Quehanna Wild Area Area
Wilderness area of forests, wetlands, and trails
Large forested plateau in central Pennsylvania with trails, streams and backcountry camping; outdoors people hike, hunt and paddle small rivers.
Quehanna Wild Area at a Glance#
Address: Quehanna Wild Area, Moshannon State Forest / Elk State Forest, Pennsylvania, USA
Website: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateForests/FindAForest/Moshannon/Pages/default.aspx
Hours: Open 24 hours
Admission: Free (no entrance fee)
How to Get to Quehanna Wild Area#
Quehanna Wild Area sprawls across parts of Cameron, Clearfield, Elk and Jefferson counties. The most commonly used trailheads are reached from state routes that thread out of DuBois or Clearfield. From DuBois, take PA‑255 or local roads into the Moshannon State Forest, then follow signed forest roads to trailhead parking areas (many turnoffs are gravel).
Expect minimal cell service; plan travel around daylight and have a printed topo or offline map. The nearest larger towns with visitor services are DuBois (southwest) and St. Marys (northeast).
Tips for Visiting Quehanna Wild Area#
- Download an up-to-date topographic map of Moshannon/Quehanna - cell signal is spotty and trails fork often.
- Be aware of hunting seasons (fall/winter); wear blaze orange at those times and check Pennsylvania Game Commission dates.
- Expect boggy stretches and sandy roads; gaiters or waterproof boots are a sensible choice.
- The Quehanna Trail is long and remote - if planning an overnight, register intentions with a local ranger or leave a plan with someone in town.
- Many side roads are used by ATVs; keep to marked hiking trails for the quietest stretches.
Best Time to Visit Quehanna Wild Area#
Best visited spring through autumn for access and comfort; winter visits are possible but expect deep snow and limited services.
Weather & Climate near Quehanna Wild Area#
Quehanna Wild Area's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -10°C to 26°C. Abundant rainfall (1081 mm/year), wettest in June.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -10° - -1° | -11° | 67 mm | - | - | 4.2 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -9° - 1° | -9° | 68 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -5° - 7° | -3° | 86 mm | - | - | 4.2 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 1° - 13° | 4° | 83 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 6° - 20° | 13° | 104 mm | - | - | 3.5 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 11° - 24° | 17° | 121 mm | - | - | 3.1 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 13° - 26° | 20° | 107 mm | - | - | 2.8 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 13° - 25° | 19° | 96 mm | - | - | 2.6 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 9° - 21° | 15° | 97 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 3° - 15° | 7° | 80 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | -1° - 8° | 0° | 92 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -7° - 2° | -7° | 80 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
