Mount Davis (Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Davis |
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Observation tower atop Mount Davis in Pennsylvania, July 2010
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,213 ft (979 m) |
| Prominence | 653 ft (199 m) |
| Listing | U.S. state high point 33rd |
| Geography | |
 Mount Davis
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Parent range | Allegheny Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Markleton and Meyersdale |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Paved road leads almost directly to the summit, with a very short trail the rest of the way. |
Mount Davis is the highest point in Pennsylvania. It stands at 3,213 ft or 979 m tall. This mountain is found in the large Forbes State Forest. It is located near a small town called Markleton in Somerset County. Mount Davis is part of a 30-mile (50 km) long ridge called Negro Mountain. This ridge stretches from central Somerset County down into Garrett County, Maryland.
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What Makes Mount Davis Special?
Mount Davis was named after John Nelson Davis. He was an early settler, a veteran of the American Civil War, and a surveyor. John Davis was also a naturalist. He studied the many different plants (flora) and animals (fauna) living on the mountain. During the Civil War, he served in Company E, 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry.
How Can You Reach the Top of Mount Davis?
You can get to the top of Mount Davis in a few ways. There is a paved road that takes you almost all the way to the summit. From there, it's just a very short walk on a trail. You can also choose to hike up using one of the many hiking trails.
What Can You See at the Summit?
The area around the summit has interesting circular stone patterns. These were formed by natural processes from long ago, called periglacial action. At the very top, there is a metal observation tower. From this tower, you can see amazing views of the surrounding region. Inside the tower, there is a special relief map. This map shows the mountains and valleys of the area in 3D. Mount Davis is the 33rd highest natural point among all the U.S. states.
When Was Mount Davis Discovered as the Highest Point?
For a long time, people thought Blue Knob in Bedford County was the highest peak in Pennsylvania. But in 1921, the USGS officially confirmed that Mount Davis was actually the tallest. Its height is 3,213 ft or 979 m. To celebrate this discovery, a special ceremony was held on June 18, 1921. Local community leaders and people from the area gathered for the event.
What Else Was at the Summit in the Past?
Besides the observation tower, there used to be a small cabin at the top of Mount Davis. An old photo from around 1939 shows this cabin. The picture below points out where the summit is with an arrow.
Hiking Trails at Mount Davis
If you love hiking, Mount Davis has several trails for you to explore. They offer different lengths and experiences.
- High Point Trail: 0.8 miles (1.3 km)
- Mt. Davis Trail: 0.1 miles (0.2 km)
- Shelter Rock Trail: 1 mile (1.6 km)
- Tub Mill Run Trail: 2.8 miles (4.5 km)
- Timberslide Trail: 0.5 miles (0.8 km)
- Laurel Run Trail: 1.9 miles (3.1 km)
- Wolf Rock Trail: 0.8 miles (1.3 km)
- Shelter Rock Road: 1.6 miles (2.6 km)
- Livengood Trail: 1.1 miles (1.8 km)
Weather and Climate at Mount Davis
Mount Davis has a climate that changes a lot with the seasons. Summers are generally warm and pleasant. Winters are cold and snowy.
What is the Weather Like Throughout the Year?
Like many parts of Pennsylvania, Mount Davis can get strong winds. In summer, you might experience heavy rain and even hail. In winter, ice storms and blizzards are common. Temperatures can range from very cold, like −33 °F (−36 °C), to warm, like 84 °F (29 °C). It's even possible to have frost in any month of the year!
The climate here is called a humid continental climate. Because Mount Davis is so high up, it feels cooler than other places in Pennsylvania. For example, in winter, it's often colder than cities like Altoona or Johnstown, even though it's further south. In summer, many Pennsylvanians visit Mount Davis to escape the heat. The average high temperatures are cooler here than in Pittsburgh. Mount Davis has recorded some very low temperatures, close to the coldest ever in the state.
How Much Rain and Snow Does Mount Davis Get?
On average, Mount Davis receives about 38 to 42 inches (970 to 1,070 mm) of rain and snow each year. Winters get a lot of snowfall, making it a beautiful, snowy landscape.
| Climate data for Mount Davis, Pennsylvania | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 59 (15) |
66 (19) |
69 (21) |
75 (24) |
79 (26) |
84 (29) |
86 (30) |
83 (28) |
79 (26) |
67 (19) |
64 (18) |
60 (16) |
86 (30) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 26 (−3) |
29 (−2) |
35 (2) |
49 (9) |
60 (16) |
68 (20) |
74 (23) |
74 (23) |
65 (18) |
53 (12) |
41 (5) |
30 (−1) |
50 (10) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 7 (−14) |
10 (−12) |
17 (−8) |
25 (−4) |
34 (1) |
44 (7) |
55 (13) |
51 (11) |
44 (7) |
29 (−2) |
24 (−4) |
13 (−11) |
29 (−1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −38 (−39) |
−31 (−35) |
−24 (−31) |
−5 (−21) |
12 (−11) |
19 (−7) |
32 (0) |
30 (−1) |
22 (−6) |
7 (−14) |
−12 (−24) |
−24 (−31) |
−38 (−39) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.7 (94) |
3.3 (84) |
3.5 (89) |
3.8 (97) |
4.3 (110) |
4.5 (110) |
5.0 (130) |
4.8 (120) |
4.4 (110) |
3.1 (79) |
4.6 (120) |
5.1 (130) |
50.1 (1,273) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 44.3 (113) |
27.8 (71) |
25.7 (65) |
10.8 (27) |
3.2 (8.1) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
2.1 (5.3) |
13.1 (33) |
23.1 (59) |
150.1 (381.4) |
