Living in (or near) Pennsylvania means you’re never far from a great day hike! With the Appalachian Trail running through the eastern half of the state, you have several options for a fun hike to a great view.
We’ve done many of the popular (and some not-so-popular) Appalachian Trail day hikes in Pennsylvania. Some offer more challenges than others, but all of them are fun!
The guide below shares some of the best day hikes along the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania. So, let’s start planning your next adventure!
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Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is home to 229 miles of the Appalachian Trail, the fourth-longest stretch of the trail’s 14 states. This section of the trail can be very rocky, giving Pennsylvania its rightfully earned nickname “Rocksylvania.”
It is also where the Appalachian Trail’s halfway point is situated. This midpoint can be found in Pine Grove Furnace State Park, which also hosts the Appalachian Trail Museum.
Things to Know Before You Hike Along the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania
Dangerous Cliffs
Most of the overlooks along the Appalachian Trail feature steep drop-offs. Be aware of your surroundings and keep kids and pets close to you.
Wildlife
Rattlesnakes and copperhead snakes are common to see along the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania. Keep an eye out for them (they like to sun themselves on the rocks), and maintain a safe distance.
Be a Responsible Visitor
Remember to respect nature as you hike these trails. Stay on established paths, pack out your trash (including food waste), and leave what you find behind.
The more popular these destinations become, the more we need to be diligent about keeping our parks and lands clean and safe for all. You can learn more here.
Best Day Hikes in Pennsylvania on the Appalachian Trail
Chimney Rocks
| Trail Location: | Old Forge Road in Michaux State Forest (South Mountain, PA) |
| Trail Length: | 3 miles (out and back) or 3.6 miles (loop) |
| Trail Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Trail Type: | Out and back or loop |
| Elevation Gain: | 1000 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes |
Located within Michaux State Forest, the Chimney Rocks overlook offers beautiful views and fun rock scrambling. If you take the Appalachian Trail out and back, the trail is about 4 miles total. You’ll encounter some steep sections and several rocks, but overall, the trail is moderate.
Alternatively, on your return, you can make the trail a loop using the blue-blazed Hermitage Trail. From the overlook, you’ll walk along a service road for a short distance before continuing on the trail. There are some switchbacks along the trail, making the descent a little easier on the legs. This will lengthen the hike to 4.4 miles.
Pole Steeple
| Trail Location: | Old Railroad Bed Road (Follow the dead end) in Pine Grove Furnace State Park (Gardeners, PA) |
| Trail Length: | 3.4 miles |
| Trail Difficulty: | Easy side of moderate |
| Trail Type: | Out and back |
| Elevation Gain: | 560 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes |
Probably one of the most popular overlooks in Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Pole Steeple offers some gorgeous views of Laurel Lake. We saw a bald eagle flying around during our hike, so keep an eye out for the beautiful birds.
You have a few options to reach the Pole Steeple Overlook.
The first is along the Appalachian Trail, starting at the dead end on Old Railroad Road. The trail is about 3.4 miles long and moderately easy.
The second option is shorter but steeper. Park at the lot next to Laurel Lake on Old Railroad Bed Road and head straight up the mountain. This out-and-back is about 1.5 miles.
Like most of the Appalachian Trail overlooks in Pennsylvania, this one is very rocky and requires some scrambling at the top.
Lehigh Gap East Loop
| Trail Location: | At the Appalachian Trail Walnutport Parking off Lehigh Drive in Walnutport, PA |
| Trail Length: | 2.5 miles |
| Trail Difficulty: | Hard with rock scrambles |
| Trail Type: | Loop |
| Elevation Gain: | 850 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | No |
This is one of our favorite Appalachian Trail hikes in Pennsylvania! But it’s not for those with a fear of heights due to the rock scrambling at the top.
The Lehigh Gap East Loop is best done counter-clockwise, given the rock scramble going up. If you take the winter trail back down to the parking area, the full loop is 2.5 miles long.
If you want to avoid the rock scrambling altogether, you can take the winter trail as an out and back. Thanks to several switchbacks, that section is on the easy side of moderate.
Bake Oven Knob
| Trail Location: | Trailhead for Bake Oven Knob is off the northeast parking area on Bake Oven Rd in Germansville, PA |
| Trail Length: | .4 miles to overlook (.8 miles total) |
| Trail Difficulty: | Easy side moderate. Slight incline and a rocky trail. The lookout is rocky, with large boulders to climb on. |
| Trail Type: | Out and back |
| Elevation Gain: | 150 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes |
The trail to the Bake Oven Knob overlook is the shortest Appalachian Trail day hike on this list.
This is a popular trail because of its short length, so you’re likely to encounter crowds on the weekends and in the summertime. We hiked this section in March after a snowfall and had the place to ourselves, so if you’re comfortable hiking in the winter, it’s a great time to visit.
Although the trail is rocky and slightly inclined, it is less than one mile long and moderately easy. If you want a longer hike, you can easily combine it with the trail to Bear Rocks and Knife’s Edge (see below)/
Bear Rocks and Knife’s Edge
| Trail Location: | The Trailhead for Bear Rocks is off the western parking area on Bake Oven Rd in Germansville, PA |
| Trail Length: | 1.4 miles to Bear Rocks or 2.3 miles to Knife’s Edge. (4.6 out and back) |
| Trail Difficulty: | Moderate for Bear Rocks Knife’s Edge requires rock scrambling and may be hard for some |
| Trail Type: | Out and back |
| Elevation Gain: | 100 feet (does not include the scramble to the top of Bear Rocks, which will add 50 feet) |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes (smaller dogs may have difficulty navigating the rocks at Bear Rocks) |
We love this section of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania because if you hike to both overlooks, you’ll have views both to the north and south.
The trail to Bear Rocks is mostly flat and uneventful, but it becomes more rocky as you approach the overlook.
Both overlooks require some form of rock scrambling. The Bear Rocks scramble features a 50-foot climb along large boulders. Knife’s Edge is aptly named because the rocks jut from the ground at an angle.
If you hike to both overlooks, the total trail length is 4.6 miles out and back, though you can shorten it to 2.8 miles if you only hike to Bear Rocks.
Pulpit and Pinnacle
| Trail Location: | The trail’s parking lot is about .5 miles north on Reservoir Road off of Mountain Road in Hamburg, PA. The trailhead is another .5 mile up Reservoir Road on your right-hand side. |
| Trail Length: | The full loop is 9 miles, but you can shorten the hike by hiking to the Pulpit and back (3.8 miles). |
| Trail Difficulty: | Moderate-Hard. The trail’s steep grades and rocks keep this hike fun and interesting. |
| Trail Type: | Loop or Out-and-Back |
| Elevation Gain: | 1250 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes |
If you ask anyone for a good hike in southeastern Pennsylvania, they’ll most likely respond, “Pulpit and Pinnacle.” And for good reason! It’s a fun but strenuous hike that includes two beautiful overlooks.
If you choose to hike this section of the Appalachian Trail, prepare for it to take up a large portion of your day. If you’re hiking in late fall or winter, make sure you’ll have enough daylight to complete the trail.
The trail starts off steep from Reservoir Road until you pass the Pulpit Overlook. From there, the elevation gain is minimal, but it’s still very rocky.
For a shorter option, you can leave from Blue Rocks Campground. Learn more about that here.
Wolf Rocks
| Trail Location: | Fox Gap at Valley View Drive in Bangor, PA (40.93545333877917, -75.19702250066868) |
| Trail Length: | 3.5 miles, out and back (there is a 4.4-mile loop option, too) |
| Trail Difficulty: | Moderate, mainly due to the rock scramble to the overlook |
| Trail Type: | Out and back or Loop |
| Elevation Gain: | 355 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes |
Although Wolf Rocks doesn’t offer the expansive views that the other hikes on this list do, it is still worth checking out.
This is the trail you’ll want to take if you’d like a quiet hike along the Appalachian Trail. It’s not as popular as the other trails, so you’re less likely to fight for a seat at the overlook.
Overall, the trail to Wolf Rocks is relatively easy until you reach the rock scramble. It’s very similar to Bear Rocks in that respect. Once you complete the scramble, it’s a short distance to the overlook. From there, you can continue to make a loop or return the way you came.
Mount Minsi
| Trail Location: | The trail’s parking lot is on Lake Road in the Delaware Water Gap. The trailhead is about 3/10 mile from the parking lot. |
| Trail Length: | 4.8 miles (out and back) |
| Trail Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Trail Type: | Out and back or loop |
| Elevation Gain: | 1050 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes |
Mount Minsi is the sister trail to Mount Tammany in the Delaware Water Gap. Each trail gives an overlook of the other.
This is a very popular Pennsylvania day hike on the Appalachian Trail, so the small parking lot fills up quickly. It’s best to arrive early or visit during the off-season.
The trail features a couple of overlooks, including the first one, Lookout Rock, which is off the Appalachian Trail, and an overlook of Mount Tammany, about 2 miles from the trailhead. The final overlook is at the old fire tower, looking south towards the Delaware River.
Overall, the trail is steep and rocky in sections, making it moderately difficult. You can do an out-and-back or make a loop by taking the fire road and extending the hike a 1/2 mile.
Other Day Hikes on the Appalachian Trail
We’ve enjoyed some other fun day hikes along the Appalachian Trail outside of Pennsylvania, including Sunfish Pond in New Jersey and Weverton Cliffs in Maryland. Even the easy and short “hike” to the original Washington Monument!
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