Top Mountains and Ridges in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is an Appalachian state — its ridges and mountains run in long, parallel northeast-southwest lines across the state. The individual summits are modest but the ridge-and-valley landscape is the definitive Appalachian terrain.

Mount Davis (3,213 ft)
The highest point in Pennsylvania — a spruce-fir forested summit on a broad plateau in Somerset County (Forbes State Forest). The summit is accessible by a short walk from a parking area on State Route 281. The view from the observation tower (wooden) extends across the Allegheny Plateau. The approach road passes through forest typical of the Allegheny Highland — a surprise for visitors expecting more rugged terrain.

Blue Mountain (Kittatinny Ridge)
The easternmost and most continuous ridge of the Pennsylvania Appalachians — Blue Mountain runs from the Delaware Water Gap in the northeast to South Mountain in the south-central region. The Appalachian Trail follows the crest of Blue Mountain for much of its Pennsylvania traverse. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on the ridge is the most important raptor migration observation point in the eastern US — 20,000+ broad-winged hawks pass in a single September day.

Tussey Mountain and Bald Eagle Mountain (Centre County)
The ridges above the Nittany Valley (Penn State area) — Tussey Mountain has multiple access points and is used for cross-country skiing. The Bald Eagle State Forest on the Allegheny Front is one of Pennsylvania's largest state forests.

Laurel Highlands (Chestnut Ridge)
Southwestern Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands — Chestnut Ridge (2,500 ft) and Laurel Hill (2,900 ft) are the highest terrain in western Pennsylvania. The Youghiogheny River Gorge (Ohiopyle) cuts through Chestnut Ridge. Seven Springs and Hidden Valley ski areas operate in the Laurel Highlands.

Pocono Mountains Plateau
The northeastern plateau — a broad upland reaching 2,300 feet, with Delaware Water Gap as its eastern escarpment. The Poconos are more resort and recreation destination than wilderness.