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Hike Bear Meadows Natural Area

By Michael Hermann; Lizard Tracks, Centre Daily Times, August 1998

Grab your camera and bring a light lunch as we explore Bear Meadows Natural Area. Several roads and trails pass through this picturesque section of Rothrock State Forest. There is a 3.5 mile walking trail around the Natural Area featuring an easily accessible observation deck.

Designated Natural Areas are parcels of land that have been set aside to preserve certain unique characteristics. These characteristics are representative of ecological or scientific concerns.

Bear Meadows encompasses 890 acres and was designated a Natural Area in 1966. Virtually every outdoor guide book written on Pennsylvania has a section about it. The attraction is the bog. The term "bog" doesn't sound very attractive but this one is special.
The bog is unique for several reasons. In geologic terms it is a relict community that contains Pleistocene fauna. Biogeographically it is a high altitude boreal sphagnum bog that was not glaciated. Unlike glaciated bogs found in Canada, Bear Meadows was protected by the topography of the Allegheny Plateau. At 1800 feet above sea level Bear Meadows is higher than comparable bogs in North America. The glacier stopped approximately 60 miles northeast, and although the bog avoided glaciation, it did receive the weather conditions of a glaciated region: cold and wet.

Plants have prospered in this bog for over 10,000 years and this has become an important research focus. Analysis of core samples from the bog has provided descriptors of previous climates. The bog is fed by several acidic springs which cause a low pH level resulting in no fish life. A base layer of peat, up to eight feet thick, gives the water a brownish tint. As the water flows along Sinking Creek the pH level rises and fish can be found downstream.

Bear Meadows is easily accessible by automobile. From the parking lot you can see an observation deck a few minutes away. A well traveled footpath will lead you there. A note about Natural Areas: these are closed to all mechanical travel including bicycles. Please respect this foot path only area and leave your bikes at the gate.

From the observation deck you look across the large bog that stretches over a mile. This place is filled with highbush blueberries in August. It's called Bear Meadows for a reason and you might catch a glimpse of black bear. More common are humans wading in the bog with buckets strapped around their necks. They are gathering food the old fashioned way and having a lot fun doing it.
You might have the luck to run into Bob Butler. This 80-something youngster can often be found up to his chest in search of rare plants. He's easy to identify by his shock of white hair and broad smile. Ask him anything about Bear Meadows and he'll give you an earful. Bob knows everything about the plants and animals of the bog and he's eager to share his knowledge.

You can continue hiking on the trail around the bog. You'll walk through huge rhododendron and stands of black spruce, maple, hemlock and fir. Over a dozen species of birds choose to nest here. Hiking boots are recommended as the trail may be wet and rocky. The beaver activity downstream has a pronounced effect on this.

You'll meet part of the Gettis Trail (blazed in blue) for a section. Follow the unmarked trail always staying right. Remember to orient yourself with the bog: it should remain on your right and the trail is generally flat. If you find yourself hiking up any steep inclines you are headed for the Mid-State Trail by mistake.

Eventually you'll meet North Bear Meadows Road. In a few hundred yards you will see the Jean Aron Path on your right. Follow this wonderful path through the thick hemlock forest back to the parking lot. Jean is the author of The Short Hiker, an excellent local resource available at area bookstores.

For a birds eye perspective of the bog, drive (or walk, or pedal) up North Bear Meadows Road and you'll discover an overlook 400 feet above the parking area. The view is spectacular.

State College is surrounded by vast amounts of public use lands which offer limitless adventure and recreation. Many local maps and guidebooks can open these opportunities for you. Please remember your actions affect all user groups. Pick up the trash others leave behind and practice random acts of kindness. The forest is for everyone to enjoy in their own way. Be smart, be safe and leave no trace.

Directions: Rt. 322 East to Tussey Mountain Ski Area. Continue on Bear Meadows Road for three miles and park at the stone monument on the right.

Michael Hermann is the founder of Purple Lizard Maps and has been exploring Centre County since 1979.