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Places We Protect

Woodbourne Forest Preserve

Pennsylvania

Blue sky is visible behind a tall stand of hemlock trees at Woodbourne Preserve.
Woodbourne Forest Old-growth hemlocks at the Woodbourne Forest Preserve. © Kelly Donaldson

Starting at the end of 2023, the Woodbourne Forest & Wildlife Preserve will be under the ownership and management of the Edward L. Rose Land Conservancy, whose mission to conserve the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania aligns with The Nature Conservancy’s mission at the local level.

We greatly appreciate the dedication of the Woodbourne Forest Stewardship Committee and know that with their continued support in partnership with the Rose Conservancy, the preserve will continue to thrive and provide refuge for plants, animals and people alike. 

Woodbourne’s ancient trees—a mixture of white pine, hemlocks, ash, maples, oaks and other hardwoods—blanketed the region prior to human settlement.

Overview

Description

At the Woodbourne Forest Preserve, open fields, wildflower meadows, winding creeks, mossy bogs and historic stone walls complete a scene that invites and inspires artists from far and wide. However, most visitors seek out the preserve to witness its ancient trees—a mixture of white pine, hemlocks, ash, maples, oaks and other hardwoods that blanketed the region prior to European settlement. In fact, a portion of the preserve contains the largest remaining old-growth forest in northeast Pennsylvania.

Donated by the conservation-minded family of Francis R. Cope, Jr., in 1956, the property represents TNC first preserve in the state of Pennsylvania. Over the years, TNC has added to the original contribution of 500 acres through land acquisitions and the continued generosity of the previous owners. TNC also works to build on their legacy of inspiring and educating others about this extraordinary landscape.

In 2006, the Keystone Trails Association restored existing trails and created new trails to mark the preserve’s 50th anniversary. TNC manages the preserve and its trails with help from a committed volunteer stewardship committee. The committee and volunteers also assist with implementing environmental education programs for local schools, scout troops, surrounding communities and other visitors.

Access

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Hours

Daily, from dawn to dusk

Highlights

Hiking, birdwatching, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, photography and guided tours.

Size

648 acres

Explore our work in Pennsylvania

Visit

  • Recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s 100 best birding locations by the PA State Game Commission, Woodbourne Forest serves as a hotspot for more than 180 species of birds, including pileated woodpeckers, great horned owls and winter wrens.

    Additional wildlife includes white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear, coyote, mink, chipmunk, jumping mice, southern bog lemming, snowshoe hare, beaver, river otter, lilypad clubtail dragonfly and northern flying squirrel.

    Scattered wetlands host frogs, snakes and nine salamander species that hide among leather leaf and pitcher plants. Other plants include Robbins pondweed, carnivorous sundew, Painted trillium, wood sorrel, gold thread and other wildflowers.

  • We are creating a community science database of all kinds of life—from lichens to ants, mushrooms to plants, birds to mammals and everything in between for our preserves in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

    TNC's roots began with local citizens and scientists concerned about special places and species. That legacy continues today. Across our lands, we are utilizing iNaturalist—a digital platform that gives users an opportunity to share and discuss their findings.

    Of our 14 preserve projects in iNaturalist, nine have observations recorded; help us increase that number and our understanding of the species—good and bad, native as well as invasive—that can be found on TNC lands across the state. This information can also help guide and inform our conservation staff's management and monitoring decisions.

Explore Nature

Need more nature? Visit some of TNC's other preserves.

Find More Places We Protect

The Nature Conservancy owns nearly 1,500 preserves covering more than 2.5 million acres across all 50 states. These lands protect wildlife and natural systems, serve as living laboratories for innovative science and connect people to the natural world.

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