Hikes: Pennsylvania

Hike Name Wolf Rocks*
Closest Town Wind Gap. Stroudsburg, PA
Difficulty Level** Moderate
Distance 3.2 miles round trip
Features Views, one of the rockiest sections of the A.T.
Description From Pennsyylvania 191 in Fox Gap, hike south on the A.T. and cross under a ttelephone line in 0.25 mile.  Hike another 0.5 mile to where the Trail joins a woods road and follow it for 0.6 mile. After leaving the woods road, hike 0.25 miles to Wolf Rocks.  Retrace your steps to return to the parking area.
Directions There is a small parking area in Fox Gap on Pensylvania 191 about 4 miles south of PA 611.

 

Hike Name Weathering Knob*
Closest Town Danielsville, PA
Difficulty Level** Moderate to strenuous
Distance 2 miles round trip
Features Great views from Weathering Knob
Description This hike has a steep, but short climb (0.3 mile).  Follow the A.T. north, first passing through an area that except in the driest of years, is wet and boggy.  From here, it is a steep climb over rocks and boulders (made easier by stone steps built by volunteers) to the top of Weathering Knob at 0.3 mile. The view to the north looks onto the valley carved by Aquashicola Creek and framed by Stony and Chestnut Ridges.  You have gained about all of the elevation you need to, so the hiking will be quite easy as you continue along the crest of Blue Mountain to a second knob at 1 mile.  Agricultural fields and small settlements are visible to the south.  Retrace your steps to return to the A.T.
Directions This hike starts where the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) crosses Blue Mountain Rd at Little Gap. Follow Blue Mountain Rd north from Danielsville, PA. Park at the PA Game Commission parking on Blue Mountain Road several hundred feet east of the trail. A side trail along a pipeline leads from the back of the lot to the A.T.

 

Hike Name Bake Oven Knob*
Closest Town Andreas, Bowmanstown, Palmerton PA
Difficulty Level** Easy
Distance 0.8 mile round trip
Features Great view from Bake Over Knob, hawk watching during the fall migration
Description From Bake Oven Knob Road, hike north on the A.T. and reach the summit of Bake Over Knob (elevation 1,560) at mile 0.4. There are a couple of vantage points. The first offers a view to the north, the second to the south.  Retrace your steps to return to the A.T.
Directions From Pennsylvania 895 in Andreas, Bake Oven Knob Road leads up to the Pennsylvania Game Commission parking lot near Bake Oven Knob.

 

Hike Name Table Rock*
Closest Town Dauphin or Powells Valley, PA
Difficulty Level** Easy
Distance 4.2 miles round trip
Features Great views
Description From the trailhead  parking area, follow the A.T. north. Pass a radio facility for the Pennsylvania Fish Commission on your right in 0.25 mile, and cross a powerline right-of-way in 0.5 mile, with excellent views to the east of the Susquehanna River and Valley.  A short side trail to the right at mile 1.6 leads to a good view to the south.  At mile 2, you will pass over Fumitory Rocks, and reach the junction with the short side trail to Table Rock Outlook 0.25 mile ahead.  The side trail heads right to the outcropping.  Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the view.  Return to the parking area by retracing your steps south along the A.T.
Directions Travel north from the town of Dauphin at US 22/322 or south of Powells Valley.  The trailhead parking area is off Pennsylvania 225 on a dirt road at the crest of Peters Mountain.  The A.T. follows the dirt road through the parking area.

 

Closest Town Blue Ridge Summit, PA
Difficulty Level** Strenuous
Distance 3 miles round trip
Features Great views
Description From the Trail crossing at Antietam (Old Forge) Road, cross Tumbling Run on a bridge.  The Trail turns right off the road in 0.1 mile and begins to climb moderately, then steeply.  Reach the junction with the blue-blazed trail that leads a short distance to Tumbling Run Shelter and continues another 0.5 mile to Hermitage Cabin, which is run by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC). The cabin is locked and reservations must be made to rent it.  From Hermitage Cabin, the blue-blazed trail rejoins the A.T. in another 0.9 mile. Continue along the A.T. for 1.2 miles to the junction with the blue-blazed side trail that leads right 0.1 mile to Chimney Rocks.  To the left, the blue blazed trail continues to Hermitage Cabin.  From here, you can either retrace your steps south on the A.T. back to Antietam Road, or make a loop by taking the side trail to Hermitage Cabin and Tumbling Run Shelter. The side trail adds ony 0.25 mile or so to the total mileage of the trip.
Directions From Pennsylvania 16 just north of the town of Blue Ridge Summit, take a right on Rattlesnake Run Road.  Rattlesnake Run Road intersects Antittam (Old Forge) Road just north of the A.T. crossing.  Take a right on Antietam Road and follow it to the Trail crossing.