Mount Pisgah (Carbon County, Pennsylvania) facts for kids

Mount Pisgah is a mountain peak located in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. It stands tall over the town of Jim Thorpe, which is a popular place for visitors.

Where is Mount Pisgah?

Mount Pisgah is found right above the town of Jim Thorpe. It is the start of a long mountain ridge called Pisgah Mountain, which stretches for about 12.5 miles (20 kilometers). This peak is in a part of northeastern Pennsylvania known for its coal history.

The mountain is on the west side of the Lehigh River. Long ago, a historic railway called the Mauch Chunk & Summit Hill Railway used to bring coal down the mountain. This railway helped move coal to barges on the river.

Today, parts of the old railway tracks have been turned into fun trails. You can hike or bike along these paths for about 7.6 miles (12.2 kilometers) up to Summit Hill, Pennsylvania. There's also a path that leads to the very top of Mount Pisgah. From the summit, you get amazing views of the countryside, including the Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh River below. The famous Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway, one of North America's earliest railroads, is also located at the base of this mountain.

What Does the Name "Pisgah" Mean?

Mount Pisgah gets its name from a famous mountain mentioned in the Bible. This biblical Mount Pisgah is in Jordan. It's known as the place where Moses first saw the "promised land."