The boulders were formed by periglacial processes in the Pleistocene epoch, or "ice age".

[5] In 1929, the Pennsylvania Game Commission offered hunters $5 for every goshawk shot during migrating season,[6] as the birds were considered pests.

[6] In 1934, after decades of hawk and eagle slaughter on the ridge, Rosalie Edge unilaterally ended the annual shoot by buying the property, changing the name of the mountain to the present one,[5] and turning it into a sanctuary.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary was incorporated in 1938 and began year-round operations in 1946.

[6] The Game Commission bounty was terminated in 1951, although birds of prey continued to face threats, including from chemical pesticides like DDT.