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​Catawissa Recreation Area in Weiser State Forest

The 5,541-acre Catawissa Recreation Area in Weiser State Forest in Schuylkill and Luzerne counties is being developed for motorized recreation. It will be the first in the Pennsylvania state forest system.

The Catawissa Recreation Area Map (PDF) shows a detailed view of the area.

The tract is currently open to hiking, biking, and hunting. Regular state forest rules and regulations apply.

Master Planning Process for Catawissa

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is working with the Larson Design Group and The Markosky Engineering Group to develop a master plan for the recreation area.

Work on the master plan is expected to conclude in the fall of 2023.

Following the completion of the master plan, the department will be seeking a motorized recreation vendor to manage motorized use of the area’s trail network. Interested parties should contact Weiser State Forest.

The area is closed to motorized use until site development and construction are finished and a vendor has been named.

It is anticipated the plan will be implemented in phases.

DCNR will notify the public of new developments regarding progress with the recreation area as they are available.

History of the Catawissa Recreation Area

The area was the former site of the Paragon Adventure Park, a private business that offered off-road motorized recreation.

Its history includes considerable anthracite coal mining activity, whose legacy impacts are observable today.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources intends to implement ecological restoration and remediation where necessary, focusing efforts on Catawissa Creek, which runs through the property.

Despite human impacts to the area, much of the tract remains a productive forest that contains valuable streams, headwaters, and forest types.

The department’s Bureau of Forestry intends to protect these areas in a manner consistent with its forest conservation mission, while offering an exciting new opportunity for motorized recreation enthusiasts.