Advisories for Sproul State Forest

Stay Alert for ATVs on Roads

Sproul State Forest participates in the ATV Pilot program, which includes some PennDOT and township roads in addition to legal opportunities on state forest trails and roads.

Motorists are advised to stay alert for ATVs, crossings, and signage.

Please see the 2023 ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot map to view the pilot route.

Dust Advisory for ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot

Roads are exceptionally dusty due to extremely dry conditions. To help minimize this issue, please consider these actions:

Ride in small groups to keep dust down.
If you are part of a large group, please consider postponing your ride until a later date.
Opt to ride only the state forest trail system.

The Regional ATV Connector Pilot is a partnership between local municipalities, PennDOT, and DCNR to make long distance riding opportunities available.

It takes all of these partners to make these connections possible, so reducing impacts during these extreme conditions is very important to the long-term sustainability of the program.

Whiskey Springs ATV Trail Closure

The Whiskey Springs Trail System is closed for the Winter 2023 riding season and will reopen on Friday, May 26, 2023.

Work on the reclamation project for the abandoned strip mines south of Area 36 is expected to be completed this spring.

Please contact the Sproul District Office with questions about the closure or the reclamation project.

Bloody Skillet ATV Trail

The summer riding season starts on Friday, May 29, 2023.

Regular maintenance work is scheduled for this trail system during the field season.

Areas Closed to Firewood Cutting

The following roads and areas on Sproul State Forest will be closed to firewood cutting from Sunday, May 14, 2023, through Thursday, August 31, 2023, due to summer bat habitat restrictions:

North Side:

Carrier
Oak Ridge
Graham
Kingston
Rattlesnake
East Ferney
Left Hand Branch Sugar Camp
Cattaraugus
Crowley
Onion Run
Rock Run
Cole Run
Cooks Run

South Side:

Bakers Run
Revelton
Peacock
Sand Spring
Temp Smith
DeHaas
Eddy Ridge
State Line
Panther
Kato-Orviston
Marsh Creek Trail
Clubhouse
Red Buck/Hall Road
McCloskey Trail

Whiskey Springs-Bloody Skillet Connectivity Study

A study to determine the feasibility of connecting the Whiskey Springs and Bloody Skillet ATV trail systems is complete.

Read the Whiskey Springs-Bloody Skillet Connectivity Study Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) to learn more.

Don’t Move Firewood

To help protect the forest from invasive insects that can kill trees and devastate the ecosystem, please do not transport firewood over long distances.

Firewood can harbor insects such as emerald ash borer. Cut or purchase your firewood where you intend to burn it.