Laurel Summit State Park, Mountain state park in Cook Township, Pennsylvania, United States
Laurel Summit State Park is a mountaintop park with overlooks across the valley, situated at about 2,739 feet elevation on a peak. The grounds include trails that pass through forested land and end at several viewpoints.
The area was heavily logged in the 1800s and damaged by wildfires sparked by steam locomotives, leaving the land stripped for decades. Its official establishment as a park in 1964 marked the turning point for restoring this mountain landscape.
The area takes its name from the wild laurel shrubs that grow here in thick stands and give the mountain its distinctive character. These dense plants form a natural backdrop that surrounds visitors as they move through the park.
The park has restrooms, picnic tables, and parking at the intersection of Linn Run and Laurel Summit Roads. Visitors should expect variable weather and steep terrain, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
The elevation creates a pocket climate where temperatures stay noticeably cooler than the surrounding valleys, attracting plants that grow nowhere else nearby. This effect packs different habitats into a small area.
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