Pulpit Rock–Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Sunset Point, 8 sights is an 8.1-mile out-and-back in Hamburg Reservoir Watershed near Eckville, PA. The route passes Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Viewpoint and Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Sunset Point before reaching Pulpit Rock at the turnaround, 4.1 miles in. It climbs 1,623 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly rock. It scores 83/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi623 – 1,588 ft · steepest grade: 18%8.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Appalachian Trail 40.62549, -75.95365
Nearest town Eckville, PA
Directions
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Pulpit Rock–Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Sunset Point, 8 sights
8.1 mi · ▲ 1,623 ft · 3 hr 31 min
Elevation 623–1,590 ft
Out & Back · Hamburg Reservoir Watershed
Trailhead: Appalachian Trail · 40.62549, -75.95365
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 7:31 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Appalachian Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Appalachian National Scenic Trail, heading S.
- 1.8 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 miSharp right onto Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Viewpoint.
- 0.4 miPass Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Sunset Point.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Reservoir Road, heading E.
- 300 ftTurn left onto Valley Rim Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 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 E.
- 300 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Trail, heading E.
- 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 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Appalachian Trail, heading N.
- 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
92% rock6% dirt2% paved
Weather
Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 7:31 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.4 mi in (~116 min). Leave by 5:16 PM for the 7:31 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:17 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Appalachian Trail Trailhead
- Appalachian Trail–Pinnacle Trail, 3 sights 4.6 mi · ▲ 941 ft
- Hamburg Reservoir–Appalachian Trail, 3 sights 7.6 mi · ▲ 1,408 ft
- Hawk Mountain–East Rocks, 4 sights 8.8 mi · ▲ 1,763 ft
- The Pinnacle–Pinnacle Viewpoint, 4 sights 9.5 mi · ▲ 1,203 ft
- Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Sunset Point–Valley Rim Trail / Appalachian Viewpoint, 7 sights 9.7 mi · ▲ 2,267 ft
- Pocahontas Spring–Appalachian Trail, 4 sights 10.1 mi · ▲ 1,466 ft
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