Pulpit Rock–Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Sunset Point, 7 sights is a 12.2-mile out-and-back in Hamburg Reservoir Watershed near Drehersville, PA. The route passes Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Viewpoint and Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Sunset Point before reaching Pulpit Rock at the turnaround, 6.1 miles in. It climbs 2,580 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade. It scores 77/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi502 – 1,588 ft · steepest grade: 16%12.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 40.62883, -76.01141
Nearest town Drehersville, PA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Pulpit Rock–Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Sunset Point, 7 sights
12.2 mi · ▲ 2,580 ft · 5 hr 21 min
Elevation 503–1,588 ft
Out & Back · Hamburg Reservoir Watershed
Trailhead: 40.62883, -76.01141
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 7:32 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 150 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 2.4 miSharp left, heading S.
- 0.8 miSharp right onto Appalachian National Scenic Trail, heading NE.
- 0.9 miBear left onto Pinnacle Trail / Appalachian Trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Furnace Creek Trail, heading S.
- 350 ftBear right onto Red Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miPass Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Viewpoint.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miPass Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Sunset Point.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Reservoir Road, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Valley Rim Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 150 ftReach Pulpit Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Reservoir Road, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Red Trail, heading NW.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Furnace Creek Trail, heading W.
- 400 ftSharp right, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Pinnacle Trail / Appalachian Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Appalachian National Scenic Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miSharp left, heading N.
- 0.8 miSharp right, heading NW.
- 2.4 miSharp right, heading NW.
- 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 surface
48% rock28% dirt1% paved23% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 7:32 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~36 min). Leave by 6:36 PM for the 7:32 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail 8 mi · ▲ 1,594 ft
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail 8.2 mi · ▲ 1,681 ft
- Pinnacle Trail & fire break 8.6 mi · ▲ 1,899 ft
- Appalachian Trail via Appalachian National Scenic Trail 9 mi · ▲ 1,879 ft
- Lycoming Trail–Old Fire Tower Road, 3 sights 9.8 mi · ▲ 1,550 ft
- Rattlesnake Trail (snowmobile) Sunset Point–Blue Trail Loop, 5 sights 11.4 mi · ▲ 2,015 ft
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Hikes near Drehersville, Pennsylvania