Allegheny Islands Wilderness
Northwestern Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Islands Wilderness is, at just 372 acres, one of the country’s smallest wilderness areas. It’s nevertheless a fascinating and ecologically precious one. The Wilderness, established in 1984, is located on seven islands scattered along a 56-mile stretch of the Allegheny River, between the Buckaloons Recreation Area and the town of Tionesta. The islands of the Wilderness–Crull's, Thompson's, Baker, Courson, King, R. Thompson's, and No-Name—were formed by the alluvial action of the Allegheny. Built of sand, mud, and clay originating in the Allegheny Mountains, they owe their size, shape, and changeable character to the river’s restless patterns of deposition and erosion.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Size | 372 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 41.68° N, 79.39° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 5 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 12.7 miDrake Oil Well ↗National Historic Landmark
- 1 miIrvine United Presbyterian Church ↗Irvine, PA
- 1.2 miWest Hickory Bridge ↗West Hickory, PA
- 5.8 miHazeltine, A. J., House ↗Warren, PA
- 6.3 miStruthers Library Building ↗Warren, PA
- 6.3 miWarren Armory ↗Warren, PA
- 6.3 miWetmore House ↗Warren, PA
- 6.4 miWarren County Courthouse ↗Warren, PA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Pennsylvania
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Allegheny Islands Wilderness?
372 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Allegheny Islands Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Allegheny Islands Wilderness in?
Pennsylvania.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Allegheny Islands Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Allegheny Islands Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Allegheny Islands Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 41.680° N, 79.386° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Allegheny Islands Wilderness?
The National Register has 19 listings within 15 miles, including Drake Oil Well and Irvine United Presbyterian Church.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.