Varden Conservation Area

Varden Conservation Area is a Pennsylvania state park on 343 acres (139 ha) in Lake and South Canaan Townships, Wayne County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The conservation area is currently under development. The land was donated to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in December 2001 by Dr. Mead Shaffer a veterinarian and resident of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania in Delaware County. Dr. Shaffer stated his reason for donating the land, "Environmental education always has been a primary concern of mine. I trust this land will allow present and future generations to observe and study the diverse ecology found in the Varden Conservation Area."^[2] Varden Conservation Area is near the unincorporated village of Varden on Pennsylvania Route 296, east of the Lackawanna County line.^[3]

Varden Conservation Area
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
Varden Conservation Area
Location of Varden Conservation Area in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Varden Conservation Area (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Wayne, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates	41°29′12″N 75°23′21″W
Area	430 acres (170 ha)[1]
Elevation	1,253 ft (382 m)[1]
Established	2001
Named for	the village of Varden
Governing body	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Website	Varden Conservation Area

A conservation area is different from a typical state park. Conservation areas have much less development on the lands than a state park. They are large tracts of land with few improvements, a lack of through roads and the recreational facilities are minimal. There is an effort to manage the resources with minimal development of the park. Other conservation areas in Pennsylvania are the Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area and the Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area both of which are in Dauphin County.^[3]

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Varden Conservation Area:^[4][5][6]

• Archbald Pothole State Park (Lackawanna County)
• Frances Slocum State Park (Luzerne County)
• Gouldsboro State Park (Monroe and Wayne Counties)
• Lackawanna State Park (Lackawanna County)
• Promised Land State Park (Pike County)
• Prompton State Park (Wayne County)
• Tobyhanna State Park (Monroe and Wayne Counties)