State Game Lands 172
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
State Game Lands 172, located in Pennsylvania, offers visitors a diverse range of recreational activities, scenic views, and an abundance of wildlife.
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Summary
With its unique features and stunning landscapes, it attracts nature enthusiasts, hunters, hikers, and photographers. Here is a summary of this state game lands, including reasons to visit, points of interest, interesting facts, and the best time of year to explore.
Reasons to Visit:
1. Rich Wildlife: State Game Lands 172 is home to a variety of wildlife species, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear, rabbits, squirrels, and numerous bird species. Wildlife enthusiasts will have great opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife photography.
2. Hunting: The game lands provide hunting opportunities for various species, including deer, turkey, and small game. Hunters can enjoy the vast hunting areas and excellent game populations.
3. Scenic Beauty: The lands feature diverse landscapes, including dense forests, rolling hills, meadows, and picturesque streams. Visitors can enjoy stunning views and peaceful surroundings.
4. Hiking and Nature Trails: There are several hiking trails available throughout the game lands that offer beautiful scenery and a chance to explore the area's natural habitats.
Points of Interest:
1. Swopes Valley Trail: This trail winds through mixed hardwood forests, providing scenic views and opportunities for wildlife sightings.
2. Rattling Run Trail: This trail offers a pleasant hike alongside Rattling Run, a beautiful stream that meanders through the game lands.
3. Scenic Overlooks: State Game Lands 172 offers several scenic overlooks, where visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes.
Interesting Facts:
1. State Game Lands 172 spans over 1,400 acres in Centre and Clearfield counties, making it a significant natural area.
2. The lands were acquired by the Pennsylvania Game Commission to provide wildlife habitat, protect biodiversity, and offer recreational opportunities to the public.
3. The game lands are part of a larger system of state-owned properties that serve as protected areas for wildlife and nature conservation.
Best Time to Visit:
The ideal time to visit State Game Lands 172 depends on personal preferences and activities. Wildlife enthusiasts and hunters may prefer the fall season when many species are active, including deer during the rut and migratory birds passing through. Spring and summer offer pleasant weather for hiking and exploring the trails, with opportunities to witness blooming wildflowers and vibrant foliage.
It is crucial to verify this information by consulting multiple independent sources, such as official websites, local tourism boards, and Pennsylvania Game Commission publications, to ensure accuracy and current updates.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
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