Some of the trails are home to PA’s toughest ultramarathons, like the Triple Crown, Laurel Highlands, and Oil Creek 100.
The trail information is from various state park websites, hiker blogs, and on All Trails.
Gerard Hiking Trail, Oil Creek State Park
36mi
Elevation gain about 5591ft
Loss about 5486ft
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail
70mi
Elevation gain about 10351ft
Overall elevation change about 17000ft
North Country Trail (PA regions)
Northwestern
175mi (138 off-road 37 on-road)
Allegheny National Forest
97mi (93 off-road 4 on-road)
Baker Trail, Allegheny National Forest
134mi
Elevation gain about 21070ft
Loss about 21592ft
PA Grand Canyon
Black Forest Trail
43.7mi
Elevation gain about 8533ft
West Rim Trail
30.5mi
Elevation gain about 5648ft
Rachel Carson Trail, Allegheny County, north east of Pittsburgh
45.4mi
Elevation gain about 6302ft
Standing Stone Trail, The SST was known as the Link Trail, commemorating its connection from the Mid State Trail to the Tuscarora Trail, until its name was changed in January 2007
38.7mi
Elevation gain about 6332ft
Quehanna Trail, Moshannon and Elk State Forests
75mi
Elevation gain about 9534ft
Chuck Keiper Trail, Sproul State Forest
West loop 32.9mi
East loop 22.4mi
Donut Hole Trail, Sproul State Forest, near West Branch of the Susquehanna River
90mi
Elevation gain about 19,534ft
Bucktail Path Trail, Elk State Forest
34mi
Elevation gain about 5,830ft
Mid State Trail
325.1mi
Elevation gain about 45,161ft
Loss about 44,599ft
Thunder Swamp, Delaware State Forest, in southern Pike County
34mi
Elevation gain about 2,588ft
Tuscarora Trail, near Harrisburg and the Appalachian Trail
More than 250mi long, 110mi are in PA
Appalachian Trail
229mi
Loyalsock Trail, Lycoming and Sullivan counties, north central
59.2mi
Elevation gain about 10,449ft
There are also many trail systems, like Susquehannock Trail System (85mi). The fun doesn’t stop.
* Please be respectful of our trails *
Pack in, pack out, leave no trace, stay on the trail, and take nothing with you.
Follow the rules and guidelines of each park.
Websites to check out:
https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Recreation/WhatToDo/Hiking/StateForestHikingTrails/Pages/default.aspx
https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/GoodNatured/Pages/Article.aspx?post=52
https://www.visitpa.com/article/16-trails-pennsylvania-will-leave-you-breathless
Related reads
Laurel Highlands Ultra Stories & a Bad Ankle Injury (2020)
Race Crew Life: Laurel Highlands Ultra (2021)
Stephen’s 54 Mile Run to Hell and Back (07/09/22)
Baker Trail UltraChallenge Complete! (2023)
Oil Creek 100 Race Report (2021)
Fastest Known Time, Gerard Hiking Trail
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9 thoughts on “Pennsylvania’s Most Kickbutt Trails: 30 plus miles, lots of vert, and mostly dirt”