Hammonds Rock

This is a part of the series on Recreation in Central PA

This is really nothing more than an outcropping of rock near the top of the mountain but its location provides an impressive view.  It isn’t the only impressive outlook in the area and in fact not the only one on this stretch of road which is on a mountain top that is flat and tree covered.  If you could just get above the trees, just a few feet higher on a clear day you could see forever.  Well, almost.  Only a few trees grow on the outcrop and Hammonds rock provides a few feet of elevation to see beyond the ones that do.  The day I was there I was alone and didn’t want to do any climbing so I didn’t get any pictures of the view.  You will have to do that yourself unless I get back on a clear day.  Also I took the pictures of the rock when the trees had leaves and there is no real good view of it during that time.

First let’s look at how to get there.

There are three good ways to get to the rock.  All of them involve at least five miles on dirt roads that are passable except in snow season with most automobiles.  They are rough and the centers high so take your time.  Also if you have an extremely low slung car it may be well to not take this trip in it. 

You can either take the xxx road from Pine Grove Road at Laurel Lake or Cold Springs Road from Pine road or for most the best is to take Ridge Road from Mt. Holly Springs just south of the main part of town.  I am going to cover that portion of the route.  As you go south in Mt Holly Springs you will leave the portion of the town with solid houses and follow a creek on the left.  The old Deer Lodge is on the right.  As you approach the bridge for Mountain Creek exit to the right and follow a dirt road that continues with the creek at the left.  To your right there is a steep hill going up.  You are in the Holly Gap, one of the few breaks in the mountains in the area.  Continue for about a half mile till the road makes a U turn to the right and starts up the hill.  Over the next couple miles you will make several switch backs and climb several hundred feet to the top of the ridge.  Hammonds Rock is approximately 7 miles from the Route 34 turnoff on the left at 40° 4′6.83″N  77°14′56.94″W.  There is a small pull off there and there is space for a picnic if you like. If you get to an intersection of Cold Springs Road you have passed the rock.