West Rim Trail

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Happy June everyone!!! This post was originally supposed to be a trail guide for one of my favorite Virginia Hikes, the Mount Peasant-Cole Mountain Figure-8 Loop. However, Mother Nature had other plans. Most of Virginia was hammered by thunderstorms, so I had to pivot. Enter the West Rim Trail (WRT) of Pennsylvania. It is a 30-mile trek that traverses the ridges of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. A Grand Canyon in the Mid-Atlantic, you say, how could I not hike that?

On this adventure, I added a few new pieces of photography gear, A Sony 70-200mm telephoto lens and an ultralight tripod by Aziak equipment. I will have a full review on the tripod later this year, but after testing it out on this hike, It held up beautifully with my mirrorless setup and weighing only 24 oz, it shaved an entire pound off my base weight.

Part 1: Quick Overview

Part 2: Trip Report

Day 1: June 7th, 2025 (West Rim Trail, Southern Terminus to unnamed overlook/campsite, 17 miles, 3,002 ft elevation gain)

My day began not on the trail, but in the parking lot of Pine Creek Outfitters, waiting for the store to open. I needed to check in for the shuttle that would take me to the southern terminus. At approximately 08:30 my ride was confirmed. I was instructed to park my vehicle at the northern terminus, which was a 2-minute drive away, and wait there for the driver.

The parking lot at the northern terminus was pretty bare. There were maybe two other vehicles there. I triple checked my pack to make sure I had everything, and as soon as I finished, my driver arrived. He said I was the only rider for the day, so we could head out immediately. On the way, he told me that it was unusual on the weekend to only have one hiker taking the shuttle, and that I might not see many people out there.

After a 30-minute drive, I arrived at the southern terminus of the WRT. The sky was overcast, and filled with Canadian wildfire haze, and the air was thick with humidity. Past the sign that marked the beginning of the trail, A dark forest loomed.

The first two miles were a thousand-foot steep climb. I purposely chose to go NOBO to get this section done first. Also, most of the good views are in the northern half, and I like saving the best for last. The forest was beautiful as I made my way up the rocky trail. I wanted to stop and enjoy the scenery more, but any hope of that was quickly extinguished. Every time I would even slow down, I was hounded by mosquitoes. I did manage to get a few macro shots with my new lens which was pretty neat.

When the trail finally began to taper off, the sunlight finally wormed its way through the forest. Lush green ferns surrounded the path, and they were accompanied by countless pink and white Mountain-laurel, which is the state flower of Pennsylvania. I have never seen so many wildflowers. Combined with the early morning fog, it created a very ethereal feeling.

Now and then, evidence of decades old industry would make an appearance. A rusted dynamite shed stood out right alongside the trail, and overgrown fire roads intersected the WRT throughout the hike.

The southern portion of the WRT is heavily forested. There was one really was alsogood overlook around three miles in, but the trail was mostly a mixture of flat trail, fire roads, and hiking up and down to creeks. The gorge was rarely in view. It also was very remote, I saw few people along the southern route, and no one else who was backpacking.

Right before the halfway point, the trail intersects with the Bradley Wales Picnic Area. I found a real bathroom, picnic benches, mowed grass, and the remnants of an old-fashioned water pump. Unfortunately, it had been disassembled. It was mid-afternoon, and finally the clouds parted and allowed the sun to make an appearance. I took off my shoes and felt the fresh cut grass on my feet, and took a nice long break. I didn’t even mind the few mosquitoes as company.

Immediately after the picnic area, there were two good campsites with good vistas. They are known as the wooden fence and iron fence sites. I’ll let you guess why that is. They were great sites, but I had heard of a better one further north, so I continued. At the Ice Break Run creek, I consulted my map and found that this was last water source before my ideal campsite. so I cameled up, and walked a half mile uphill to see by far the best campsite so far. It was near a wooden fence, with a fire pit, and a makeshift bench. The main reason, the site was so great though were the unobstructed panoramic view of the gorge both north and south. With no one else there, I set up my tent immediately and made camp.

Despite the wildfire smoke, which persisted into the evening, I took this time to really test out my new tripod from Aziak Equipment. I set up right near the ridge and captured some incredible shots of the gorge below. The tripod held up beautifully. I did not experience any stability issues, even with my Sony camera and heavier telephoto lens. I will have to test it up in some windier conditions, but the first time was a success.

That night, not a single soul came by the camp. My only company was the howling coyotes across the canyon.

Day 2: June 8th, 2025 (Unnamed overlook/campsite to West Rim Trail, Northern Terminus 13.31 miles, 1,644 ft elevation gain)

In the early dawn, the once scenic overlook was covered in a thick layer of fog. The canyon, obscured. With approximately 10 miles to go before the most stunning views, I hoped it would clear up by the time I reached them.

The morning proved to be chilly, which, mercifully, kept the insects at bay. The WRT continued its pattern of winding up and down through creeks and forests. I finally saw a tent a few miles north of where I set up, its inhabitant(s) probably still sleeping. Like yesterday, the trail was pretty flat, and I was able to make good time.

For the next 6 miles, the trail stuck close to the cliffside, every once in a while teasing the gorge’s beauty. There were times the trail was a narrow dirt path with sloping hills on the eastern half. So far, the northern half has proved to be very similar to the southern half. The trail veered west to avoid Colton State Park. Back to forest and carriage roads for me. Though the canyon lacked some of the impressive views so far, it made up for it in wildlife. Including this shot of a deer, I was able to capture. I loved having a zoom lens to be able to really expand my photography.

Eventually…finally, the final 5 miles finally provided splendid views of one of the biggest canyons in the east. Approaching Barbour Rock, the narrow pathway hugs the cliff’s edge. I was extra careful during this section. This is where I finally started seeing other human beings again. Families were taking in the views and walking on the trails. I’m not sure how common backpacking was around here, because most of them looked at me like I had a third eye. I found a nice rock outcropping and was able to witness the majesty of Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon. The trail did indeed save the best for last. My new tripod was able to get low and provide stability on uneven ground to capture some cool compositions through the trees.

Well, mostly last. After a lengthy break, my Garmin watch alerted me to an incoming storm. The clouds to the west did look ominous. I didn’t want to overstay my welcome. The remaining few miles back to the northern terminus were a gradual, pleasant descent back into the woods. I signed the trail register and found my car right where I left it. As soon as I started my 5+ hours drive back home, it finally started to rain. I beat the storm.

Part 3: Important Details

Logistics:

The WRT is a point-to-point hike, so the start and end points are at two separate places. You can either bring two vehicles, do a yoyo hike, or arrange a shuttle.

My recommendation would be to use the shuttle services offered by a local outdoor store, Pine Creek Outfitters Inc. They were very accommodating, prompt, and it was only $63. Plus, they are less than a mile from the northern trailhead, and they sell maps along with other outdoor supplies. I highly recommend them.

Both the northern and southern trailheads have ample parking. The Rattlesnake Rock Access Area lot is at the southern terminus of the trail along Rt. 414. At the northern terminus, the lot is in Ansonia. Both parking lots have fully enclosed, well-maintained bathrooms, though they do not have running water.

Closest Airports:

• Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC): This is the closest major international airport to the WRT. It is approximately 140 miles; a 2-hour, 17-minute drive.
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL): Approximately 243 miles; a 4-hour, 9-minute drive.
• Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT): Approximately 225 miles; a 4.5-hour drive.

Camping/Permits/Fees:

I can’t prove it, but it appeared that the WRT had the greatest campsites per mile on any trail I’ve hiked. Every established site I came across seemed to be fantastic, and you have a lot of options. If you want to camp near water, there are camps at most of the streams along the way. If you prefer a vista, this hike has you covered as well.

The site I stayed at is definitely the best one I passed. It is between mile 16 & 17, has a wooden bench, a fire-pit, and is near one of the better overlooks in the canyon. Being that it is around the halfway point. It makes a perfect place to set up for a 2-day hike. There is no water source near it, though, so prepare accordingly.

Permits are not required to hike the WRT.

Navigation:

I want to shout out the Keystone Trails Association, they do a fantastic job of maintaining the WRT. It is well-marked with orange blazes and signage. I can safely report that I did not lose my way once on this hike. There was a section between mile 9 and 10 that was basically a tree graveyard. There had to be dozens (if not more) very large fallen trees on the path, and despite this, I did not have to crouch, climb, or finagle my way through a single one. Bravo KTA!!!

Water:

During the shuttle ride, my driver told me that it had been an exceptionally rainy spring, so most of the seasonal sources would be running. It turns out, he was right. I attempted to count the number of streams I passed, and I lost count at 12. There is plenty of water along the WRT.

Author’s Note: The Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) advises the following on their map of the trail: “Water from springs and streams should not be used for drinking purposes. If possible, obtain your supply from a source known to be safe. If in doubt about the quality of your drinking water, always boil or chemically treat it.” I did not see this warning until after, lol, but I filtered water from many of the creeks throughout the hike and did not suffer any ill effects. If I end up growing a third arm or something, I will update this section to reflect that.

Wildlife/Insect Pressure:

At the lowest elevations near the creeks and streams, mosquito pressure was constant. Because of this, I would suggest camping near the cliffs. The bugs were still around, but less of a nuisance. There are good portions of this hike that are overgrown, and, given that Pennsylvania is one of the hotspots for Lyme disease, I was very concerned about ticks. I treated my clothes with permethrin beforehand and used picaridin lotion on my hike. During the 2 days I was out there, I checked myself regularly and did not find a single tick on me or my gear.

Like my previous hike of the Old Loggers Path in Pennsylvania, I was warned about rattlesnakes on the trail, and like the OLP, I did not encounter any. I did almost step on a small snake (non-rattlesnake) on the trail, I got a good close shot of it. Black bears also live in the area, but they proved to be elusive as well. The WRT provided some of the most wildlife encounters I’ve had on a single trail.

Remoteness/Solitude:

The West Rim Trail is pretty remote; both trailheads are far from any major city or airport. Additionally, I did not see many hikers for 90% of my hike. There were lots of visitors towards the cliff section of the northern end, but that was it. Surprisingly, I had great cell service (Verizon) for this hike.

Hazards/Environmental Concerns:

When the trail skirts the canyon, it doesn’t just go near the edge; it is the edge. I never felt unsafe, but if you are afraid of heights, you might want to take note of that. If you stumble or take a wrong step, it is a long drop.

Apparently, stinging nettle is prevalent in certain sections of this trail. The leaves of this plant sting and cause skin inflammation and irritation. I wore pants the entire trail and made sure to avoid vegetation if possible.

Difficulty:

I would rate this hike as moderate. It has almost 5,000 ft of elevation gain, but spread across 30 miles. I was able to average 2.6 mph, which is above my average speed. The WRT provided a lot of flat ground that allowed me to cruise. Going Northbound adds around 300 ft of elevation, but you get the steepest part going uphill, which I prefer, and you save the best views for last.

Last Word

For being my “break glass in case of emergency hike”, the West Rim Trail was a lot of fun. The logistics are easy, it has plentiful campsites, good water sources, and it was not too difficult. I wish the trail hugged the gorge’s edge more, and most of the views were at least partially obstructed, but the forest and streams were serene enough to make up for it. If you are looking for a good shakedown/weekend hike in Pennsylvania, I would absolutely recommend this one. The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon did not prove to be as grand as the one in Arizona, but I enjoyed it all the same.

Thank you for reading. If you are interested in my other hikes/adventures, you can find them here.