A mountain, covered in green trees, emerges from a river.
Cove Mountain Cove Mountain emerges from the Susquehanna River. © Shawn Hickey/The Nature Conservancy

Places We Protect | The Nature Conservancy

Cove Mountain Preserve

Pennsylvania

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Cove Mountain is The Nature Conservancy’s first preserve in central Pennsylvania along the state’s Kittatinny Ridge.

In 2017, The Nature Conservancy acquired the property comprising its Cove Mountain Preserve, located just outside of Harrisburg, with a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant and funds raised from generous donors. TNC used the funds to permanently protect land along part of the Kittatinny Ridge (also known as Blue Mountain or First Mountain). Long recognized as one of the Commonwealth’s most treasured landscapes, the Kittatinny’s forested ridgetops serve as one of the most important wildlife corridors within the northeastern U.S.—stretching from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the south and the Catskill Mountains to the north. TNC is managing the Cove Mountain Preserve to support native forest and wildlife, including migrating raptors and songbirds. 

Threats

Although Central Pennsylvania boasts plentiful natural areas, these places—especially along our ridgetops—remain relatively unprotected. As development extends outward from Harrisburg, nearby mountain slopes are faced with increased conversion pressure. Other threats include over browsing by deer, non-native invasive plants and pests, and unsustainable logging.

Milestones

Cove Mountain represents TNC’s first nature preserve in Central Pennsylvania along the state’s Kittatinny Ridge. In addition to protecting and connecting critical wildlife habitat, it also showcases efforts by the Kittatinny Ridge Coalition to safeguard the surrounding landscape. The Conservancy is also partnering with a local church to provide parking, picnic and outdoor classroom areas for visitors seeking to spend time outdoors connecting with nature.

In addition to its location along the Kittatinny Ridge, Cove Mountain falls within the Susquehanna Water Gaps, one of 28 National Natural Landmarks in Pennsylvania recognized by National Park Service, and is part of the Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area, the Middle Susquehanna River Water Trail and the Susquehanna Birding and Wildlife Trail. It has also been identified as a conservation priority by the Perry County Greenway Plan.

The preserve is open for public recreation via a series of restored former logging roads that have been transformed into two miles of hiking trails leading to scenic views of the Susquehanna River, surrounding ridges and the historic Rockville Bridge—a railroad bridge built in 1902 and the longest of its kind in the world. The property is also open to public hunting through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Public Access Cooperator Program through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Public Access Cooperator Program.

 View a trail map.

A mountain covered in green trees emerges from a river.
Cove Mountain Preserve
Cove Mountain is The Nature Conservancy’s first preserve in central Pennsylvania along the state’s Kittatinny Ridge.
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Cove Mountain The Nature Conservancy's Pennsylvania staff and partners speak out about why it is so important to protect this nature preserve located along the Kittatinny Ridge.
An orange and black Baltimore Oriole hides in a tree.
Baltimore Oriole A Baltimore Oriole rests in a tree at the Cove Mountain Preserve. © Shawn Hickey/The Nature Conservancy
A rising sun sheds morning light across a calm river.
Cove Mountain Morning light shines on Cove Mountain during autumn. © Shawn Hickey/The Nature Conservancy
A deer perks its ears as it turns to look around.
Deer A deer turns around and looks into the nature cam. © The Nature Conservancy
A butterfly delicate black and gold wings.
Eastern Tiger Butterfly An eastern tiger butterfly at the Cove Mountain Preserve. © Shawn Hickey/The Nature Conservancy
A mist rolls across the Susquehanna River.
Kittatinny Ridge A view of Sherman's Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River located in Perry County, from the Hawk Rock overlook in Duncannon, Pennsylvania. © Eric Krukowski
A single feather adorns a bin full of paw paw fruit.
Paw Paw Fruit Bin of paw paw fruit collected at the Cove Mountain Preserve. © Trish Newdeck
A green ribbon cut with scissors by partners.
Cove Mountain Ribbon Conservation partners officially open the Cove Mountain Preserve. © Noah M. Kaplaniak
Two TNC staff members stand under a tent.
Cove Mountain Welcome Nature Conservancy staff welcomes visitors to the Cove Mountain Preserve. © George C. Gress/The Nature Conservancy
Staff members set up an interactive table.
Water Quality Demonstration A member of staff holds a water quality demonstration. © George C. Gress/The Nature Conservancy
A collection of feathers, leaves, moss and other treasures.
Raptor Mosaic A raptor-shaped mosaic made from Cove Mountain treasures. © Rachel Ralls/The Nature Conservancy
Trees shade a leafy trail leading through the Cove Mountain Preserve.
Cove Mountain Trail Hiking trail at the Cove Mountain Preserve. © Shawn Hickey/The Nature Conservancy
Trees frame a view of a bridge stretching across the Susquehanna.
Cove Mountain View View of the Susquehanna River from the Cove Mountain Preserve. © Noah M. Kaplaniak/The Nature Conservancy
View of the Kittatinny Ridge from the Cove Mountain, Pennsylvania.
Why Cove Mountain? The Nature Conservancy's Pennsylvania staff and partners speak out about why it is so important to protect this nature preserve located along the Kittatinny Ridge.
× An orange and black Baltimore Oriole hides in a tree.
× A rising sun sheds morning light across a calm river.
× A deer perks its ears as it turns to look around.
× A butterfly delicate black and gold wings.
× A mist rolls across the Susquehanna River.
× A single feather adorns a bin full of paw paw fruit.
× A green ribbon cut with scissors by partners.
× Two TNC staff members stand under a tent.
× Staff members set up an interactive table.
× A collection of feathers, leaves, moss and other treasures.
× Trees shade a leafy trail leading through the Cove Mountain Preserve.
× Trees frame a view of a bridge stretching across the Susquehanna.
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