Hiking Pinnacle and Pulpit Rocks near Philadelphia, PA - Backpacker

Philadelphia: Pinnacle and Pulpit Rocks

This sometimes-steep 6.8-mile loop climbs hillsides carpeted with mountain laurel and hardwoods to two sweeping vistas overlooking the Lehigh and Cumberland Valleys.

Author:: BACKPACKERMagazine
Publish date:: Sep 20, 2013

Trail Facts

Distance: 12.1
Miles from city center: 79

Waypoints

PPR002

Location: 40.5896682739258, -75.9443359375

Turn R onto the Appalachian Trail

PPR003

Location: 40.5893325805664, -75.9433364868164

Cross bridge over Furnace Creek, then bear R

PPR004

Location: 40.5895004272461, -75.9403305053711

Keep R; trail lined with mountain laurel

PPR005

Location: 40.5938339233398, -75.9278335571289

Switchback up to the ridgecrest, staying on the AT

PPR007

Location: 40.6124992370606, -75.9128341674805

The Pinnacle (1,635 ft); sweeping views of the green hills and quiltlike farmlands of the Lehigh Valley; scramble around rocks to find a cave with a short, climbable chimney

PPR008

Location: 40.6071662902832, -75.9396667480469

Head WSW past large helipad used for firefighting operations; turn L onto blue-blazed trail

PPR009

Location: 40.6061668395996, -75.9363327026367

Trail parallels Furnace Creek in damp hemlock forest

PPR011

Location: 40.5914993286133, -75.9428329467774

Stay straight; turn L in .1 mile and return to trailhead

PPR010

Location: 40.5936660766602, -75.9465026855469

Exit woods; stay L along reservoir to wide gravel road

PPR006

Location: 40.5972366333008, -75.9315414428711

Pulpit Rocks (1,582 ft.); great views to ENE

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