Delaware State Forest

About Delaware State Forest

Six nature reserves have been designated as Delaware State Forest, and all of these are located in relatively undisturbed areas where natural succession can take place.

Bruce Lake Natural Area covers 2,845 acres, including much of the state's largest natural area and the largest lake in the Delaware State Forest. The young pine and hemlock populations have been felled, which has resulted in a rich layer of humus in the area, which has been destroyed by the fire.

Bruce Lake was formed during the Ice Age and is fed entirely by springs created by the Delaware River into the lake and its tributaries.

Egypt Meadow Lake was founded in 1935 by the Civil Conservation Corps and the 1931-acre wing contains a mix of coniferous and hardwood. Stillwater Natural Area provided refuge to young men escaping conscription during the Civil War. The huts were built on an island in the swamp area with dense vegetation and the Egypt Meadow Lake and its tributary, Egypt Lake.

Stillwater provides about a mile of Little Bushkill steam for still water - water canoes and about two miles of waterfalls for kayaks and rafts.

The landscape of the Pennel Run Natural Area is dominated by high mountains and swamps, a high mountain swamp surrounded by mixed oaks, which is located on 535 hectares in the Buckhorn nature reserve. The highlands cover 936 hectares, and part of the Uts swamp lies within the nature reserve.

Reptiles and amphibians are protected by special regulations both in the Pennel Run and in the Buckhorn Nature Reserve. The Pine Lake Nature Reserve covers 67 hectares and the Pine Lakes Nature Reserve a total of 1500 hectares.

This includes a 10 hectare glacial bog, home to a variety of bird species, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds of prey and reptiles. Various flora and fauna inhabit Pine Lake and Buckhorn Nature Reserve, as well as Pennel Run and Winged Bird Sanctuary, both in the Delaware State Forest.

This boreal coniferous forest swamp is located in the nature reserve Kleiner Schlammteich. Various plants grow in the glacial bog, and the 182 hectare area is home to a variety of species that are normally found at more northern latitudes.