Nature
Catawissa Mountain in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, rises to 1,873 feet and is the county’s fifth-highest mountain, with a short, rounded form that contrasts with nearby ridges. Its sandstone geology and Pocono Formation connect it to the larger ridge-and-valley system of eastern Pennsylvania. The mountain’s slopes feed tributaries of lower Catawissa Creek, while vernal pools support amphibians including American toads, wood frogs, and spotted salamanders. Its name may come from Delaware or Shawanese words meaning “pure water,” and a Native American village once stood nearby. Later, roads and charcoal making tied the mountain to local industry, while today it remains an important forest corridor for hunting, conservation, and wildlife.
Hear stories like this as you drive
ExploreHere reads historical markers out loud as you pass them: over 325,000 stories across the US. No account needed.
4.7 · 800+ ratings · Free
FIND IT
Pennsylvania · United States
