AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ecology Grove & Great Buck Lake via Wakoda Road

1.9 mi · ▲ 518 ft · 54 min

Ecology Grove & Great Buck Lake via Wakoda Road is a 1.9-mile out-and-back near Smiths Corner, PA. The route passes Great Buck Lake before reaching Ecology Grove at the turnaround, 0.8 miles in. It climbs 518 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 57/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi207 – 459 ft · steepest grade: 21%2.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Bucks' Crossing 40.43488, -75.08588
Nearest town Smiths Corner, PA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Ecology Grove & Great Buck Lake via Wakoda Road

1.9 mi · ▲ 518 ft · 54 min

Elevation 207–460 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Bucks' Crossing · 40.43488, -75.08588

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:28 PM

Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  3. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  4. 250 ftPass Great Buck Lake.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  6. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  9. 100 ftTurn right onto Great Buck Trail, heading NW.
  10. 0.1 miSharp left onto Ho Chi Mischke Trail, heading N.
  11. 0.1 miBear right onto Shooting Sports Access Road, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftTurn right onto Shooting Sports Trail, heading W.
  13. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  14. 0.2 miPass Ecology Grove.
  15. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftBear left onto Wakoda Road, heading E.
  17. 500 ftTurn right, heading E.
  18. 400 ftReach Ecology Grove, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  20. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  21. 0.2 miBear left onto Shooting Sports Trail, heading W.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left onto Shooting Sports Access Road, heading NW.
  23. 50 ftBear left onto Ho Chi Mischke Trail, heading NW.
  24. 0.1 miSharp right onto Great Buck Trail, heading SW.
  25. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  26. 100 ftBear right, heading NE.
  27. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  28. 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  30. 250 ftBear right, heading E.
  31. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  32. 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/ecology-grove-great-buck-lake-out-back-3-km-1d32

Trail surface

61% dirt2% other37% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 7:28 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 7:04 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:46 PM — 10 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead

More from Bucks' Crossing Trailhead

Hikes near Smiths Corner, Pennsylvania