AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Frick Park

Cowboy Hill–Fern Hollow, 3 summits

2.6 mi · ▲ 554 ft · 1 hr 9 min

Cowboy Hill–Fern Hollow, 3 summits is a 2.6-mile out-and-back in Frick Park near Swisshelm Park, PA. The route passes Fern Hollow before reaching Cowboy Hill at the turnaround, 1.3 miles in. It climbs 554 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi758 – 1,024 ft · steepest grade: 20%3.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Nine Mile Run Trail 40.42440, -79.90509
Nearest town Swisshelm Park, PA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cowboy Hill–Fern Hollow, 3 summits

2.6 mi · ▲ 554 ft · 1 hr 9 min

Elevation 756–1,023 ft

Out & Back · Frick Park

Trailhead: Nine Mile Run Trail · 40.42440, -79.90509

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:52 AM · sunset 7:47 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 150 ftBear right onto Nine Mile Run Trail, heading N.
  3. 150 ftContinue straight onto Nine Mile Run Trail (detour), heading N.
  4. 250 ftBear right onto Nine Mile Run Trail, heading N.
  5. 100 ftTurn left onto Deer Creek Trail, heading N.
  6. 350 ftBear left onto Iron Gate Trail, heading N.
  7. 250 ftBear right onto Downhill Drop, heading N.
  8. 450 ftBear right onto Lower Concrete Block Trail, heading NW.
  9. 400 ftSharp left onto Concrete Block Connector, heading NE.
  10. 50 ftTurn right onto Lower Riverview Trail, heading NE.
  11. 400 ftContinue straight onto Fire Lane Ext. Trail, heading N.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lower Riverview Trail, heading N.
  13. 350 ftContinue straight onto Downward Dog Trail, heading NE.
  14. 400 ftPass Fern Hollow.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Tranquil Trail, heading NE.
  16. 0.2 miTurn left onto Biddle Trail, heading NE.
  17. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  18. 50 ftTurn right onto Tranquil Trail, heading NE.
  19. 0.3 miBear right onto Homewood Trail, heading W.
  20. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  22. 50 ftBear left onto Rosemary Trail, heading N.
  23. 50 ftTurn left onto Kensington Trail, heading NW.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  25. 50 ftBear right onto Cowboy Hill Connector, heading NW.
  26. 100 ftTurn left onto Solstice Trail, heading NW.
  27. 200 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  28. 100 ftReach Cowboy Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  29. 350 ftTurn right onto Cowboy Hill Connector, heading N.
  30. 100 ftBear left, heading N.
  31. 50 ftTurn left onto Kensington Trail, heading N.
  32. 50 ftTurn right onto Rosemary Trail, heading N.
  33. 100 ftBear right, heading N.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  35. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  36. 150 ftContinue straight onto Homewood Trail, heading NE.
  37. 100 ftBear left onto Tranquil Trail, heading N.
  38. 0.3 miTurn left onto Biddle Trail, heading NW.
  39. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  40. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  41. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Tranquil Trail, heading SW.
  42. 350 ftContinue straight onto Downward Dog Trail, heading S.
  43. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lower Riverview Trail, heading S.
  44. 400 ftContinue straight onto Fire Lane Ext. Trail, heading SE.
  45. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lower Riverview Trail, heading SE.
  46. 400 ftTurn left onto Concrete Block Connector, heading S.
  47. 50 ftSharp right onto Lower Concrete Block Trail, heading S.
  48. 350 ftBear left, heading E.
  49. 50 ftContinue straight onto Downhill Drop, heading SW.
  50. 400 ftBear left onto Iron Gate Trail, heading S.
  51. 200 ftBear right onto Deer Creek Trail, heading S.
  52. 350 ftTurn right onto Nine Mile Run Trail, heading SW.
  53. 50 ftBear left onto Nine Mile Run Trail (detour), heading SW.
  54. 250 ftContinue straight onto Nine Mile Run Trail, heading SW.
  55. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  56. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/cowboy-hill-fern-hollow-out-back-3-summits

Trail surface

52% gravel42% dirt2% rock4% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:52 AMSunset 7:47 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Nine Mile Run Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Swisshelm Park, Pennsylvania