▁Philadelphia ▁and ▁the ▁Del aware ▁River ▁valley ; ▁cutting ▁off ▁over ▁ 1 0 0 ▁miles ▁between ▁Philadelphia ▁and ▁Wil kes - Bar re . ▁Today ' s ▁Route ▁PA ▁ 9 3 ▁der ives ▁from ▁this ▁historic ▁pack ▁m ule ▁road . ▁▁ ▁Rock ▁form ations ▁in ▁the ▁r idge ▁include ▁the ▁Lower ▁Hel der berg ▁Form ation , ▁the ▁On ond aga ▁Form ation , ▁the ▁Spe ch ty ▁K opf ▁Form ation , ▁the ▁Tr imm ers ▁Rock ▁Form ation , ▁and ▁the ▁M auch ▁Ch unk ▁Form ation . ▁In ▁the ▁most ▁recent ▁ice ▁age , ▁it ▁was ▁affected ▁by ▁gla ci ation . ▁ ▁Native ▁Americans ▁histor ically ▁settled ▁in ▁the ▁vic inity ▁of ▁N es cope ck ▁Mountain . ▁It ▁was ▁visited ▁by ▁Europe ans ▁as ▁early ▁as ▁ 1 7 5 5 . ▁The ▁r idge ' s ▁name ▁most ▁likely ▁means ▁" dir ty ▁waters " ▁or ▁" black ▁waters ". ▁Two ▁Pennsylvania ▁State ▁Game ▁Land s ▁and ▁one ▁state ▁park ▁are ▁situated ▁partially ▁on ▁it . ▁The ▁r idge ▁sp ans ▁numerous ▁town ships ▁in ▁Columbia ▁County ▁and ▁Lu zer ne ▁County . ▁ ▁Geography ▁ ▁The ▁elev ation ▁of ▁N es cope ck ▁Mountain ▁is ▁ ▁above ▁sea ▁level , ▁making ▁it ▁the ▁highest ▁r idge ▁in ▁Columbia ▁County . ▁Town ships ▁that ▁N es cope ck ▁Mountain ▁occup ies ▁include ▁Be aver ▁Township , ▁M if fl in ▁Township , ▁and ▁Main ▁Township ▁in ▁Columbia ▁County . ▁The ▁r idge ▁extends ▁into