Stony Garden exceeded expectations with not one, but TWO musical boulder fields and unexpected surprises in the woods – even boulder caves and abstract art!
Seeking Out Stony Garden’s Resonant Rocks
Being overshadowed by its famous brother Ringing Rocks Park, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Stony Garden, tucked away in the woods of State Game Land 157 in Bucks County, PA. The road to the parking lot was named “Stony Garden Road” but there was no sign or other indicator of the existence of a boulder field. Other than being larger than I anticipated, the parking area was a typical State Game Land gravel lot. We took the single unblazed trail in the southeast corner. The trail cut through a large stand of young stripped maples and quickly became rocky, muddy, and wet. Reminiscent of the beloved childhood game “the floor is lava,” there was an abundance of boulders and logs enabling us to easily navigate the wet spots with dry feet.
About a thousand feet from the parking lot we encountered Haycock Run, resplendent with the morning sun shimmering on its surface. The plenteous boulders made this an easy dry crossing. The trail across the creek is slightly offset to the right of the crossing.
We successfully found the first Stony Garden boulder filed on the left side of the trail about 0.34 miles from the parking lot at 40.506505, -75.236854. The boulder filed was clearly visible from a distance through the leafless trees in late March. Unlike Ringing Rocks Park, there were no hammer marks or divots on the rocks. We saw no signs of other visitors, giving our adventure to Stony Garden a secluded, off-the-beaten path feel as we discovered for ourselves which were the secret resonant rocks hidden among the boulders. Be sure to check out the video at the end of the post.
After sounding the stones to our satisfaction, we left the first boulder field in search of the second. The trail does not lead to the second boulder field, so we relied on the map satellite image to guide us in the right direction through the rough, rocky terrain. From where you entered the first boulder field, head south to coordinates 40.504663, -75.237472. We were pleasantly surprised that second boulder field is significantly larger than the first, and in fact, there are two sections separated by a strip of trees. Watch us play the rocks in the video at the end of the post.
Beyond the boulder field, to the south and east, you can find Haycock creek meandering among the boulders.
Surprise! Stony Garden’s Boulder Caves and Modern Art?
After exploring the second, larger boulder field, head back in the direction of the first boulder field until you return to the trail. The trail can be hard to find because it becomes rocky and is not consistently blazed. Once you’ve located it, follow the trail uphill where you will encounter multiple boulder formations. Some of the formations, such as those shown below, resemble abstract art sculptures, making “Stony Garden” a fitting name for this place. We found these at an outcropping starting at 40.506742, -75.234589.
How did that round boulder get there?
There are many crevasses and caves among the boulders to be explored.
This intriguing feature is located at 40.507907, -75233456. We called it the “rock tent”. The gap at the base of the gigantic boulder leads into a hollow area within the rock. The photos don’t do it justice. You can climb through the gap, and the space in the rock is more than large enough to comfortably lie down or sit in.
This upright sentinel setting up on its side stands next to the “rock tent”
There is no shortage of boulder formations to explore at Stony Garden. We explored this one near the top of the hill at 40.506027, -75.231351.
This tree is growing directly on top of the boulder with hidden roots running through a cleft in the rock.
As the trail descended the hill we encountered this boulder off to the right of the trail. The split in the rock reminded me of the biblical account of YHWH providing water from the rock for Israel in the wilderness.
Make your way down the hill and you will reach a point where the land on the right (northeast) side of the trail is marked by private property signs. From here you can continue to the end of the trail which has been in the shape of a “U” and walk back to the parking lot via the road. Or you can go off trail and cut across to the other arm of the “U” back to the area of the first boulder field. Alternatively, you can backtrack the trail to the parking lot. If you choose to go off trail, do so when you first reach the private property signs on the right side of the trail, because if you proceed down the trail a little farther both sides are private property. See the map at the end of the post.
Overall, the hike was only 1.75 miles, but it was packed with adventure. With an attraction to the odd, we came primarily for the ringing rocks, not knowing about the surprises hidden in the woods. I thought maybe Stony Garden would be a lesser version of the more renown Ringing Rocks Park, but I was wrong. With two boulder fields of ringing rocks, a charming creek, and unusual and unexpected rock formations, Stony Garden exceeded expectations.
Parking is at: 40.50969, -75.24103
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