Hickory Run State Park
Cross the remarkable Boulder Field, then find quieter forest trails nearby.
Artwork inspired by Daniel Garber
Hickory Run's Boulder Field is a vast open carpet of rounded rock framed by Pocono forest. It is a National Natural Landmark and the park's clearest introduction to a cold-climate geologic past. Walk carefully across the uneven stones rather than treating the field as a paved overlook; the scale becomes more striking when you look back to the tree line and tiny figures crossing it.
The park is much larger, with more than 40 miles of trails and stream valleys that feel unlike the exposed field. Shades of Death follows Sand Spring Run past cascades and forest, but it is a real trail with wet and rocky footing. Spring-to-fall parking can fill early, so choose a backup trail or arrive before peak hours.
- Landmark
- Boulder Field
- Trails
- More than 40 miles
- Day use
- Sunrise–sunset
Quick guide
- See the field
- Give Boulder Field time; the boulders are uneven underfoot.
- Read the geology
- Use the park's Trail of Geology guide to understand the rock landscape.
Know before you go
- See the field
- Give Boulder Field time; the boulders are uneven underfoot.
- Read the geology
- Use the park's Trail of Geology guide to understand the rock landscape.
- Change terrain
- Try a streamside trail for forest and waterfall contrasts.
- Arrive early
- Parking at popular trailheads reaches capacity on busy days.
Good to know
The park map and cell signal are unreliable in different ways; download the map before driving to distant trailheads.
Notice these
- A walk across deep geologic time
- Read the geology
- Sunrise–sunset