Pinnacle and Pulpit Hike on the Appalachian Trail

Sunday, October 12, 2014

9:30 am

Start Point:   Reservoir Road Parking Lot in Hamburg, PA

After Hike Stop at Cabela's Sporting Goods Store

 

Mid October is the most beautiful time of the year to hike the Appalachian trail as fall foliage is then in full color.   We're going to walk to the Pinnacle, which has the best views on the Pennsylvania stretch of the Trail, over Hawk Mountain, the Lehigh Valley and Blue Rocks.  This is a moderately difficult hike, with a vigorous workout climbing up the rocky path to the top. For experienced hikers, and hiking boots are needed.

 

The trail to the Pinnacle takes hikers in a loop up and down the mountain. The first segment of the route features white blazes that show trekkers the way up a portion of the Appalachian Trail leading past Pulpit Rock. Eventually a series of blue blazes guides hikers on the final side-trail up to the Pinnacle summit. A collection of rock formations jut out, offering a spectacular perch for hikers to observe the landscape below. The return trail slopes back down the mountain, following a couple of fire roads back to the original trailhead and parking lot.

The trek up and down the mountain takes between four and five hours at a steady pace, according to LocalHikes.com. Trail conditions are rocky, including several steep sections to contend with.  Although this is a long 9.2 mile round trip hike, this is one of the most popular hikes along the AT in Pennsylvania.  The views are amazing and worth every drop of sweat during your march towards The Pinnacle.

You can read more at Trails.com:      

Trails.com http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailId=HGN175-004#ixzz3B5iUsTC8

And you can check out this site for a great photographic study of the entire hike:

http://gonehikin.blogspot.com/2012/11/appalachian-trail-pa-pulpit-rock-and.html

To reach the trailhead from Hamburg, travelers should follow State Highway 22 east to Reservoir Road. At the end of Reservoir Road lies a parking lot. We will meet in the Parking Lot at 9:30 am.   See detailed directions to Reservoir Road below.

This is a long hike, so be sure to bring plenty of water and a picnic lunch.  

After the hike, we plan a stop at Cabela's, which is in Hamburg right off I-78.  In addition to offering quality outdoor merchandise, the massive 250,000 sq. ft. showroom is an educational and entertainment attraction, featuring a decor of museum-quality animal displays, huge aquariums and trophy animals interacting in realistic re-creations of their natural habitats.  There is a café in the store where hungry hikers can find refreshment as well. Check out their menu that includes wild game sandwiches at this link: 

http://www.cabelas.com/custserv/custserv.jsp?pageName=restaurantmenu

 

  Trip Leader:   Andrew Follmer 215-284-4151   

                             RSVP to:  E-mail:  folm25@hotmail.com

Directions to the Hamburg Reservoir Parking Lot from I-76 west of Philadelphia: 

1.  Keep left at the fork, follow signs for I-76W/Valley Forge and merge onto I-76W/U.S. 30W.  Continue to follow I-76W

2.  Take exit 331B to merge onto I-476N toward Plymouth Mtg.  Follow I-476 for 41.6 miles

3.  Take the exit towards Lehigh Valley

4.  Keep left at the fork and follow signs for US-22W/I-78W/Harrisburg and merge onto US-22W

5.  Merge onto I-78W/US-22W

6.  Take exit 35 for PA-143 towards Lenhartsville

7.   Turn right onto PA-143S/Willow Street

8.   Turn right onto Old US22/Old Rte 22/Penn St. 

9.   Turn right onto Fisher Court

10.  Continue onto Reservoir Road to the parking lot.