🌤 Weather at Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28–71 °F | 56–84 °F | 32–75 °F | 20–42 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Dehart Dam, 6 mi away, elevation 537 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area is an 836-acre forest straddling Peters Mountain in Dauphin County, about 12 miles north of Harrisburg in a straight line. It was the first conservation area in Pennsylvania’s Bureau of State Parks.
Large hardwood trees dominate the land. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) describes it as a large block of nearly unbroken forest and a haven for forest warblers and other deep-woods animals. The main draw is a 7.8-mile trail system that connects to the Appalachian Trail on the northern slope of the mountain. Development is minimal by design, and the area currently has no reservable facilities.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Peters Mountain, Dauphin County, PA |
| Address | 1609 Back Road, Halifax, PA 17032 |
| Size | 836 acres (DCNR recreational guide; the DCNR web page says 803) |
| Entry Fee | Free entry, as at all Pennsylvania state parks. As of November 2026. |
| Hours | Daily, sunrise to sunset; day use areas close at dusk. |
| Coordinates | 40.4425, -76.8592 |
| Facilities | Unpaved parking, non-flush restrooms, seasonal potable water, information kiosk and education pavilion |
| Contact | 717-865-6470, managed through the Memorial Lake State Park office |
Getting There
From PA 322/22, take PA 225 north for 4.5 miles. Just before the village of Matamoras, turn right on Camp Hebron Road and follow it for 4.5 miles. The conservation area is on the right.
From Tree Farm to Conservation Area
Joseph E. Ibberson graduated from Yale in 1948 and joined the state Bureau of Forestry, where he developed the first management plans for Pennsylvania’s 2 million acres of state forest land. In 1962 he began buying land on Peters Mountain for a tree farm where he could practice different forms of forest management. He donated it to the commonwealth on December 9, 1998, and another 450 acres were added after his death in 2011.
This forest has a long industrial past, and it is not old-growth. The Victoria Iron Furnace ran on the south side of Peters Mountain from 1830 to 1857, and the land was repeatedly logged to make charcoal for it. Baker’s Sawmill, the last steam sawmill in Dauphin County, stood within today’s boundaries. A portion of the old Victoria Trail still passes through the southeastern corner and meets the Appalachian Trail.
People lived around this ridge long before the furnace. DCNR dates human habitation of the land to more than 11,000 years ago, and the nearby Shoop Site is one of the largest and oldest Paleo-Indian sites in eastern North America. It is on private land and has no public access. The mountain takes its name from Peter Allen, who built a stone house on its south side in 1726.
What a Conservation Area Means Here
DCNR uses this designation for donated land managed for open space, resource conservation, low-density outdoor recreation and environmental education. Expect few improvements and no through roads. Ibberson’s deed adds a restrictive covenant: only passive recreation is allowed, and horseback riding, biking and motorized equipment are prohibited, except for official use and accommodations for people with disabilities. Generally only dead and downed trees may be harvested, apart from forest demonstration areas.
Things to Do
DCNR lists hiking, hunting, wildlife watching and winter recreation here. Facilities are minimal, so bring what you need for the day.
Hiking
The recreational guide counts 7.8 miles of hiking. The trails run through forest, past streams and over Peters Mountain, and a hike down means a climb back up, so combine trails to avoid a steep return. The main entrance on Back Road leads to an unpaved parking lot, and Evergreen Trail starts next to it and the restrooms.
| Trail | Details |
|---|---|
| Evergreen Trail | 1 mile, easiest, loop, green blazes |
| Old Sawmill Trail | 0.8 mile, easiest, loop, yellow blazes |
| Turkey Foot Trail | 0.6 mile, easiest, connector, purple blazes |
| Rock Trail | 0.6 mile, more difficult, loop, orange blazes |
| Victoria Trail | 2.3 miles, more difficult, out-and-back, blue blazes |
| Appalachian Trail | 0.6 mile in the area, more difficult, point-to-point, white blazes |
| Whitetail Trail | 2 miles, most difficult, connector, red blazes |
Whitetail Trail climbs Peters Mountain on switchbacks and stone stairs, and a stone bench on the north side looks over Powells Valley. Victoria Trail crosses the mountain between the Education Pavilion and PA 325. Both trails cross the Appalachian Trail. Old Sawmill Trail circles the site of Baker’s Sawmill and loops near the pond.
Hunting
About 780 acres are open to hunting, trapping and dog training during established seasons. The DCNR map marks the land around the main entrance and parking lot and an area near the pond as no-hunting zones, so check it before you go. DCNR names black bear, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, eastern cottontail and squirrels as common game. Hunting woodchucks is prohibited, and dog training is allowed only from the day after Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas. DCNR and Pennsylvania Game Commission rules apply, and other visitors use the area during hunting seasons.
Winter and Wildlife
Cross-country skiing is permitted on all trails, and the guide recommends Evergreen and Old Sawmill trails for it. Birders should listen for forest warblers in the unbroken woods. The guide also points to Evergreen and Whitetail trails for wildlife watching.
Know Before You Go
Pets must be on a leash, caged or crated and attended at all times. Alcohol is prohibited. There are no trash or recycling facilities, so take everything home with you. DCNR runs programs here from April through October. Ask the Memorial Lake State Park office or check the DCNR events calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area a state park?
It is a conservation area within Pennsylvania’s Bureau of State Parks, and DCNR lists it with the state parks. It has fewer facilities than a typical park and is managed through the Memorial Lake State Park office.
Can you bike or ride horses at Ibberson Conservation Area?
No. The restrictive covenant on the donated land prohibits biking, horseback riding and motorized equipment, except for official use and accommodations for people with disabilities.
Does the area connect to the Appalachian Trail?
Yes. DCNR says its trail system connects to the Appalachian Trail on the northern slope of Peters Mountain.
Is the forest at Ibberson old-growth?
No. DCNR’s history says the land was repeatedly logged for the Victoria Iron Furnace in the 1800s, and Ibberson later managed it as a tree farm. Large hardwood trees dominate it today.
How many miles of trails are at Ibberson Conservation Area?
DCNR’s recreational guide counts 7.8 miles of hiking, including a 0.6-mile section of the Appalachian Trail, and rates the trails from easiest to most difficult.
Is hunting allowed at Ibberson Conservation Area?
Yes. About 780 acres are open to hunting, trapping and dog training during established seasons, under DCNR and Pennsylvania Game Commission rules. Hunting woodchucks is prohibited.
Nearby Attractions
Matamoras and Halifax are the closest towns, with shops and places to eat. Harrisburg has the State Capitol, the State Museum of Pennsylvania and the National Civil War Museum. DCNR also points to two other nearby units: Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area, a 1,025-acre forest on Blue Mountain, and Little Buffalo State Park.
Plan Your Visit to Ibberson Conservation Area
Maps, the recreational guide and upcoming events are on the official DCNR page.
Sources: DCNR park page, park history and recreational guide, checked November 2026.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are allowed in day-use areas of Pennsylvania state parks and in designated campground sites, but must be physically controlled, attended at all times and leashed, caged or crated.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Leash required at all times; no universal maximum length — inquire at the park office (electronic fences/shock collars not accepted as control)
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are prohibited in swimming areas and designated beaches
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Dogs allowed in a limited number of designated cabins, cottages and yurts (pilot program); maximum two dogs per unit; dogs must be house-trained and current on rabies vaccination
- Pet fees statewide rule
- No standard statewide pet fee; fees may be assessed for damage in dog-friendly lodging
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Maximum two non-caged pets per campsite; pets prohibited in buildings; pet food may not be left outside camping units
Are dogs allowed at Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area?
Pets are allowed in day-use areas of Pennsylvania state parks and in designated campground sites, but must be physically controlled, attended at all times and leashed, caged or crated. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via pa.gov. More: Pennsylvania state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Map
Plan your gear for Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
