Hickory Creek Wilderness

Located in the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania.

The Hickory Creek Wilderness is a special area encompassing 8,663 acres, which was intended to provide an "area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain." Because of the small size of this Wilderness, the impact of humans is more noticeable.

The Hickory Creek Wilderness is located on the Sheffield Ranger District of Allegheny National Forest in Warren County, Pennsylvania. The gentle to moderate terrain is drained by East Hickory Creek and Middle Hickory Creek. Topography ranges from 1,273 feet where East Hickory Creek exits the wilderness to 1,900 feet on the plateau. There are no particularly steep slopes. Much of the area is heavily forested.

Parking is available at the picnic area within Hearts Content Recreation Area, 15 miles southwest of Warren, PA. Follow the Warren-Tidioute Road about 11 miles to its junction with the marked Township Road 61031 which leads to Hearts Content Recreation Area (four miles).

There is only one major designated hiking trail within the Wilderness boundary. Hickory Creek Trail is a loop of about 11.1 miles situated in the middle of the area. The Tanbark Trail does go through the eastern tip for about 1/4 mile. The Hickory Creek Trail is used by many backpackers and dayhikers. It is marked with faded yellow blazes.

The trails indicated in the Sierra Club book, "Allegheny National Forest Hiking Guide", listed as side loops, are not designated as formal hiking trails by the U.S. Forest Service nor are they maintained.

Fishing for small native brookies can be done in East and Middle Hickory Creeks. Wildlife in the Wilderness is typical of that found throughout the forest. Bear, deer, and turkey are common. You should see pileated woodpeckers, hear the "who cooks for you-all" plaintive hoots of barred owls at night, and be able to listen to the rustle of flying squirrels.

Northern hardwood is the predominant vegetation in the Hickory Creek Wilderness. It is characterized by upland oak and hickory stands giving way to beech, birch and hemlock in the wet valleys. Abundant shrubs, flowers, and mosses are also present. Middle Hickory Creek flows through meadows studded with bogs and beaver ponds. Large white pine are scattered in open areas.

Camping is permitted anywhere throughout the Hickory Creek Wilderness.

For more information contact: The Allegheny National Forest