Fork Hill Boulder City and Cliffs-Tioga State Forest

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I enjoy exploring giant rocks and cliffs.  Such places have a primeval feel with the draperies of moss, lichens, and ferns, and they often harbor unique ecosystems and habitats as they tend to hold or trap colder air.  An area of these giant rocks came to my attention in the Tioga State Forest, above Stony Fork, on a mountain called Fork Hill.  I parked off of Clay Mine Road to check them out.  I then walked down the road as it began to descend to Stony Fork.  Where some large rocks abutted the road, I first headed to the north, or my left.

I walked along some giant rocks that grew into the size of cliffs.  I really enjoyed a 30 foot tall monolith capped with ferns and some hemlocks.  Nearby were giant cliffs and a cave-like overhang.  North of here the rocks appeared to recede in size, so I retraced my steps south back to Clay Mine Road, crossed it, and headed south along the rocks.

I was soon treated to some mossy passageways between some lower ledges.  Heading south, the rocks grew in size, creating impressive boulder cities and mazes.  These rocks towered 30-50 feet.  It was fascinating to walk between the giants and explore the various passages.  I continued south with some large cliffs and overhangs with small caves and crevices.  This stretch of giant rocks is one of the most impressive in the PA Wilds. 

I then reached a valley of sorts where the rocks were smaller and broken down.  I crossed a small runoff stream and stayed above the ledges to avoid some thick laurel.  I reached a pine forest and more giant rocks, included a massive overhang with a pointed ledge.  My exploration ended with an impressive long chasm with a passageway about a hundred or so feet long.  From here, I hiked off trail in a westerly direction through the woods to a forest road.  While there was some laurel, the woods were mostly open and the hiking was fairly easy.  I reached a dirt forest road.  I turned right and headed back to my car.

I parked at  41.596717, -77.367790.  Keep in mind this parking area is not accessible when there is snow or ice, and there is no bridge where Clay Mine Road crosses Stony Fork.  On the map, the dashed black lines are the smaller or broken down rocks.  Solid black lines are the larger cliffs and boulders.   

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Cliffs and boulder cities along Fork Hill, Tioga State Forest. One of the most impressive collection of giant rocks in the PA Wilds. Countless overhangs, caves, chasms, and passageways. These boulders reached 30 to 50 feet tall.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Nov 22, 2019 at 4:40pm PST

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Unique rock formation in the Fork Hill boulder city. Tioga State Forest.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Nov 22, 2019 at 4:49pm PST

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Boulders and cliffs along Fork Hill, Tioga State Forest. This scenery stretched on for a mile or two.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Nov 22, 2019 at 4:55pm PST

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The cliffs and boulders at Fork Hill ended at this long chasm. Tioga State Forest.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Nov 22, 2019 at 4:59pm PST

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Exploring the mazes in the Fork Hill boulder city. Tioga State Forest.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Nov 22, 2019 at 5:34pm PST

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Hemlocks growing on top of a house sized boulder, 30 feet tall. Fork Hill boulder city, Tioga State Forest.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Dec 1, 2019 at 7:29am PST