Tuscarora State Forest
Managed by Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
9,576 acres13.3 mi of trail
Tuscarora TrailJulia Neidigh TrailPhoenix TrailSheriff Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Photo: Smallbones · Public domain–Not graded
Outdoors in Jackson Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Jackson Township
The biggest trail networks: Tuscarora State Forest (13.3 mi), Frank E. Masland, Jr. Natural Area (1.2 mi). 46% of Jackson Township’s land is conserved, about 10,817 acres. 399 acres are parks and preserves, 748 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
46%
10,817 acres · of 37.2 sq mi of land
Trails
16 mi
0.4 per sq mi of land
Park land
399 ac
748 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
2%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
2,162 ft
Big Knob
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 Tuscarora State Forest, with 13.3 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Frank E. Masland, Jr. Natural Area
Managed by Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
389 acres1.2 mi of trail
Sheriff TrailTurbett Trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Who protects it
10,817 conserved acres
46% 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 resources9,577 ac
County3,784 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits645 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)462 ac
Other or Unknown Local Government1 ac
State Resource Management Area · 9,186 acAgricultural Easement · 4,246 acForest Stewardship Easement · 484 acState Conservation Area · 391 acConservation Easement · 161 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 1,240 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscarora State Forest State Resource Management Area | State natural resources | 9,186 | Open |
| Frank E. Masland Natural Area State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 391 | Open |
| Blain Area Park Local Park | Other or Unknown Local Government | 1 | Open |
Things to do
6 places to go in Jackson Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Jackson Township
1 playground without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Peaks in Jackson Township
Big Knob2,162 ft elevation · In Tuscarora State Forest
DirectionsConococheague Mountain2,103 ft elevation · In Tuscarora State Forest
DirectionsBowers Mountain2,100 ft elevation · In Tuscarora State Forest
DirectionsLittle Knob1,581 ft elevation · In Tuscarora State Forest
DirectionsPicnic areas in Jackson Township
Blain Picnic Grounds
DirectionsTrails & water
9 named trails
Named trails
Open to bikes · 4.5 miHorses · 6.6 miUnpaved · 7.2 mi
Tuscarora Trail3.7 mi
Sheriff Trail1.4 mi
Julia Neidigh Trail1.1 mi
Phoenix Trail1.0 mi
Phoenix Connector trail0.7 mi
Bill Miller Trail0.6 mi
Turbett Trail0.4 mi
Bull Run Trail?0.4 mi
Chimney Rocks Trail0.2 mi
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 2 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
When to get out
The best walking months in Jackson Township: April, May, July and 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 | 15.0 | 14.8 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.9 | 9.3 |
| High (°F) | 37 | 41 | 50 | 63 | 72 | 81 | 85 | 83 | 76 | 64 | 52 | 41 |
| Rain (in) | 2.9 | 2.6 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 3.4 |
February is the driest month (2.6 in) and July the warmest (highs of 85 °F). 4.4 inches fall in September, the wettest month. The climate in Jackson Township →
Next door
Jackson Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Toboyne Township81 miTuscarora Township18 miLower Mifflin Township16 miJackson Township16 miNortheast Madison Township5.8 miSouthwest Madison Township2.3 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 | ||||
| Lower Mifflin Township | 25% | 0.7 | 140 | 2% | B+ |
| Tuscarora Township | 21% | 0.4 | under 1 | under 1% | C |
| Northeast Madison Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Toboyne Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Southwest Madison Township | 22% | 0.1 | under 1 | under 1% | C− |
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: Tuscarora State Forest, 13.3 miles; Frank E. Natural Area, 1.2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Jackson Township’s trails?
Tuscarora State Forest and Frank E. Natural Area don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Jackson Township?
88,004 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Jackson Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 9,640 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 →