#138 Visit Boulder Field, Hickory Run State Park

Boulder Field in Hickory Run State Park is a must if you are in the area. This field is an astonishing 18 acres of rock and rubble left over from the last glacial period more than 20,000 years ago. One of the really unique features about this field is that it is pretty much level with the ground. It reminds me of decent sized lake but, instead of the lake being filled with water, it is filled with tons upon tons of boulders.

And, the really cool thing is, you can actually walk across this lake, kind of like Jesus did in the Bible. I mean, who wouldn't want a Jesus experience right? Truthfully though, I'll never forget the first time I laid eyes on this spectacular work of art. The pictures never do it justice. And honestly, you really won't truly appreciate this natural phenomenon unless you see it in person.

Boulder Field beckons you to cross it's rocky lake. 

Boulder Field, Hickory Run State Park, Hickory Run, Pennsylvania

So, you may be thinking, it's a rock field right? What can possibly be so special about a bunch of rocks? A lot actually. I can personally attest that one of the features that makes this natural showpiece so special is just in the way mother nature presents the field to us. It's almost like she is trying to keep this big secret by enveloping the field with other entities of nature. But, she still wants to show it off to those willing to take the journey.

You see, Boulder Field is almost completely surrounded by thick, lush evergreen trees. You really do not even glimpse this wondrous field until you are actually right up on it. In fact, if it weren't for the park creating a trail and providing ample signage to assist in finding the field, most of us would never even know this lake of stone existed. Rocks and boulders only start appearing on and along the trail right near the entrance to the field. Near the entrance, the evergreens thin out just enough to create a little inlet onto the field.

Once you make your way past the trees, that is when this stunning view appears. I remember the first time I saw Boulder Field over 20 years ago. My eyes grew wide, my mouth dropped and all I could think was "How can this be?" It's so much more than a field of rocks to nature lovers. It's a testament to the beauty, longevity and climate of a world we can only read about in history books. It's a world we will never personally experience. It was an ice age. The last ice age to be exact. And, the very soil we walk upon experienced this glacial age like it was only yesterday.

What is 20,000 years to our planet is probably only 6 months to a human being. Maybe even less. I'll let the mathematicians figure that one out.

As for me, I have walked on the field a few times. I remember wanting to check it out because a friend of mine raved about it back when I was in high school. It was only a 30 minute trip for me. Back then I didn't have a Bucket List per say, but I definitely had a list in my mind of things I wanted to see and do. I added Boulder Field to the list and made my way there a few weeks later. Eventually I brought my kids back to see the field as well.

There are some things you need to keep in mind about the field though. If you are going to step on the stones and boulders to make your way around the field, wear good shoes. It makes a huge difference. Also, make sure your legs are strong and you have a good sense a balance. The rocks can be rickety. A lot of them are going to wobble slightly when you step on them. It's not a hard walk to make, you just need to be comfortable doing so. Exploring the field is actually a lot of fun but, as with anything in nature, injuries can occur no matter how fit you are so know your limits and be smart.

If your mobility is limited, you can still enjoy the field. There are large rocks near the entrance of the field perfect for perching and soaking in the view. My daughter really enjoyed the field but preferred to stay closer to the entrance while my son on the other hand, gave me a mini heart attack because he was way over on the other side of the field in like two minutes flat. One minute he was standing on a rock next to me while I was snapping pictures, next minute he was just a little dot on the other end of the field. I couldn't even be mad because I pulled this shit on my dad all the time when I was younger. I pull this shit on him now in the present day. LOL.

Snapping some pics of the crater lake.

The entrance to the field. You can just chill there are take in the view.

My daughter venturing a little further out. What is my father doing by that tree? SMH. He is silly.

Where is my kid? He went way further than this, trust me. 

As for creatures, you may get a glimpse of a few massive wolf spiders. They love the rocks. Perfect for hiding. They are pretty harmless though. They don't want to bother you any more than you want to bother them. Whenever I would see a wolf spider on a rock, I would just hop to a different rock. No big deal.

As for snakes, I am sure there are some in there, underneath all the rocks, but I have yet to see one and trust me, I am terrified of snakes. However, I've never allowed snakes to prevent me from enjoying my time in nature. If I see one, I just let out a few blood curdling screams that would wake the dead and drop the F bomb approximately 70 times. I also hightail it in the opposite direction.

It seems to work for me. But enough about scary stuff. Let's talk about the beautiful stuff. The boulders are all unique in their shapes and sizes. Some are small, while others are pretty massive. There are some evergreens jutting up from the rock bed but not much else vegetation-wise can be found in the actual great rock lake. The park itself has beautiful scenery, water features, lakes, trails and a few brazen Canadian geese eh?

Boulder Field may be the star of the park, and rightfully so, but overall, it is a great park for camping, picnics and day trips.

I highly recommend spending the day at Hickory Run and exploring Boulder Field. I have camped at this park twice and while it is definitely more on the rustic side, it is a very well maintained state park with many outdoor activities to be enjoyed. It has playgrounds, a beach, fishing spots, plenty of trails to walk, geocaching, disc golf and orienteering to name a few things. It's a great park for those who may have disabilities as well because there are many features that are handicap friendly including some trails. If you are a nature lover and traveling through PA or live in PA, Boulder Field is a sight you do not want to miss.

Some of My Other Outdoor Adventures
#208 Try Kayaking
#296 Climb To The Top Of A Lighthouse
#311 Watch The Sun Set On A Beach
#323 Go On A Camping Trip



Chrissy