Hike through towering old-growth at Alan Seeger Natural Area

Nestled deep in the Rothrock State Forest southeast of State College, Pennsylvania, is the Alan Seeger Natural Area. The nature preserve is less than an hour away from tens of thousands of people, but most locals still need to learn it exists. Most times I visited while living in Central PA, I was the only person on the trails, a rare treat I enjoyed.

It’s a dirt road through the state forest to reach the Alan Seeger Natural Area north of Greenwood Furnace State Park. The drive is not bad, but it can have some washboards here and there. Most cars will be fine, be careful if there is recent heavy rain, though.

Once you arrive, park your car and prepare for some spectacular scenery. The wooden sign still says it’s only 118 acres; however, it has since been expanded to 390 acres.

Hiking the Alan Seeger Natural Area

An easy loop trail circles its way through the natural area. It’s less than a mile long and weaves through a virgin old-growth stand of white pine and hemlock. Some of the oldest trees are believed to be more than a thousand years old. If you time it right in the summer, you will also be greeted with thick rhododendron blooms over 20 feet tall. This typically happens in early summer.

Expect to see plenty of wildlife. I would often see many white-tailed deer, including the occasional big buck. Turkey’s are also ubiquitous. Black bears are also sometimes seen in the area. Bird watchers will particularly enjoy the many colorful species of warblers.

For those looking for more adventure, the 84.2-mile Standing Stone Trails runs through the natural area and Rothrock State Forest. You can take the trail north to the Detweiler Run Natural Area or south towards the Greenwood Furnace Fire Tower and Greenwood Furnace State Park. If you are camping at the park, the hike to Alan Seeger and back is a terrific way to spend the day.

There is no camping available in the natural area. But camping is available a short distance away at Penn-Roosevelt State Park or, as mentioned above, at Greenwood Furnace. Both can be reserved online.

Naming the preserve

How the natural area got its name is perplexing. It’s commonly assumed that it is named after Alan Seeger, an American poet who fought and was killed in World War I. This does not make much sense as Seeger was a native of New York and almost certainly has never been to the remote area in central PA. Some old maps and photos from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resouces reference the Alan Sager farm, the Seeger Plantation, and Saeger Spring in the general area. However, early Pennslyvania politicians may have easily named it after the poet as a memorial, and the spring and farm are just a coincidence.

Regardless of the name, visiting the Alan Seeger Natural Area is sure to impress and an excellent way to spend an afternoon in nature.