HICKORY RUN STATE PARK

The 15,990 acre Hickory Run State Park lies in the western region of the Pocono Mountains. The most notable feature of Hickory Run is the huge boulder field located within. The field comprises about 720,000 square feet (16.5 acres) in area and the top of the boulder layer is nearly level with the approaching path. The immense weight of the boulders has compressed the underlying soil 12 feet or more & the field was created about 20,000 years ago during the most recent glacial period. The boulders consist of the sandstone and conglomerates identical to those capping the ridges surrounding the field on three sides. It is believed that large amounts of melting waters from the glaciers carried the boulders down from the ridges and into the valley creating the field. The Field is breathtaking & seems to appear out of nowhere amongst the park's dense woodland; it is listed as a National Natural Landmark.