AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Roaring Creek Tract - Weiser State Forest

McWilliams Reservoir–Bear Gap Reservoir, 8 sights

14.3 mi · ▲ 1,391 ft · 5 hr 28 min

McWilliams Reservoir–Bear Gap Reservoir, 8 sights is a 14.3-mile out-and-back in Roaring Creek Tract - Weiser State Forest near Bear Gap, PA. The route passes Bear Gap Reservoir and McWilliams Reservoir. It climbs 1,391 ft, with sections as steep as 44% grade. It scores 49/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi988 – 1,624 ft · steepest grade: 44%14.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.82242, -76.49309
Nearest town Bear Gap, PA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

McWilliams Reservoir–Bear Gap Reservoir, 8 sights

14.3 mi · ▲ 1,391 ft · 5 hr 28 min

Elevation 987–1,622 ft

Out & Back · Roaring Creek Tract - Weiser State Forest

Trailhead: 40.82242, -76.49309

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 75°F / low 64° · precip 12% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 7:34 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Bear Gap Reservoir.
  3. 100 ftTurn right onto Roaring Creek Trail, heading E.
  4. 1.3 miTurn right onto #1 Natalie Miner's Path West, heading S.
  5. 0.4 miSharp left, heading NE.
  6. 0.2 miBear right onto #1 Natalie Miner's Path East, heading SE.
  7. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  8. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Culm Bank Road, heading E.
  9. 350 ftTurn right onto Nitro Loop Trail, heading E.
  10. 450 ftBear left onto Culm Bank Road, heading E.
  11. 50 ftBear left onto Nitro Loop Trail, heading SE.
  12. 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
  13. 100 ftBear right, heading SE.
  14. 50 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  15. 450 ftBear right onto #2 Natalie Miner's Path, heading E.
  16. 150 ftTurn left onto Old Natalie Road Trail, heading E.
  17. 1.1 miTurn right onto Roaring Creek Trail, heading NE.
  18. 0.6 miTurn left onto South Branch Nature Trail, heading E.
  19. 0.8 miPass McWilliams Reservoir.
  20. 250 ftBear left onto McWilliam's Trail, heading E.
  21. 1.4 miTurn left onto Roaring Creek Trail, heading E.
  22. 0.9 miReach McWilliams Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 0.9 miTurn right onto McWilliam's Trail, heading W.
  24. 1.4 miBear right onto South Branch Nature Trail, heading W.
  25. 0.8 miTurn right onto Roaring Creek Trail, heading SW.
  26. 0.6 miTurn left onto Old Natalie Road Trail, heading W.
  27. 1.1 miTurn right onto #2 Natalie Miner's Path, heading SW.
  28. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  29. 450 ftContinue straight onto Nitro Loop Trail, heading S.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  31. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  32. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  33. 200 ftBear right onto Culm Bank Road, heading S.
  34. 50 ftBear right onto Nitro Loop Trail, heading S.
  35. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  36. 50 ftContinue straight onto Culm Bank Road, heading S.
  37. 0.2 miTurn right onto #1 Natalie Miner's Path East, heading W.
  38. 150 ftBear left, heading W.
  39. 0.2 miSharp right onto #1 Natalie Miner's Path West, heading W.
  40. 0.4 miTurn left onto Roaring Creek Trail, heading SW.
  41. 1.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  42. 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/mcwilliams-reservoir-bear-gap-reservoir-out-back-8-sights-23-km-d54e

Trail surface

39% gravel5% dirt56% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 75°F64°
Precip12%Wind7 mphUV6Humidity65%
Rained 2.3″ 2 days ago · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
75°60°
Sunrise 6:38 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:34 PM
Sun 73°59°
Mon 75°56°
Tue 77°53°
Wed 82°59° 17%
Thu 70°65° 29%
Fri 80°62°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~62 min). Leave by 6:12 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Bear Gap, Pennsylvania