AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

South Mountain Preserve

Shark Rock–Orange (Alpine Street), 5 sights

5.8 mi · ▲ 688 ft · 2 hr 17 min

Shark Rock–Orange (Alpine Street), 5 sights is a 5.8-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Preserve near Overlook Springs, PA. The route reaches Shark Rock. It climbs 688 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi404 – 1,011 ft6.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Homestead Loop 40.53971, -75.48245
Nearest town Overlook Springs, PA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Shark Rock–Orange (Alpine Street), 5 sights

5.8 mi · ▲ 688 ft · 2 hr 17 min

Elevation 402–1,011 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain Preserve

Trailhead: Homestead Loop · 40.53971, -75.48245

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:30 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on South Mountain Gateway Trail, heading N.
  2. 450 ftBear left onto Homestead Loop, heading N.
  3. 50 ftBear right onto South Mountain Gateway Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.5 miSharp right onto Orange (Alpine Street), heading E.
  5. 0.7 miSharp right onto Blue (Uplands), heading NW.
  6. 0.9 miPass Shark Rock.
  7. 100 ftTurn left onto Yellow (Mountain Top), heading SW.
  8. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Rocky Connector + Powerline Cross, heading NE.
  9. 300 ftContinue straight onto Top Road, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftBear left onto Tree Stand, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Top Road, heading SE.
  12. 150 ftBear right onto Powerline Top, heading SE.
  13. 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left onto Robert Rodale Trail (Lavender), heading N.
  15. 0.2 miBear left onto Red (Trout Run), heading N.
  16. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  17. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Satan Tree, heading SW.
  18. 0.1 miBear left onto Red (Trout Run), heading SW.
  19. 0.3 miSharp right onto Orange (Alpine Street), heading SW.
  20. 0.8 miBear left onto South Mountain Gateway Trail, heading S.
  21. 0.5 miBear left onto Homestead Loop, heading SE.
  22. 50 ftBear right onto South Mountain Gateway Trail, heading SE.
  23. 300 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/shark-rock-orange-alpine-street-out-back-5-sights

Trail surface

86% dirt12% gravel2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 7:30 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:10 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:30 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:57 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Homestead Loop Trailhead

Hikes near Overlook Springs, Pennsylvania