Mount Davis (Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
Mount Davis is the highest point in Pennsylvania
. Located in the 5,685 acre (23.01 km²) Forbes State Forest
in Elk Lick Township, Somerset County
, it rises to 3,213 ft. (979 m) along a gentle crest of a 30 mile (50 km) ridge line extending from central Somerset County southward into Garrett County, Maryland
known as Negro Mountain
.
The high point was named for John Nelson Davis, an early settler, American Civil War
veteran, surveyor and naturalist known for his studies of the mountain's flora
and fauna
.
Mt. Davis may be ascended by car or by a number of hiking
trails. Its surrounds are noted for their patterns of unusual circular stone formed by periglacial
action, and the summit features a metal observation tower
with a relief map of the region.
Weather on the peak is temperate, punctuated by heavy winds, rain, and hail. Temperature extremes range from -30 to 106 °F (-34 to 35 °C), though frosts have been recorded in every month of the year. Summer conditions are generally mild and winters are characterized by moderate snowfall. Average annual precipitation ranges from 38 to 42 inches (970 to 1070 mm).
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...
. Located in the 5,685 acre (23.01 km²) Forbes State Forest
Forbes State Forest
Forbes State Forest is a Pennsylvania state forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #4. The main offices are located in Laughlintown in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Mount Davis, the highest peak in Pennsylvania, is located in the forest.The forest was named...
in Elk Lick Township, Somerset County
Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Somerset County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 77,742. Somerset County was created on April 17, 1795, from part of Bedford County and named for Somerset, United Kingdom. Its county seat is Somerset. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania,...
, it rises to 3,213 ft. (979 m) along a gentle crest of a 30 mile (50 km) ridge line extending from central Somerset County southward into Garrett County, Maryland
Garrett County, Maryland
Garrett County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Maryland. Created from Allegany County, Maryland in 1872 it was the last Maryland county to be formed. It was named for John Work Garrett , railroad executive, industrialist, and financier. Garrett served as president of the Baltimore...
known as Negro Mountain
Negro Mountain
Negro Mountain is a long ridge of the Allegheny Mountains extending from Deep Creek Lake in Maryland, north to the Casselman River in Pennsylvania, USA. The summit, Mount Davis, is the highest point in Pennsylvania...
.
The high point was named for John Nelson Davis, an early settler, American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
veteran, surveyor and naturalist known for his studies of the mountain's flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
and fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
.
Mt. Davis may be ascended by car or by a number of hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trails. Its surrounds are noted for their patterns of unusual circular stone formed by periglacial
Periglacial
Periglacial is an adjective originally referring to places in the edges of glacial areas, but it has later been widely used in geomorphology to describe any place where geomorphic processes related to freezing of water occur...
action, and the summit features a metal observation tower
Observation tower
An observation tower is a structure used to view events from a long distance and to create a full 360 degree range of vision. They are usually at least tall and made from stone, iron, and wood. Many modern towers are also used as TV towers, restaurants, or churches...
with a relief map of the region.
Weather on the peak is temperate, punctuated by heavy winds, rain, and hail. Temperature extremes range from -30 to 106 °F (-34 to 35 °C), though frosts have been recorded in every month of the year. Summer conditions are generally mild and winters are characterized by moderate snowfall. Average annual precipitation ranges from 38 to 42 inches (970 to 1070 mm).
Trails
Trails in the park include:- High Point Trail: 0.8 miles (1.3 km)
- Mt. Davis Trail: 0.1 mile (0.160934 km)
- Shelter Rock Trail: 1 miles (1.6 km)
- Tub Mill Run Trail: 2.8 miles (4.5 km)
- Timberslide Trail: 0.5 mile (0.80467 km)
- Laurel Run Trail: 1.9 miles (3.1 km)
- Wolf Rock Trail: 0.8 miles (1.3 km)
- Shelter Rock Road: 1.6 miles (2.6 km)
- Livengood Trail: 1.1 miles (1.8 km)