Explore the Magic of Ringing Rocks Park in Bucks County
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is home to many distinctive attractions, but one in particular gets guests making music. Ringing Rocks Park, a seven-acre, forested area near Upper Black Eddy, features a…
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is home to many distinctive attractions, but one in particular gets guests making music.
Ringing Rocks Park, a seven-acre, forested area near Upper Black Eddy, features a field of diabase boulders that ring like church bells when struck with hammers.
Visitors can tap rocks in Ringing Rocks Park and hear distinct musical tones from certain diabase boulders. Some of the rocks, however, remain “dead” and produce no ringing tones.
Related Story: New Jersey Towns to Explore Off the Beaten Path
Why do the boulders ring? According to Philly Bite, geologically, the rocks are diabase, an igneous rock formed during the Jurassic Period. These rocks are dense and contain high concentrations of iron and aluminum. This composition allows them to vibrate at certain pitch frequencies, producing musical tones when struck with a hammer.
If you plan to experience the phenomenon for yourself, follow these tips:
- Bring a metal-headed hammer (rubber mallets and wooden sticks won't work).
- Wear sturdy boots due to uneven, shifting terrain.
- Don't miss the scenery along the trail, including the waterfall on High Falls Creek.
Ringing Rocks Park is located along Ringing Rocks Road in Upper Black Eddy. The park is open daily from dawn to dusk.
