Boulder Field, located in Hickory Run State Park, is a National Natural Landmark and a true scenic wonder. The vast “field” of stone is a fossil and a relict, its contents left behind after the last ice advance.
Hickory Run’s Boulder Field is a potpourri of loosely-packed boulders which range in size from a few inches to 25′ in length. The surprisingly flat field measures 400′ wide, 1,800′ long and about 10′ deep. The boulders are predominantly red sandstone, and trend from angular shapes in the east side of the field to more rounded shapes in the west.
About 15,000 years ago, such rocky terrain was common throughout the Northeast, but gradual weathering and climate change have led to the coverage or elimination of many boulder fields. Only in special places, such as Hickory Run State Park, do these astounding formations remain.
Hickory Run State Park is located in Carbon County at the foothills of the Pocono Mountains. Boulder Field is easily accessible via Boulder Field Road, or the scenic 3.5-mile Boulder Field hiking trail.
To learn more about this unique natural wonder, call the Hickory Run State Park Office at (570) 443-0400 or check out www.visitpaparks.com.
For trail maps and information on hiking in Pennsylvania, head to: www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/recreation/hiking/where/index.htm.
