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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

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

Visitors to Woodbourne are drawn to its ancient trees—a mix of white pine, hemlocks, ash, maples, oaks and other hardwoods. These venerable giants once blanketed the region before European settlement. The preserve also boasts open fields, wildflower meadows, winding creeks, mossy bogs and historic stone walls, creating a captivating scene that inspires artists from far and wide.

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, this property marked The Nature Conservancy’s first preserve in the state. Over the years, TNC expanded the original 500-acre contribution through land acquisitions and the continued generosity of previous owners. Our commitment remains steadfast as we inspire and educate others about this extraordinary landscape.

In 2006, the Keystone Trails Association restored existing trails and created new ones to mark the preserve’s 50th anniversary. Explore Woodbourne—a sanctuary where nature, partnerships and history thrive.

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.

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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