State College, PA: West Rim Trail
Chase canyon vistas through stands of old-growth hemlock.
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Skirt the soaring, 1,000-foot walls of the “Grand Canyon of the East” as you meander the western lip of Pine Creek Gorge, the state’s sprawling natural wonder. Take three days to complete this mostly level, 29.8-mile shuttle hike on the only route above the canyon.
From the parking lot at Rattlesnake Rocks, follow the West Rim Trail’s orange blazes into a thick canopy of hemlock, maple, and oak. Climb 950 feet in two miles (your only major hump), past gurgling Lloyd Run, to the top of the Allegheny Plateau. Pause at a gap in the trees at mile 3 to view the wooded peak of 1,800-foot Gillespie Point, known as “the Matterhorn of the Alleghenies” for its pyramid shape. Spend the rest of the day slipping through patches of ferns as you hike past a series of small campsites spread over the day’s remaining 7.5 miles. Tank up at Steel Hollow Run, the last reliable water source on your way to the best site, which boasts a balcony view of Pine Creek making an S-turn below.
Next day, march 3.7 miles west as the trail rings a private hunt- ing camp. At the Bradley Wales Picnic Area at mile 14.2, find pit toilets and potable water. Follow the gravel road .1 mile to where the trail veers north to a series of bird’s-eye vistas of the canyon; look for boaters and peregrine falcons below. After 5.3 miles, turn left at the blue-blazed Sieman Trail and head .3 mile to a small, flat campsite.
Day three, resume heading north on the WRT, following it 6.2 miles as it turns away from the canyon into a forest of maples, red oaks, and white peeling birch. After a sign to Colton State Park at mile 25.8, the trail moves back to the canyon edge. For a mile, enjoy a series of rocky overlooks of the gorge snaking southward, cutting a gash into the forests and farmland that border the canyon. Finish by descending 675 feet over two miles through the woods to the trail’s northern terminus off Colton Road.
-Text and mapping by Dave Pidgeon
Trail Facts
- Distance: 47.9
Waypoints
WRT001
Location: 41.540714, -77.40575
Southern Terminus for West Rim Trail. Parking lot and pit toilets available. Area known as Rattlesnake Rocks. In 0.2 mile, find red box trail register nailed to tree.
From the parking lot at Rattlesnake Rocks, follow the West Rim Trail’s orange blazes into a thick canopy of hemlock, maple, and oak. Climb 950 feet in two miles (your only major hump), past gurgling Lloyd Run, to the top of the Allegheny Plateau.
WRT002
Location: 41.55215, -77.41145
Lloyd Run waterfall
WRT003
Location: 41.5616, -77.414133
Side trail leads to remains of old hunting cabin.
WRT004
Location: 41.563683, -77.412917
Yellow blazed-trail enters from left. Go right with orange blazes and leave Lloyd Run ravine. Total ascent from car – 1081 feet.
WRT005
Location: 41.565583, -77.409367
Cross minor road and pass shed with the word “Dynamite” painted in white. Trail levels.
WRT006
Location: 41.5682, -77.405967
Cross West Rim Road.
WRT007
Location: 41.569668, -77.392901
Pause at a gap in the trees at mile 3 to view the wooded peak of 1,800-foot Gillespie Point, knownas “the Matterhorn of the Alleghenies” for its pyramid shape.
Trail skirts the ridge from here. Spend the rest of the day slipping through patches of ferns as you hike past a series of small campsites spread over the day’s remaining 7.5 miles
WRT008
Location: 41.577, -77.401683
Intersection with Mid-State Trail. Cross Bohen Run and second minor creek soon afterward.
WRT009
Location: 41.57935, -77.398267
View of Bohen Run and east rim of Pine Creek Gorge.
WRT010
Location: 41.5813, -77.393867
Potential campsite, no water. Trail levels for 1.12 miles.
WRT011
Location: 41.592983, -77.407017
Dillon Hollow. Potential camping. Cross stream.
WRT012
Location: 41.60058, -77.413901
Potential campsite. Seasonal stream. Intersection with Steel Hollow Trail, which leads .6 mile to West Rim Road. Trail rises 160 feet over next .7 mile.
WRT013
Location: 41.601064, -77.415287
Tank up at Steel Hollow Run, the last reliable water source on your way to the best site.
WRT014
Location: 41.60791, -77.417436
Potential campsite, no water. Short blue blaze trail leads to partial view of east rim.
WRT015
Location: 41.608683, -77.4223
Potential campsite. No water.
WRT016
Location: 41.610833, -77.423633
Potential campsite. No water.
WRT017
Location: 41.6137, -77.430232
Intersection with blue-blazed Gundigut Trail, which leads .4 mile to West Rim Road.
WRT018
Location: 41.616567, -77.428167
Vista of east rim. Rise 314 feet over next 1.4 miles.
WRT019
Location: 41.626217, -77.447683
Potential campsite, no water.
WRT020
Location: 41.628586, -77.448113
Your campsite, which boasts a balcony view of Pine Creek making an S-turn below. No water.
WRT021
Location: 41.630083, -77.450983
Campsite and spring. Area known as Good Spring Hollow. Trail leaves west rim of canyon to go around private hunting grounds. Trail rises 306 feet over next .6 miles.
WRT022
Location: 41.6314, -77.459433
Cross minor road. Trail gradually descends.
WRT023
Location: 41.633233, -77.47335
Arrive at open meadow and swamp.
WRT024
Location: 41.629967, -77.474067
Arrive at West Rim Road. Turn right and follow road for .5 mile.
WRT025
Location: 41.637, -77.477683
Turn right and return to woods.
WRT026
Location: 41.640217, -77.4628
Potential campsite. No water.
WRT027
Location: 41.639783, -77.461717
Potential campsite with water source.
WRT028
Location: 41.64352, -77.459016
At the Bradley Wales Picnic Area at mile 14.2, find pit toilets and potable water. Follow the gravel road .1 mile to where the trail veers north to a series of bird’s-eye vistas of the canyon; look for boaters and peregrine falcons below.
WRT029
Location: 41.64515, -77.458633
Excellent vista of Pine Creek Gorge.
WRT030
Location: 41.646233, -77.461133
Excellent vista of Pine Creek Gorge. Trail descends for 187 feet over 1.18 miles.
WRT031
Location: 41.653683, -77.4772
Cross Ice Break Run. Trail rises 204 feet over .4 mile.
WRT032
Location: 41.658217, -77.471517
Excellent vista of Pine Creek Gorge.
WRT033
Location: 41.666067, -77.483567
Arrive at yellow-blazed link trail to Painter-Leetonia Road. Cross Little Slate Run. Campsite.
WRT034
Location: 41.667233, -77.479917
Cross small stream.
WRT035
Location: 41.67065, -77.469667
Cross stream.
WRT036
Location: 41.67125, -77.467933
Excellent view of Pine Creek Gorge. Two campsites in the area. No water.
WRT037
Location: 41.67615, -77.472017
Cross stream.
WRT038
Location: 41.6765, -77.465933
View of Pine Creek Gorge. No water.
WRT039
Location: 41.678133, -77.465733
Campsite. No water.
WRT040
Location: 41.682803, -77.470868
Turn left at the blue-blazed Sieman Trail and head .3 mile to a small, flat campsite. Day three, resume heading north on the WRT.
WRT041
Location: 41.697267, -77.4683
Arrive at junction with Refuge Trail with yellow and blue blazes. It leads 0.33 to Painter-Leetonia Road. West Rim Trail goes left. Trail rises 216 feet over next 0.68 mile.
WRT042
Location: 41.691567, -77.47275
Grassy campsite. No water. Continue descent.
WRT043
Location: 41.689183, -77.47935
Arrive at Painter-Leetonia Road and intersection with Sieman’s Trail, which leads to campsites and West Rim Trail in .7 mile. Look for orange blazes across road as path leads into woods.
WRT044
Location: 41.6902, -77.4824
Arrive at Painter-Leetonia Road and Four Mile Run. Follow road to the left.
WRT045
Location: 41.6902, -77.48535
Waterfall and short trail to Four Mile Run.
WRT046
Location: 41.692883, -77.4907
Exit road where trail turns right and returns to woods. Trail rises 339 feet over next .6 mile.
WRT047
Location: 41.70075, -77.48735
Cross grassy road. Begin to descend.
WRT048
Location: 41.704617, -77.48535
Cross Painter-Leetonia Road. Continue descent.
WRT049
Location: 41.705117, -77.485183
Cross bridge and Colton Road. Trail follows road leading uphill. Campsite near intersection by water source.
WRT050
Location: 41.707767, -77.486067
Trail to left leads into gully where you find a campsite and great water source.
WRT051
Location: 41.70825, -77.486
Turn right at T intersection and follow old logging road. Rexford Trail goes left.
WRT052
Location: 41.711167, -77.476717
Pass old cabin to the right.
WRT053
Location: 41.7112, -77.475217
Cross Rexford Branch.
WRT054
Location: 41.713683, -77.474667
Cross Deadman Hollow Road, then follow old woods road.
WRT055
Location: 41.718317, -77.467867
Cross Bear Run. Two campsites in the area.
WRT056
Location: 41.717383, -77.46375
Junction with yellow-blazed Bear Run Trail. Cross Colton Road and pass sign for Colton Point State Park.
WRT057
Location: 41.711995, -77.460219
The trail moves back to the canyon edge. For a mile, enjoy a series of rocky overlooks of the gorge snaking southward, cutting a gash into the forests and farmland that border the canyon.
WRT058
Location: 41.718383, -77.4568
Excellent view of Pine Creek Gorge.
WRT059
Location: 41.718983, -77.453067
Excellent view of Pine Creek Gorge.
WRT060
Location: 41.718767, -77.451517
Excellent view of Pine Creek Gorge.
WRT061
Location: 41.718716, -77.450835
Excellent view of Pine Creek Gorge from platform. Intersection with yellow-blazed trail. Another excellent view as you continue down West Rim Trail.
WRT062
Location: 41.724716, -77.449897
Cross Slide Run. Finish by descending 675 feet over two miles through the woods to the trail’s northern terminus off Colton Road.
WRT063
Location: 41.7235, -77.44405
Spring. Water source.
WRT064
Location: 41.7262, -77.439367
Cross creek.
WRT065
Location: 41.734183, -77.435067
Cross road and continue through the woods.
WRT066
Location: 41.734578, -77.433367
Cross stream.
WRT067
Location: 41.738779, -77.433189
Northern terminus. Parking and pit toilets available. Red register box along trail. Pine Creek Outfitters and additional 1.1 miles from terminus. Follow road away from trail, turn right at Route 6, then follow snow mobile trail.
WRT068
Location: 41.7468, -77.44415
Pine Creek Outfitters