Cumberland State Forest

Sandwiched between SR 45 and the Cumberland/Buckingham County border, this woodland is rich in diverse habitats interconnected by a variety of trails. For those seeking a shorter, more accessible trail, the Coffey Trail is 3.2 miles long and and passes through varied terrain, including travel along Bear Creek and Arrowhead Lake. It is for foot travel only – no bikes or horses.

Additional trail options include the Cumberland Multi-Use Trail and Willis River Trail, which adjoin with the extensive trail system at Bear Creek Lake State Park. The Cumberland Multi-Use Trail is a 14-mile loop, marked by blue blazes, that weaves through the State Forest and Bear Creek Lake State Park. Trailheads are located at the Cumberland Forestry Center and Bear Creek Lake State Park. The Willis River Hiking Trail is a 16-mile loop, marked by white blazes, that follows the Willis River that borders the Forest.

While traveling through the forest, listen for the far-carrying calls of pileated woodpeckers or play hide-and-seek with the hyperactive gray squirrels that seem to hide behind every pine tree as you traverse oak-hickory forests, stands of Loblolly Pine, and harvested areas. Keep an eye on the tree lines where white-tailed deer and wild turkeys may be found quietly watching from just inside their cover. A careful ear will hear the soft rustling of brown thrashers or perhaps eastern box turtles in the leaf litter.

Great blue herons and a variety of waterfowl decorate the numerous ponds throughout the forest. Watch as pied-billed grebes surface from time to time joined by osprey that may stop by in search of a snack. Check each patch of wildflowers for red-spotted purples and black swallowtails along with numerous other butterflies.