Drakes Express–Gould Trail, 3 sights
14.5 mi · ▲ 2,729 ft · 6 hr 12 min
Drakes Express–Gould Trail, 3 sights is a 14.5-mile out-and-back in Graystones Preserve near Hickory Run, PA. It climbs 2,729 ft, with sections as steep as 34% grade. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Drakes Express–Gould Trail, 3 sights
14.5 mi · ▲ 2,729 ft · 6 hr 12 min
Elevation 878–1,577 ft
Out & Back · Graystones Preserve
Trailhead: Gould Trail · 41.02316, -75.72071
Weather Sep 8: sunrise 6:37 AM · sunset 7:26 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Gould Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.6 miSharp right onto Hickory Run Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 300 ftSharp right onto Sand Spring Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading S.
- 1.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.9 miBear right, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 1 miSharp left, heading S.
- 0.7 miBear right onto Drakes Express, heading SE.
- 0.4 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.8 miSharp left onto Sunset Drop, heading W.
- 300 ftReach Gould Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 0.8 miSharp left onto Drakes Express, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.7 miSharp right, heading W.
- 1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 200 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 1.4 miBear right onto Sand Spring Trail, heading NW.
- 0.7 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 300 ftSharp right onto Hickory Run Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading W.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Gould Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.5 mi in (~168 min). Leave by 4:18 PM for the 7:26 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:20 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Gould Trail Trailhead
- Bear Trail–Fireline Trail, 5 sights 12.7 mi · ▲ 1,049 ft
- Forest Lake Drive & Gould Trail via Pine Hill Trail 12.2 mi · ▲ 1,886 ft
- Pine Hill Trail 11.9 mi · ▲ 1,919 ft
- Pine Hill Trail 8.4 mi · ▲ 1,106 ft
- Gould Trail & Hickory Run Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 466 ft
- Hickory Run Trail via Gould Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 497 ft
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Hikes near Hickory Run, Pennsylvania