Pulpit Rock–Rattlesnake Trail (snowmobile) Sunset Point, 9 sights is a 9.9-mile out-and-back in Hamburg Reservoir Watershed near Port Clinton, PA. The route passes Rattlesnake Trail (snowmobile) Sunset Point, Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Viewpoint and Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Sunset Point before reaching Pulpit Rock at the turnaround, 5 miles in. It climbs 1,231 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly rock. It scores 79/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi1,201 – 1,588 ft · steepest grade: 18%10.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Slusser Road 40.59573, -76.01052
Nearest town Port Clinton, PA
Directions
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Pulpit Rock–Rattlesnake Trail (snowmobile) Sunset Point, 9 sights
9.9 mi · ▲ 1,231 ft · 3 hr 55 min
Elevation 1,201–1,588 ft
Out & Back · Hamburg Reservoir Watershed
Trailhead: Slusser Road · 40.59573, -76.01052
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 7:32 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Slusser Road, heading NE.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Pinnacle Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Rattlesnake Trail (snowmobile) Sunset Point.
- 2.3 miBear right onto Appalachian National Scenic Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Pinnacle Trail / Appalachian Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Furnace Creek Trail, heading SE.
- 350 ftBear right onto Red Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miPass Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Viewpoint.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miPass Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Sunset Point.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Reservoir Road, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Valley Rim Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftReach Pulpit Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Reservoir Road, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Trail, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Red Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Furnace Creek Trail, heading NW.
- 350 ftSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Pinnacle Trail / Appalachian Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Appalachian National Scenic Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Pinnacle Trail, heading W.
- 2.2 miContinue straight onto Slusser Road, heading NW.
- 0.6 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
84% rock3% dirt1% paved12% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 7:32 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 7:09 PM for the 7:32 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:49 PM — 11 min before dark.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Slusser Road Trailhead
- Coldren Road 2.5 mi · ▲ 759 ft
- Rattlesnake Trail (snowmobile) Sunset Point via Pinnacle Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 257 ft
- Pocahontas Spring & Rattlesnake Trail (snowmobile) Sunset Point via Appalachian National Scenic Trail 5.6 mi · ▲ 1,639 ft
- The Pinnacle–Pinnacle Viewpoint, 5 sights 11.3 mi · ▲ 811 ft
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Hikes near Port Clinton, Pennsylvania