Roaring Run Natural Area is a 3,582-acre (1,450 ha) protected area in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of Forbes State Forest.[1][2]
The Natural Area was established in 1975 to protect the watershed of Roaring Run nearly in its entirety. It is the largest protected area within a state forest in western Pennsylvania,[3] and was originally donated to the state after having been acquired by Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.[2]
Within the Natural Area's boundaries, Roaring Run descends more than 1,200 feet down the west side of Laurel Hill,[1] and foresters have documented more than 50 of the 120 tree species that occur naturally in Pennsylvania.[2] The area can be explored via an extensive network of hiking trails,[2] and the long-distance Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail passes through a corner of the area.[4]
