Martin Hill
Encyclopedia
Martin Hill is a mountain ridge which connects Tussey Mountain
to its east and Evitts Mountain
to its west. Martin Hill is located in the Martin Hill Wild Area, which is a part of the Buchanan State Forest
, in Bedford County
, Pennsylvania
. The summit of Martin Hill is one of the few in the Commonwealth
which is void of any towers or transmitters; such equipment is located instead on a lesser nearby summit in the same mountain complex. Martin Hill is the second highest in Pennsylvania's Ridge and Valley Appalachians, the highest being Wills Mountain
to its west at 2780 ft (847.3 m). The highest mountains in the Commonwealth are located in the Allegheny Mountains
in western Pennsylvania, where Mount Davis
stands at 3213 ft (979.3 m).
Martin Hill is a rugged mountain, with trails that run along the summit ridge and down its slopes. Wildlife on the mountain include bobcat
, black bear
, ruffed grouse
, wild turkey
, and the white-tailed deer
.
Forests dominated by oaks and hickories characterize the mountain; other trees and shrubs include mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
, white pine (Pinus strobus)
, and hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
, fire cherry (Prunus pensylvanica), and striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum) are found on the upper slopes of the mountain.
The old forest fire lookout tower
was removed in 2003. The views from that tower were beautiful: To the north one could see the ridges of both Evitts and Tussey Mountain fading into the distance. Blue Knob could be seen 30 miles (48.3 km) in the distance, rising behind Kinton Knob, the north end of Wills Mountain. To the east Sideling Hill
was visible, including its deep road cut on I-68
in Maryland. To the south Dans Mountain
in Maryland was visible, and to the west, the Wills Mountain highpoint and the Allegheny Front
. Although this panoramic view is no longer available, rock screes and other overlooks in the Wild Area offer other sweeping vistas.
Martin Hill is the highest point on Pennsylvania's longest footpath, Mid State Trail.
Tussey Mountain
]Tussey Mountain is a stratigraphic ridge in central Pennsylvania, United States, trending east of the Bald Eagle, Brush, Dunning and Evitts Mountain ridges...
to its east and Evitts Mountain
Evitts Mountain
Evitts Mountain is a stratigraphic ridge in the Ridge and Valley region of the Appalachian Mountains, located in Bedford County, Pennsylvania and Allegany County, Maryland-Geography:...
to its west. Martin Hill is located in the Martin Hill Wild Area, which is a part of the Buchanan State Forest
Buchanan State Forest
Buchanan State Forest is a Pennsylvania State Forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #2. The main office is located in McConnellsburg in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, in Bedford County
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 49,762. The county seat is Bedford. It is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The summit of Martin Hill is one of the few in the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
which is void of any towers or transmitters; such equipment is located instead on a lesser nearby summit in the same mountain complex. Martin Hill is the second highest in Pennsylvania's Ridge and Valley Appalachians, the highest being Wills Mountain
Wills Mountain
Wills Mountain is a quartzite-capped ridge in the Ridge and Valley physiographic province of the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania and Maryland, USA, extending from near Bedford, Pennsylvania to near Cumberland, Maryland...
to its west at 2780 ft (847.3 m). The highest mountains in the Commonwealth are located in the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
in western Pennsylvania, where Mount Davis
Mount Davis (Pennsylvania)
Mount Davis is the highest point in Pennsylvania. Located in the 5,685 acre Forbes State Forest in Elk Lick Township, Somerset County, it rises to 3,213 ft...
stands at 3213 ft (979.3 m).
Flora and fauna
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
, black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, ruffed grouse
Ruffed Grouse
The Ruffed Grouse is a medium-sized grouse occurring in forests from the Appalachian Mountains across Canada to Alaska. It is non-migratory.The Ruffed Grouse is frequently referred to as a "partridge"...
, wild turkey
Wild Turkey
The Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
, and the white-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
.
Forests dominated by oaks and hickories characterize the mountain; other trees and shrubs include mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Kalmia latifolia
Kalmia latifolia, commonly called Mountain-laurel or Spoonwood, is a species of flowering plant in the blueberry family, Ericaceae, that is native to the eastern United States. Its range stretches from southern Maine south to northern Florida, and west to Indiana and Louisiana. Mountain-laurel is...
, white pine (Pinus strobus)
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
, and hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Sassafras albidum
Sassafras albidum is a species of Sassafras native to eastern North America, from southern Maine and southern Ontario west to Iowa, and south to central Florida and eastern Texas. It occurs throughout the eastern deciduous forest habitat type, at altitudes of sea level up to 1,500 m...
, fire cherry (Prunus pensylvanica), and striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum) are found on the upper slopes of the mountain.
Other information
The adjacent Sweet Root Natural Area provides 13000 acres (52.6 km²) acres of wildland, considered one of the most remote and serene in the Commonwealth.The old forest fire lookout tower
Fire lookout tower
A fire lookout tower, fire tower or lookout tower, provides housing and protection for a person known as a "fire lookout" whose duty it is to search for wildfires in the wilderness...
was removed in 2003. The views from that tower were beautiful: To the north one could see the ridges of both Evitts and Tussey Mountain fading into the distance. Blue Knob could be seen 30 miles (48.3 km) in the distance, rising behind Kinton Knob, the north end of Wills Mountain. To the east Sideling Hill
Sideling Hill
Sideling Hill is a long, steep, narrow mountain ridge in the Ridge-and-Valley physiographic province of the Appalachian Mountains, located in Washington County in western Maryland and adjacent West Virginia and Pennsylvania, USA...
was visible, including its deep road cut on I-68
Interstate 68
Interstate 68 is a Interstate highway in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland, connecting in Morgantown to in Hancock. is also Corridor E of the Appalachian Development Highway System. From 1965 until the freeway's construction was completed in 1991, it was designated as...
in Maryland. To the south Dans Mountain
Dans Mountain
Dans Mountain is located in Allegany County, Maryland, USA between Georges Creek and the North Branch Potomac River. The highest point on Dans Mountain is called Dan's Rock which has an elevation of . The mountain rises above the town of LaVale and the summit is the highest point in Allegany County...
in Maryland was visible, and to the west, the Wills Mountain highpoint and the Allegheny Front
Allegheny Front
The Allegheny Front is the major southeast- or east-facing escarpment in the Allegheny Mountains in southern Pennsylvania, western Maryland, and eastern West Virginia, USA. The Allegheny Front delineates the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians to its east from the Appalachian Plateau to its west...
. Although this panoramic view is no longer available, rock screes and other overlooks in the Wild Area offer other sweeping vistas.
Martin Hill is the highest point on Pennsylvania's longest footpath, Mid State Trail.