Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Giant Trees — 87-acre old-growth forest preserve protecting some of the LARGEST trees in Pennsylvania — white pines over 150 feet tall and 200+ years old
Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area protects 87 acres of magnificent old-growth forest near Harrisburg — featuring some of the largest trees remaining in Pennsylvania! The preserve’s towering white pines exceed 150 feet in height and 200+ years of age — remnants of the vast forests that once covered all of Pennsylvania. By 1920, nearly every acre of Pennsylvania’s original 28 million acres of forest had been logged at least once — making surviving old-growth stands like Boyd Big Tree exceptionally rare. Pennsylvania’s name means “Penn’s Woods” (named by William Penn in 1681).
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Cumberland County, PA |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Trees | 150ft white pines — 200+ years! |
| History | “Penn’s Woods” — 28M acres logged by 1920! |
About Boyd Big Tree
Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area in Cumberland County protects 1,007 acres of exceptional old-growth and mature forest along the Yellow Breeches Creek — one of Pennsylvania’s finest limestone spring creeks for trout fishing. The preserve harbors some of the largest trees in the Cumberland Valley, with tulip poplars and white oaks exceeding 100 feet in height. The Yellow Breeches is a limestone-fed stream that stays cold year-round.
Things to Do
Fly fishing on the Yellow Breeches Creek (legendary trout water — catch-and-release sections), hiking through old-growth forest, wildlife observation, photography of massive trees, and nature study in one of central Pennsylvania’s most pristine forests.
Insider Tips
Old-growth giant: Boyd Big Tree Preserve protects one of the finest old-growth white pine and hemlock forests in Pennsylvania — trees reaching 125+ feet tall and 300+ years old. Pro tip: Pennsylvania was once 90% forested with trees like these — by 1920, virtually all old-growth had been logged. Boyd is a rare survivor. Cathedral-like: The massive trees create a cathedral-like canopy — standing among them is humbling.
Best Time to Visit
Year-round: Old-growth is impressive in all seasons. Spring: Wildflowers beneath the canopy. Summer: Cool shade under giant trees. Winter: Snow on massive branches — breathtaking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much old-growth is left in Pennsylvania?
Less than 1% of Pennsylvania’s original forest is old-growth — the state was nearly completely logged between 1850 and 1920. Pennsylvania was the nation’s largest lumber producer in the 1800s. Old-growth remnants like Boyd survive because they were too remote or on land held by conservation-minded owners. These fragments preserve a glimpse of the forest that covered the entire state.
