Rachel Carson Trail & Scouts Trail is a 3.2-mile out-and-back in Harrison Hills Park near Butler Junction, PA. It climbs 510 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 12/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi994 – 1,201 ft · steepest grade: 21%3.8 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Rachel Carson Trail 40.66656, -79.70007
Nearest town Butler Junction, PA
Directions
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Rachel Carson Trail & Scouts Trail
3.2 mi · ▲ 510 ft · 1 hr 19 min
Elevation 994–1,200 ft
Out & Back · Harrison Hills Park
Trailhead: Rachel Carson Trail · 40.66656, -79.70007
Weather Sep 5: Fog, high 77°F / low 64° · precip 12% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:51 AM · sunset 7:46 PM
Transit-accessible: Bakerstown Road at #1 Cochran Driveway FS stop 545 m from the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Rachel Carson Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left onto Scouts Trail, heading S.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Rachel Carson Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Wetlands Trail, heading S.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Rachel Carson Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Meadow Loop, heading SE.
- 250 ftBear right onto Creekside Trail, heading SE.
- 450 ftSharp right onto Rachel Carson Trail, heading S.
- 350 ftBear left onto Scouts Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Rachel Carson Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Scouts Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Rachel Carson Trail, heading SW.
- 500 ftBear right onto Pond Loop, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Rachel Carson Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftReach Scouts Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Pond Loop, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Rachel Carson Trail, heading NW.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Scouts Trail, heading NW.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Rachel Carson Trail, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Scouts Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Rachel Carson Trail, heading E.
- 350 ftSharp left onto Creekside Trail, heading SE.
- 450 ftBear left onto Meadow Loop, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Rachel Carson Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Wetlands Trail, heading NW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Rachel Carson Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Scouts Trail, heading N.
- 500 ftBear right onto Rachel Carson Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, 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
84% dirt4% paved1% gravel11% unspecified
Weather
FogTemperature 77°F64°
Precip12%Wind4 mphUV5Humidity92%
Rained 4.4″ 2 days ago · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 6:51 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:46 PM
Sun
73°57°
Mon
78°52°
Tue
80°54°
Wed
87°61°
48%
Thu
79°60°
48%
Fri
71°51°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 7:23 PM for the 7:46 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:04 PM — 10 min before dark.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Bakerstown Road at #1 Cochran Driveway FS stop 545 m from the trailhead
More from Rachel Carson Trail Trailhead
- Scouts Trail–Spicebush Trail (White) Loop, 3 sights 3.2 mi · ▲ 372 ft
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Hikes near Butler Junction, Pennsylvania