AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rachel Carson Trail

6 mi · ▲ 664 ft · 2 hr 20 min

Rachel Carson Trail is a 6-mile out-and-back near Keown, PA. It climbs 664 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 20/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi971 – 1,276 ft · steepest grade: 18%6.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Orange / Blue Cap Trail 40.60264, -80.01522
Nearest town Keown, PA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Rachel Carson Trail

6 mi · ▲ 664 ft · 2 hr 20 min

Elevation 971–1,276 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Orange / Blue Cap Trail · 40.60264, -80.01522

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:52 AM · sunset 7:48 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Orange / Blue Cap Trail, heading W.
  2. 50 ftSharp right onto Orange Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  4. 250 ftBear right onto Green Trail, heading SE.
  5. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  6. 450 ftContinue straight onto Green / Yellow Dot Trail, heading SE.
  7. 50 ftTurn left onto Green Trail, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftTurn right onto Green / Yellow Dot Trail, heading SE.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  10. 1.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
  11. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  12. 0.1 miTurn left onto Rachel Carson Trail, heading NE.
  13. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  14. 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  15. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  16. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
  17. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  18. 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  19. 1.5 miTurn right onto Green / Yellow Dot Trail, heading SE.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left onto Green Trail, heading NW.
  21. 50 ftTurn right onto Green / Yellow Dot Trail, heading NW.
  22. 500 ftTurn left onto Green Trail, heading NW.
  23. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  24. 250 ftTurn left onto Orange Trail, heading W.
  25. 0.1 miSharp left onto Orange / Blue Cap Trail, heading W.
  26. 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/rachel-carson-trail-out-back-12-km-0e4d

Trail surface

48% paved43% dirt9% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:52 AMSunset 7:48 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.9 mi in (~83 min). Leave by 6:05 PM for the 7:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Orange / Blue Cap Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Keown, Pennsylvania