Interesting Geological Features at Pennsylvania's Highest Point

The Mt. Davis Natural Area comprises 581 acres in Elk Lick Township, Somerset County surrounding the rock known as Mt. Davis on the summit of Negro Mountain. The top of this rock is 3,213 feet above sea level, and is the highest point in Pennsylvania. The elevation of the lowest point in the natural area is 2,823 feet. Drainage is to the Southeast into Tub Mill Run, a tributary of the Casselman River, a part of the Mississippi River watershed.

The timber is of the mixed oak type, with a significant representation of species belonging to the northern hardwood group. Trees tend to be short, brushy, and twisted and severely deformed by strong winds and winter ice storms. The thin rocky soil provides a meager supply of nutrients and water. Tree growth is slow. Tree species found at the lower elevations include black

birch, black cherry, red maple, red oak, scarlet oak, white oak, cucumber tree, sassafras, and eastern hemlock. On the high flat of the mountain near the Mt. Davis observation tower are black birch, yellow birch, quaking aspen, black cherry, fire cherry, black gum, red maple, chestnut oak, red oak, scarlet oak, sassafras, serviceberry, and pitch pine.

Also near the observation tower are such shrubs and species of ground vegetation as mountain laurel, rhododendron, scrub oak, greenbrier, painted trillium, and several species of clubmoss.

An interesting geologic feature of the area is the scattering of small concentric stone rings caused by localized frost heaving. Each ring surrounds a spot in the soil which is a little softer and looser than the adjacent ground. Under the action of frost, these soft spots rise up as slight humps. Surface rocks on the humps tend to slide off, and over thousands of years, the sliding progresses enough to deposit the rocks in ring-like formations at the bases of the humps.

The Natural Area is bounded by L.R. 55008 on the north, by the Shelter Rock Road on the east, and the South Wolf Rock Road from L.R. 55008. The Shelter Rock Road is closed to vehicles. A picnic area is located about 1 mile from Mt. Davis along L.R. 55008. Hiking trails connect the picnic area with the high point, and from Mt. Davis lead into the lower elevations of the natural area. Motorized vehicles are not permitted in the area except on the road to the High Point.