AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Pennypack Creek south of Paper Mill Road.jpeg
Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust

The Peak Woods–Crossroads Marsh, 3 groves

9.5 mi · ▲ 248 ft · 3 hr 17 min

The Peak Woods–Crossroads Marsh, 3 groves is a 9.5-mile out-and-back in Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust near Churchville, PA. The route passes Crossroads Marsh before reaching The Peak Woods at the turnaround, 4.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 248 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi128 – 256 ft10.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Newtown Rail Trail 40.18251, -75.02192
Nearest town Churchville, PA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

The Peak Woods–Crossroads Marsh, 3 groves

9.5 mi · ▲ 248 ft · 3 hr 17 min

Elevation 128–257 ft

Out & Back · Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust

Trailhead: Newtown Rail Trail · 40.18251, -75.02192

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:27 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: stop 420 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Newtown Rail Trail, heading W.
  2. 1.3 miBear right, heading W.
  3. 1.8 miContinue straight onto Pennypack Trail, heading SW.
  4. 0.4 miTurn right onto Paper Mill Woods Trail, heading S.
  5. 50 ftTurn left onto Pennypack Trail, heading S.
  6. 0.7 miPass Crossroads Marsh.
  7. 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftTurn right onto Paper Mill Road Trail, heading SE.
  9. 0.1 miSharp left onto Management Trail, heading W.
  10. 450 ftPass The Peak Woods.
  11. 0.1 miTurn left onto Raytharn Trail, heading SE.
  12. 500 ftReach The Peak Woods, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 500 ftTurn right onto Management Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.2 miSharp right onto Paper Mill Road Trail, heading E.
  15. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  16. 50 ftBear left onto Pennypack Trail, heading NW.
  17. 0.8 miTurn right onto Paper Mill Woods Trail, heading N.
  18. 50 ftTurn left onto Pennypack Trail, heading N.
  19. 2.2 miBear left onto Newtown Rail Trail, heading NE.
  20. 1.1 miArrive 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/crossroads-marsh-newtown-rail-trail-out-back-3-sights-19-km

Trail surface

72% gravel18% paved2% dirt2% grass6% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 7:27 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~30 min). Leave by 6:38 PM for the 7:27 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:10 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Transit-accessible: stop 420 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Newtown Rail Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Churchville, Pennsylvania