South Mountain Faces

Seeps and springs abound on the slopes creating important wetland environments in this area. Several Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Areas are found in this area including the Strawberry Hill Preserve. This preserve contains forests of varying ages including older stands of eastern hemlock with yellow birch and a variety of oaks mixed with beech.  The Arendtsville Narrows Ravine area supports a small population of lobed spleenwort, a plant Species of Special Concern by the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, on the rock outcrops. Older hemlocks dominate the northeast-facing slope.

Physical remnants of many indigenous people are found in the South Mountain Faces landscape, beginning in the Paleoindian period almost 10,000 years ago, up until European contact in the 1600s.

The South Mountain Faces countryside abounds with 18th and 19th century relics from the iron industry and is adjacent to both Michaux State Forest, the oldest state forest in Pennsylvania, and Pine Grove Furnace State Park, with remnants of a charcoal-fired iron furnace. Other significant sites in the area include the Jacks Mountain Covered Bridge, Fairfield Inn and Historic District.

Michaux State Forest’s original woodlands were cut in the 19th century for charcoal to fuel the iron furnaces. Regeneration and replanting the forests have resulted in hardwoods for sustainable timber harvesting. The forested slopes of the South Mountain Faces provide critical habitat for animals such as the Appalachian cottontail, short-eared owl, barn owl, and the American bittern.

The Adams County Fruit Belt, containing thousands of acres of highly productive orchards, lies to the east of the South Mountain Faces and is identified as a Critical Treasure. Cultural areas and events within view of the South Mountain Faces include the  National Apple Museum  in Biglersville and the annual  Apple Blossom and Apple Harvest Festivals , which attract nearly 100,000 visitors.