Here's why you should visit Mount Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania

If you’re looking for a natural high, there’s no place higher in Pennsylvania than Mount Davis.

Mount Davis is officially the highest point in the state at 3,213 feet above sea level. It’s a destination in southern Somerset County that’s accommodating to almost everyone’s abilities. It’s a stop everyone should consider making at least once in their lifetime.

The property is located on public land and managed by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in the Forbes State Forest. The paths and trails are a short distance from the Mount Davis Road and most are navigable by wheelchair.

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I climbed the approximately 50-foot tall observation tower on Friday morning. It was a sunny calm morning, and I could literally see for miles in all directions. It’s a remote area away from noise and light pollution.

The endless views on a clear day make you feel as if you’re seeing the curvature of the earth and standing on top of the world.

Walking there, you feel as though you’ve fallen back in history. The observation tower, built in 1931, looks virtually the same as it did when it was first erected. Visitors making it to the top will see an elevation relief map that shows how the formation rises from the rest of the region.

It’s believed the summit was formed more than 200 million years ago during an upheaval called the Appalachian Revolution.

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Rachael Mahony, DCNR environmental education specialist, said the highest point doesn’t feel or seem as if it’s all that high, compared to surrounding hills that can be seen from the observation tower. She said the Mount Davis ridgeline was once (hundreds of millions of years ago) higher than the Rocky Mountains but through geologic processes, as well as erosion and other environmental events, it has worn the once dramatic ridge into a more softer/rolling topography that can be misleading.

Mahony said the tower was never used as a fire tower. “There was a fire tower located nearby but based off of our current records, was constructed sometime around 1921. The fire tower has been torn down,” she said through an email response.

The site was named in honor of John Nelson Davis. Mahony said he was active in the surrounding community, and he was a man that wore many different hats – he was a naturalist, teacher, veteran, surveyor, minister and farmer. Davis was connected to this land (now Mount Davis area). The commonwealth acquired the land in 1929. In 1945, the Mount Davis area was declared a State Forest Monument, and in 1974 much of the land surrounding the Highpoint area received the Natural Area designation.

With no one staffed at the site throughout the year, it's a challenge to know how many people visit the rural public attraction. “We currently do not have data to support the number of visitors that come by the Highpoint area or that visit the tower, but we can estimate based on cars in the parking lot, picnic area, etc. that thousands of visitors stop by this area each year,“ Mahony said.

Getting there is half of the fun.

To get to the tower, you access South Wolf Rock Road, east of Salisbury. Make sure you look for “South” on the sign of the road name. If you take North Wolf Rock Road, you have a long ride through a state forested area.

This remote wilderness area is home to members of the Amish community. Be on the lookout for slow moving horse-and-buggy riders on the public highway. They are fun to watch as long as you’re not surprised by them while rounding a curve in your car.

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Mahony also points out the significance of the rural area.

“I cannot stress enough that planning ahead and researching directions before you leave your house is important. If you type Forbes State Forest into your GPS, you can end up in a number of different locations – which will not only be frustrating but also time consuming (and you might get seriously lost). Cell service can be extremely spotty in this area as well so solely relying on GPS isn’t your best option.

"To navigate to Mount Davis, I highly recommend checking out the Mount Davis trail map online at http://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=3471179&DocName=Mt.pdf. Another great option is downloading offline maps on Google Maps or other map apps so that when you do lose cell service you can still use your map (if using smartphone).”

When you’re walking around the base of the observation tower, you can see man-made signs that have been placed on large rocks that provide some insights on the history of the area as well how the summit formed.

While the view is great throughout the year and especially in October when the leaves are changing colors, Mount Davis is a fun trip any time the weather is cooperative. A visit isn’t recommended during a heavy snow or ice period. If you want to go, Mahony pointed out the mountain laurel flowers typically bloom toward the end of June, which adds to the beauty of your visit or hikes on one of the trails.

You will also want to check out the Highpoint Lake Overlook. It’s a mountain view of the 383-acre lake that’s managed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

If you’re planning to spend several hours, you might want to pack a lunch to eat at the picnic area that has tables placed throughout a fielded location. There is a restroom, too. The public picnic area was originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during their time from 1933 to 1937.

On the opposite side of Mount Davis Road, you will see a trail leading to Baughman Rocks that is worth your time. It’s a short, less-than-a-half-mile jaunt down a limestone trail to a massive boulder area. It’s a quiet place to take a break and relax on the benches that were built in 1991 by Kenneth Wilt as an Eagle Scout project.

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A sign on one of the rocks explains the landmark was named after a legendary story involving the disappearance of August Baughman while he was looking for lost cows. His father, Henry, is believed to have knocked him unconscious with a stick and hid his body among these rocks in the 1800s. Henry was convicted for second-degree murder, and August’s body was never found.

The story and the atmosphere make you wonder what life was really like for the early settlers of the country. It’s a fun place to hike and think about how life has changed over the generations.

If you’re looking to plan a trip to the highest point in the state, Mahony said, the DCNR staff is ready to help and answer your questions. The office can be contacted at 724-238-1200 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The next time you’re in southwestern Pennsylvania, make sure you plan a stop at Mount Davis. It surely will be one of the high points of your summer.

Brian Whipkey is the outdoors columnist for USA TODAY Network sites in Pennsylvania. Contact him at bwhipkey@gannett.com and sign up for our weekly Go Outdoors PA newsletter email on your website's homepage under your login name. Follow him on social media @whipkeyoutdoors.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Hike Mount Davis to see the highest point in PA