Wolf Rocks offers a fun rock scramble and good views for an easy hike along the Appalachian Trail in eastern Pennsylvania.
This 3.5-mile, out-and-back trail is mostly flat and easy until you reach the rock scramble that takes you to 180° views of Poplar Valley near Stroudsburg, PA.
Although other sections in eastern PA are more challenging, we still enjoyed our hike to Wolf Rocks on the Appalachian Trail. The guide below has everything you need to know if you’re interested in hiking to Wolf Rocks. So, let’s plan your next adventure!
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Hiking to Wolf Rocks at Fox Gap in Pennsylvania
The trail to Wolf Rocks is pretty uneventful. For a section the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, it is not very rocky until you reach the scramble. There is a bypass for the scramble, but then you’ll miss the good views!
This trail can be done as an out-and-back, about 3.5 miles long, or as a lollipop loop, about 4.5 miles long.
The Batona Hiking Club maintains this portion of the Appalachian Trail, and they do a great job! They have great signage, including a thorough trail map to Wolf Rocks.
Things to Know Before You Hike to Wolf Rocks
Parking
The parking area for the Wolf Rocks section of the Appalachian Trail is small and holds about a dozen cars. This isn’t a popular section of the trail for day hikers (compared to the more popular Mount Minsi nearby), so it shouldn’t be too difficult to grab a parking spot. We were the only ones parked there on the day of our hike.
Amenities
There are no bathrooms at the Wolf Rocks trailhead. However, we combined this hike with a visit to the Columcille Megalith Park on Quaker Plain Road (which we highly recommend—it’s so unusual and beautiful), and they had port-a-johns on the property.
Pets
Dogs are allowed on the Appalachian Trail. However, this section involves some rock scrambling.
Wildlife
Pennsylvania has many types of wildlife, including black bears and poisonous snakes like rattlesnakes and copperhead snakes. Always be aware of your surroundings and watch out for the wildlife.
Be a Responsible Visitor
Remember, as you visit this trail, to respect nature. 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.
The Appalachian Trail to 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 |
Trailhead
The trailhead is at the Fox Gap parking area on Valley View Drive. Follow the white trail blazes marking the Appalachian Trail. There is a bulletin board with a map of the Wolf Rocks loop, plus other information about the area.
Along The Trail
As much as Pennsylvania is known as “Rocksylvania” along the Appalachian Trail, this section is surprisingly flat—which I’m sure is a nice reprieve for the thru-hikers! It reminded me of the section we took to Bear Rocks. This section of the trail is pretty easy and uneventful.
Powerline Vista
About a mile into the trail, you’ll cross under powerlines, offering a view looking out towards Poplar Valley.
Wolf Rocks Bypass Trail
Before the rock scramble, you’ll see the Wolf Rocks Bypass Trail, which is marked with blue blazes. If you want to do the loop, you’ll take this trail back to the Appalachian Trail after climbing up to Wolf Rocks.
The Rock Scramble to Wolf Rocks
The rock scramble is similar to the others along the Appalachian Trail, like the one at Bear Rocks. It’s not difficult, but finding the right rocks to step on takes some time.
Once you make it to the top of the ridge, you still have to walk along a rocky trail to the overlook.
At Wolf Rocks
The large outcropping gives beautiful 180° views of the Poplar Valley below. It’s not the best view along the Appalachian Trail in eastern PA (that would belong to the Pinnacle), but it still pays off for the short hike and limited effort.
After reaching the outcropping, you can backtrack down the rock scramble, bringing the total trail length to about 3.5 miles, or you can do the loop to extend the hike another mile.
Other Hikes Near Wolf Rocks
If you’re interested in hikes that are a little more challenging than the one to Wolf Rocks, check out Mount Minsi near East Stroudsburg or its New Jersey counterpart, Mount Tammany.
Other fun sections of the Appalachian Trail include Bear Rocks and Knife’s Edge, the Pinnacle and Pulpit, and the Lehigh Gap East Loop.
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