Rothrock State Forest
Managed by Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
28,783 acres91 mi of trail
Rudy Ridge LoopStanding Stone TrailMid-State TrailOwl Gap Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: Wherring · CC BY-SA 3.0–Not graded
Outdoors in Jackson Township
More than half of Jackson Township’s land is conserved: 64%
64% of Jackson Township’s land is conserved, about 29,439 acres. The biggest trail networks: Rothrock State Forest (91 mi), Greenwood Furnace State Park (7.1 mi), Thickhead Mountain Wild Area (5.6 mi). 1,718 acres are parks and preserves, 2,072 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
64%
29,439 acres · of 72.4 sq mi of land
Trails
117 mi
1.6 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,718 ac
2,072 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
2%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
2,402 ft
Big Flat
Lakes & rivers
5
2 beaches · 1 boat launch
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Rothrock State Forest, with 91 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Greenwood Furnace State Park
Managed by Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks
415 acres7.1 mi of trail
Monsell TrailDogtown TrailViantown TrailTramway Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Thickhead Mountain Wild Area
Managed by Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
1,106 acres5.6 mi of trail
Long Mountain TrailGettis TrailMid-State TrailGreenwood Spur+1
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Whipple Dam State Park
Managed by Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks
250 acres3.1 mi of trail
Whipple Lake TrailForest Leaves Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Detweiler Run Natural Area
Managed by Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
391 acres1.6 mi of trail
Mid-State TrailDetweiler Trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Big Flat Laurel Natural Area
Managed by Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
152 acres1.5 mi of trail
Mid-State TrailKeith Spring Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Bear Meadows Natural Area
Managed by Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
127 acres1.4 mi of trail
Mid-State TrailSand Spring Path
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Alan Seeger Natural Area
Managed by Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
370 acres1.3 mi of trail
Alan Seeger LoopGreenwood Spur
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 9 parks & preserves
Rothrock State Forest28,783 acres · 91 mi of trail · Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
DirectionsGreenwood Furnace State Park415 acres · 7.1 mi of trail · Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks
DirectionsThickhead Mountain Wild Area1,106 acres · 5.6 mi of trail · Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
Whipple Dam State Park250 acres · 3.1 mi of trail · Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks
DirectionsDetweiler Run Natural Area391 acres · 1.6 mi of trail · Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
Big Flat Laurel Natural Area152 acres · 1.5 mi of trail · Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
DirectionsBear Meadows Natural Area127 acres · 1.4 mi of trail · Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
Alan Seeger Natural Area370 acres · 1.3 mi of trail · Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
DirectionsStone Valley Forest542 acres · 1 mi of trail · The Pennsylvania State University
DirectionsWho protects it
29,439 conserved acres
64% of Jackson Township’s land. Who manages Jackson Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State natural resources28,781 ac
State parks665 ac
Not recorded1,121 ac
State Resource Management Area · 27,740 acState Wilderness · 1,101 acState Conservation Area · 1,041 acState Park · 685 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rothrock State Forest State Resource Management Area | State natural resources | 26,639 | Open |
| Thickhead Wild Area State Wilderness | State natural resources | 1,101 | Open |
| Rothrock State Forest - Thickhead Wild Area State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 1,101 | Open |
| Greenwood Furnace State Park State Park | State parks | 422 | Open |
| Detweiler Run Natural Area State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 391 | Open |
| Alan Seeger Natural Area State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 370 | Open |
| Whipple Dam State Park State Park | State parks | 263 | Open |
| Big Flat Laurel Natural Area State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 152 | Open |
| Bear Meadows Natural Area State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 128 | Open |
Things to do
32 places to go in Jackson Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Jackson Township
2 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Swimming spots in Jackson Township
2 swimming spots without a name on the map.
Playgrounds in Jackson Township
2 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Jackson Township
1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Scenic views in Jackson Township
Bear Gap VistaIn Rothrock State Forest
DirectionsStone Valley VistaIn Rothrock State Forest
DirectionsPlus 7 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Jackson Township
Big Flat2,402 ft elevation · In Big Flat Laurel Natural Area
DirectionsBroad Mountain2,382 ft elevation · In Rothrock State Forest
DirectionsGrass Mountain2,352 ft elevation · In Thickhead Mountain Wild Area
DirectionsRudy Ridge2,103 ft elevation · In Rothrock State Forest
DirectionsSlate Ridge2,070 ft elevation · In Rothrock State Forest
DirectionsGreenlee Mountain2,031 ft elevation · In Rothrock State Forest
DirectionsSand Knob1,112 ft elevation · In Rothrock State Forest
DirectionsGarret Knob1,096 ft elevation
DirectionsPlus 2 peaks without a name on the map.
Picnic areas in Jackson Township
3 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Jackson Township
004 Bear Meadows RoadIn Rothrock State Forest · PA DCNR
DirectionsGreenwood Furnace CampFee · In Greenwood Furnace State Park · PA DCNR
DirectionsRothrock State Forest Campsite #3Fee · In Rothrock State Forest · PA DCNR
DirectionsTrails & water
25 named trails and 5 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 57.5 miHorses · 59.3 miUnpaved · 92.0 mi
Mid-State Trail7.2 mi
Rudy Ridge Loop5.9 mi
Standing Stone Trail4.7 mi
Long Mountain Trail3.0 mi
Tramway Trail2.9 mi
Owl Gap Trail2.8 mi
Forest Leaves Trail2.8 mi
Greenwood Spur Standing Stone Trail2.8 mi
Wallace Trail2.4 mi
Spencer Trail2.3 mi
15 more trails
Greenwood Spur
2.3 miDutch Alvin Trail
2.2 miPigpile Trail
2.0 miRoss Trail
2.0 miWhipple Lake Trail
2.0 miUp and Over Trail
1.7 miSassafras Lower Trail
1.6 miCroyle Run Trail
1.6 miDixon Trail
1.4 miColon Fall Line Trail
1.4 miSand Knob Trail
1.4 miTelephone Trail
1.4 miSassafras Trail
1.3 miOld Lewistown Pike
1.3 mi2026 Trail E - waiting bridge
1.2 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
0.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Rudy Ridge LoopBike route
5.9 miCourts & fields
2Beach volleyball
1Equestrian
1Softball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →3 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 4 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
When to get out
The best walking months in Jackson Township: April to August
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.6 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.4 | 15.1 | 14.8 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.8 | 9.3 |
| High (°F) | 35 | 39 | 48 | 61 | 71 | 79 | 83 | 81 | 74 | 63 | 50 | 40 |
| Rain (in) | 2.9 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3.2 |
February is the driest month (2.4 in) and July the warmest (highs of 83 °F). 4.2 inches fall in September, the wettest month. The climate in Jackson Township →
Next door
Jackson Township and its neighbors
Jackson Township has the most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Jackson Township117 miHarris Township84 miFerguson Township74 miBarree Township47 miBrown Township39 miMiller Township8.7 miMenno Township2.2 miUnion Township2.1 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Brown Township | 31% | 1.2 | 6 | 21% | B |
| Union Township | 11% | 0.1 | 6 | 33% | C+ |
| Menno Township | 5% | 0.1 | 3 | 11% | C− |
| Barree Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Harris Township | 51% | 2.7 | 186 | 83% | A+ |
| Miller Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Ferguson Township | 32% | 1.6 | 36 | 94% | A+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Jackson Township
Where can I hike in Jackson Township?
The longest trail networks: Rothrock State Forest, 91 miles; Greenwood Furnace State Park, 7.1 miles; Thickhead Mountain Wild Area, 5.6 miles; Whipple Dam State Park, 3.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Jackson Township’s trails?
Rothrock State Forest and Greenwood Furnace State Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Jackson Township?
106,950 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Jackson Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 29,593 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Jackson Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →