Located north of Jim Thorpe, PA. No park fee. Head to Visitors Center first. Get a lay of the land and decide how to tackle what you want to do. We decided to do several shorter hikes. First, we drove further on Rt 54 to Skyline trail and found a picturesque view of the Lehigh River Gorge. Next, we backtracked to the turnoff to Boulder Field. We stopped enroute to see Hickory Run Lake. Very lovely setting. Then on to Boulder Field where we learned how an advancing giant glacier during the Ice Age created this amazing field of boulders. After venturing out onto these precarious rocks we headed back to the VC. After a snack we walked a beautiful trail called Shades of Dead, which is to the left of the building. We chose to shorten the hike by turning around at the second pond. Final stop was on our way out of the park at the Hawk Falls. Another great trail with a great destination. The falls and river setting was very nice. Hickory Run SP is a wonderful place to spend a day in the beauty of nature.

Compton Peak Trail begins on the AT directly across from the Compton Gap Parking Area located after milepost 10. A trail kiosk found at the far end of the lot details the short 2.4 mi r/t hike incl the two spurs at the top. At the intersection at the top go right (west) to view the wonderful overlook of the Shenandoah Valley. But DO NOT miss going left (east) to see the amazing & unusual volcanic columns created by uneven cooling of rising magma. Be sure to follow the blue blaze down and around the overlook boulder at the end to discover the wall of columnar joints. Both spurs are only 0.2 mi. (I'd suggest seeing the columns first.) This is a really great, short hike! Nice ascent and great destinations. Poles are advised.