State game land (SGL) 042 is located within Fairfield, Ligonier, and Saint Clair Townships of Westmoreland County; Upper Yoder and Lower Yoder Townships in Cambria County; and the Townships of Conemaugh and Jenner in Somerset County. It is four separate tracts totaling 18,046.2 acres, all within Wildlife Management Unit 2C (WMU 2C). Most of the game land lies on the west slope of Laurel Mountain. Located in Pennsylvania Game Commission land management group two (2), SGL 042 is maintained by a three‐member crew. All water flows into the Ohio River Basin via the Conemaugh River. 

State Game Land 042 has 20 miles of administrative roads and 16 public parking areas. Most roads are closed year‐round to motor vehicles and access is controlled with signage and 21 locked gates. Two roads are open year‐round, and five others are open during bear and rifle deer seasons. Ongoing gas well development is increasing the number of gas well access roads on this game land as well as forest openings. The crew headquarters is on this property. The farthest point on SGL 042 by foot from a parking area or public road is approximately 1 mile. This game land is used by the public for hunting, trapping, hiking, bird‐watching, and photography. Gated roads, gas lines, and power line rights‐of‐way provide access for hunters and trappers as well as avenues for hiking, and other outdoor activities. Horseback riding, bicycling, and snowmobiling opportunities exist on select game land maintenance roads within this game land.

State game land 042 is 97% forested with a lesser amount of utility rights‐of‐way, terrestrial herbaceous openings, terrestrial scrublands, and herbaceous wetlands. The forest composition is one‐half oak (53%), and also includes mixed mesophytic, yellow poplar, black cherry, maple, black birch, hemlock, and palustrine forests. The majority of the forest on SGL 042 is in the 40+ year age class.