Bark Cabin Natural Area - Tiadaghton State Forest

The Bark Cabin Natural Area encompasses 82 acres in the eastern section of the Tiadaghton State Forest, enclosed by state forest, private land, and a natural gas right-of-way. The Bark Cabin Natural Area was established to protect a small grove of old growth hemlocks, mostly found within a 7-acre area within the Natural Area.

The predominant forest composition has a coniferous component; hemlock (white pine) forest, dry hemlock (white pine)-oak forest, hemlock (white pine) northern hardwood forest, and hemlock (white pine) -red oak mixed hardwood forest account for 20 of the 32 completed plots.

Bark Cabin’s shape is generally three-sided with rolling terrain and an increasingly deeper drainage from its south to east boundary. The west side is bordered by private land. Between the private land border and the Mid-State Trail resides the small tract of old growth hemlocks.

To the north is a neighboring right-of-way clearing for natural gas line that also acts as a boundary. The central part of the natural area is large hardwood timber with a scattered hemlock/white pine understory.

The age of the stand is approximately 150 years old, with some hemlock trees approximately 210 years of age.