Big Mountain (Pennsylvania)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Big Mountain | |
|---|---|
 Big Mountain |
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| Elevation | 2,458 feet (749 m) |
| Location | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Range | Appalachian Mountains |
| Prominence | 1,790 feet (546 m) |
| Topo map | USGS McConnellsburg (PA) Quadrangle |
| First ascent | unknown |
| Easiest route | drive up |
Big Mountain is the highpoint on the Tuscarora Mountain ridge in south central Pennsylvania in the United States. The 2,458 ft. summit is located in the Buchanan State Forest and offers an overlook that is one of the more stunning in the Commonwealth.
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[edit] Geology
Tuscarora quartzite Silurian Age underlies the summit, it is because of this weather reistant rock which gives Big Mountain its high prominence.
[edit] Wildlife
Big Mountain and the rest of the Tuscarora Ridge has abundant wildlife. Black bear, white-tailed deer, a variety of bird species and it's most notorious resident the Timber rattler can be found while hiking on the ridge.
[edit] Recreation
Besides the Tuscarora Trail that passes along the ridge and over the summit, the nearby Cowans Gap State Park offers a variety of campsites, swimming, boating and hiking trails centered around a 42 acre lake.
[edit] References
Alan R. Geyer (1979) "Outstanding Geologic Features of Pennsylvania", Geological Survey of Pennsylvania
Charles H. Shultz (1999) "The Geology of Pennsylvania", Geological Survey of Pennsylvania ISBN 0-8182-0227-0
