Are you looking for a new hiking experience or a place to unwind after a long day? Columcille Megalith Park in Bangor, Pa., is a unique outdoor sanctuary open to the public for exploration and quiet meditation.

Columcille Megalith Park is “a land of myth and mystery located in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Pennsylvania,” according to columcille.org.

Visitors may enter the park through the infinity gate and stop by the Voyager’s Lounge to pick up a map. There are wooded trails for hiking and standing stones throughout the 17 acres of land.

“Since the onset of human consciousness, whenever clouds of darkness have gathered, humankind has raised up stones to call forth light,” William “Bill” Cohea Jr., founder of Columcille Park said. “Today, black clouds hover over a divided America and an anxious world. Columcille Megalith Park responds: Let there be light!” (billcohea.com).

Cohea is a retired Presbyterian minister, pastor, teacher and social activist.

As a young minister, Cohea visited the Island of Iona off the coast of Scotland. During his visit, he fell asleep and had a dream that stones surrounded him and they said, “Bill you need to stand us up,” according to Eleanor Thompson, Columcille Coordinator.

She said he did not quite understand what this profound dream meant. In the years yet to come, Cohea realized what he was destined to create.

He continued his ministry in New York, Chicago and throughout the United States with his church and social justice programs.

After turning 50, he decided to purchase some property from the Kirkridge Retreat center.

“He more or less walked away from what his life was then and started standing stones,” Thompson said.

Cohea researched the history of Iona and discovered there were over 57 Scottish kings buried on the land. It is considered a holy island. Iona “used to be known as the island of standing stones,” Thompson said. There originally were more than 350 standing stones on the land.

When Cohea fell asleep on Iona, it is believed that he connected with some ancient energies of the land, according to Thompson. These energies and spiritual legacy inspired the creation of the park.

“He made his dream a reality,” Thompson said. “I would like to think that when people come they sense the peace of a legacy and in doing so he gives other people permission to manifest their own dreams.”

Cohea’s mission was to create an open space that encourages individuals of various faith backgrounds and traditions to gather for transformation and renewal, according to columcille.org.

The stones are pre-Celtic meaning they are “primal and archetypal energies and styles,” according to columcille.org. Each stone holds a different meaning for every individual.

Thompson believes that the directions of the stones standing up are like “acupuncture for mother earth.”

“When you have acupuncture on your flesh, it redirects the energy and creates a healing space on your flesh,” Thompson said.

Her favorite area of the park is the Stone Circle. She enjoys watching the sunrise, and in the evening she views the “glow time” there. This is when the sun sets right before dusk and the land radiates.

More than 5,000 people visit the park every year.

Some events that are held at Columcille include the Blessing of Animals, Spring Equinox Sunrise Observance, Summer Solstice Gathering, Autumn Equinox Sunrise Observance, Winter Solstice Sunrise Observance, and Full Moon Gatherings.

“The word solstice is an ancient word that means the sun stands still,” Thompson said.

This year marks the 38th anniversary of the park.

Columcille Megalith Park is located at 2155 Fox Gap Road in Bangor. If you are interested in learning more, you can read Cohea’s “From the Beginning to the Beginning” book or watch his documentary, “Dancing with the Stones.”

The park is approximately one hour away from Wilkes University.

For more information or directions, visit columcille.org or email [email protected].