STATE & NATION TRAVEL · news
Mount Davis adds a restored tower, paved access and new visitor displays
By Staff Writer · Published November 1, 2026
Pennsylvania completed $986,000 in improvements at the state’s highest point, including road and parking work, a refurbished observation tower and more than 30 interpretive signs.
Official announcement: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources · October 30, 2026
Source: Pennsylvania DCNR Mount Davis improvement release
Pennsylvania has completed a $986,000 package of visitor improvements at Mount Davis, the state’s highest natural point in Somerset County. The October 30 announcement covers a repaved entrance road and parking areas, drainage work, new orientation material and the first major refurbishment of the steel observation tower in years.
The parking project added designated accessible spaces and room for buses to turn around near South Wolf Rock Road and Mount Davis Road. Contractors partially disassembled the tower, removed corrosion and old paint, recoated the steel and reinstalled its stairs, platforms and other components.
Visitors will also find a new information kiosk and more than 30 updated interpretive and wayfinding displays. DCNR says the material covers the high point’s topography, climate, cultural history, ecology and recreation opportunities across the surrounding state forest.
The release describes the improvements as completed and does not announce a new admission charge or reservation system. It also does not publish daily tower hours or winter-maintenance guarantees, so the infrastructure announcement should not be read as a promise that every road or facility will remain available in severe weather.
What Travelers Need to Know
Use the official Forbes State Forest page and current map to plan the approach to Mount Davis. The release identifies the improved area near South Wolf Rock Road and Mount Davis Road but does not provide turn-by-turn travel instructions.
Check forest and weather conditions before driving to the summit area, especially after snow, ice or heavy rain. Completion of paving and drainage work does not guarantee an unrestricted winter road or a staffed facility.
The new parking area includes accessible spaces, but the observation tower itself uses stairs. Travelers who need step-free views or a confirmed accessible route should contact the Forbes Forest District at 724-238-1200 before visiting.
Pennsylvania describes its state forests as free and available for year-round recreation, and the Mount Davis release lists no separate ticket or reservation. Confirm any activity-specific rules before hiking, riding, hunting or staying overnight.
About the Location
Mount Davis rises 3,213 feet in Forbes State Forest, which spans nearly 59,000 acres across Somerset, Fayette and Westmoreland counties. Pennsylvania bought most of the high-point property in 1929. The forest is named for General John Forbes, who ordered a military road built from Bedford toward Fort Pitt in 1758.
The high point lies in the Laurel Highlands, a five-county conservation landscape east of Pittsburgh shaped by Allegheny Plateau ridges, forests, rivers and historic communities. The setting supports hiking, cycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, picnicking and sightseeing, which makes safer vehicle access and clearer on-site interpretation useful beyond the tower itself.