Magnificence Along the Clarion

A beautiful place to hike and explore in northwest Pennsylvania is Dutch Hill Forest, along the Clarion River in Heath Township, Jefferson County.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has protected more than 32,000 acres along the Clarion River, which was highly polluted decades ago but is now largely restored and a federally designated Wild and Scenic River.

The Conservancy’s 630-acre Dutch Hill Forest there is a preserve where a hiker can explore steep forested slopes, a unique hemlock forest wetland, rhododendron thickets, large boulders and rock outcrops. The now-forested landscape is a symbol of recovery, following past gas drilling, rock quarrying and logging.

The Conservancy recently added a parking lot, improved a 3.4-mile (out-and-back) trail and added informational signage at Dutch Hill Forest. Visitors can see white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, porcupines and black bears, as well as a variety of migratory and resident birds. The property leads to beautiful views of the Clarion River, particularly in the winter and early spring before leaf-out.

While Dutch Hill Forest is owned by the Conservancy, most lands protected by the Conservancy along the Clarion River have been transferred over to public ownership. Much of the forest along miles of the river’s banks is now a part of either state parks, state forests, state game lands or Allegheny National Forest.

For more information, contact the Conservancy at 412-288-2777 or search WaterLandLife.org/Preserves for more information and maps regarding Dutch Hill Forest.