!

To kick off September and Trails Month in Pennsylvania, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is now accepting letters of interest and resumes for four voluntary positions that will be opening on the 2027 Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee (PTAC). DCNR is seeking interested

10/06/2026

Expanding access to the outdoors!

A 12-acre parcel has been added to Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area in Lower Paxton Township, creating a new parking area and trailhead. This addition gives visitors even more ways to hike, explore nature, and enjoy the preserve. 🌲🚶‍♀️

Learn more: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/newsroom/shapiro-administration-expands-boyd-big-tree-preserve-conservati

10/06/2026

Discover Pennsylvania’s funga in-person!

There are many mushroom/mycology clubs in Pennsylvania where you can learn from experts with decades of identification experience. The safest, most rewarding way to learn about mycology is in-person.

Explore clubs at https://naturalheritage.dcnr.pa.gov/Fungi.html

10/05/2026

Wildfires are most likely to happen during the spring and fall months in Pennsylvania. 🔥

Follow these tips to stay safe and prevent wildfires when enjoying the woods. ⤵️

Learn more: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/programs-and-services/community-outreach-and-development/wildfire

10/02/2026

Walk In Penn’s Woods events are happening this Sunday (October 4)!

Join DCNR forestry staff for guided hikes and learn more about the history, land use, trees, plants, and animals that shape Pennsylvania’s forests.

Find a walk: https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/search?search=walk+in+penn%27s+woods

10/02/2026

Explore Free: Because every season brings a new reason to visit.

09/29/2026

Please join us this SATURDAY OCTOBER 3rd from 10am to 2pm for a Walk in Penn's Woods Loyalsock State Forest edition. This year we will be hiking the scenic Angel Falls. Coming in at about 70', Angel Falls is a popular destination for visitors of our State Forest and one of our most beloved waterfalls. As a bonus, we'll hike past 20' Gibson Falls. The hike will include a loop of approximately 2 miles of intermediate terrain. We'll meet at the Angel Falls parking lot off of Brunnerdale Road (41.3852479, -76.6682598) at 10am. The site does not have cell service and please come prepared with a broken in pair of hiking boots.

Please also consider joining the fine folks at Mokoma Conservancy for their walk on Sunday from 11am to 2pm. And for those of you in Lycoming County the Tiadaghton Forest District will host a guided walk through the Algerine Wild Area from 1pm to 3pm on Sunday also.

Walk In Penn’s Woods events are happening on Sunday, October 4!

Join DCNR forestry staff for guided hikes and learn more about the history, land use, trees, plants, and animals that shape Pennsylvania’s forests.

Find a walk: https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/search?search=walk+in+penn%27s+woods

09/28/2026

Meet the new District Forester for Loyalsock Forest District in northeastern Pennsylvania.

The 114,552-acre forest district includes portions of Bradford, Lycoming, and Sullivan counties.

Learn more: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/newsroom/dcnr-names-new-district-forester-for-loyalsock-state-forest

09/24/2026

Check out the new hiking resource App developed by the Alpine Club. A useful tool to plan your hike on the Loyalsock Trail or Old Loggers Path!

🍂 Calling all Loyalsock Trail & Old Loggers Path hikers!
As summer hiking season winds down, we’re asking the hiking community to help us build something together.
Trail Sherpa is a new free hiking and backpacking resource for the LT and OLP, built with support from the The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship and in collaboration with the Alpine Club of Williamsport.
🥾 Plan your hike. Build multi-day backpacking trips, thru-hikes, or shorter section hikes with day-by-day itineraries.
📱 Take it offline. Print your itinerary or save it to the companion mobile app for offline navigation.
📍 Share what you know. Contribute campsites, water sources, viewpoints, access points, photos, and other local trail knowledge.
🌲 Help care for the trails. Report blowdowns, missing blazes, dry water sources, flooding, and other trail conditions. Reports and waypoint contributions can be shared with Alpine Club board members and trail committees.
If you hiked the LT or OLP this year, we’d love your help.
What campsite would you recommend? Which water sources were reliable? Did you find something that wasn’t on the map? What do you wish you had known before your hike?
Share it with the next hiker.
Over the fall and winter, we’ll continue building and verifying this community knowledge base so it’s even better when everyone starts planning next year’s adventures.
Trail Sherpa is free to use, and anyone who signs up during the 2026 season becomes a Trail Blazer and keeps the LT pack free forever when paid trail packs launch in Spring 2027.
👉 Get started: https://www.trailsherpa.org/invite/WXGR45E2
Already maintain a section of the LT or OLP? We’d also love to have you participate as a Trail Sherpa Steward.
Sign up. Share what you know. Help us build it together.

09/14/2026

On August 31, 2026, a routine inspection was conducted of the iron bridge structure on Rock Run Road. The inspection revealed significant cracks and degradation in the supports of the bridge. For public safety, the decision has been made to close the bridge to vehicular traffic. The bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic with concrete barricades on Monday September 14, 2026. We are aware this creates a detour for the public, however the safety of our forest visitors is our number one priority. The bridge will remain open to pedestrian traffic. Proper signage will be placed at the intersection of Rock Run Road and PA Route 154 and also at the intersection of Rock Run Road and Loyalsock Road warning motorists of the bridge closure.

The replacement of the bridge is currently underway, with the projected starting of construction date of 2/15/27. The estimated completion date is 11/15/29

Eric Probert
District Forester

09/10/2026

ATTN State Forest Users,

The parking lot at Little Bear Rd across from the maintenance garage will be closed on Tuesday, October 13th, 2026 for the district’s annual fire training. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Send a message to learn more

09/04/2026

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

09/01/2026

Many thanks to the Loyalsock Mens Club for their work on this project!

07/08/2026

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110005/episodes/19331736

CORRECTION: The Loyalsock Trail and the Old Loggers Path is maintained by the Alpine Club of Williamsport.When people find out that I’ve visited every state park, I often get asked the same question. What’s my favorite? And consistently I give the...

06/17/2026

ATTN State Forest Users,

John Merrell Road is reopened to the public. Please use caution, traffic associated with the construction of a temporary water line is still active in the area.

05/22/2026

04/20/2026