Blue Knob State Park Trails

Description

Blue Knob State Park is a high-altitude paradise consisting of 6,128 acres of forest around Pennsylvania’s second-highest mountain. Blue Knob stands at an impressive 3,146 feet, offering dramatic vistas and making it a top-notch ski destination. Less well-known, however, is the park’s network of multi-use trail’s, which are available for mountain biking, hiking, and in some cases horseback riding and various other activities. The Blue Knob State Park trails vary drastically in layout, composition, and difficulty; the nine distinct routes are summarized below.

Mountain View Trail (strenuous, 4.3 miles, red blazes): Widely considered to be Blue Knob’s most demanding trail, the Mountain View comprises 4.3 miles of steep singletrack high on the knob. As it loops through the eastern part of the park, this pathway offers its namesake mountain vistas, as well as views of small waterfalls along the way. Begin at the Pavia Lookout trailhead for a fast and tricky descent to Willow Springs, then circle back around to do it all again.

Rock ‘N’ Ridge Trail (advanced, 3.5 miles, blue blazes): This loop takes its name seriously, and it includes plenty of both rocks and ridges as winds through the center of the trail network. You're guaranteed an uphill climb, but go clockwise from Mowery Hollow if you’d like to end on a downhill. Along the way, you’ll ascend through rock gardens and pass bubbling mountain waters.

Sawmill Trail (easy, 3.2 miles, yellow blazes): The Sawmill holds the entire system together, linking Chappells Field Trail in the west to the Willow Springs trailhead area in the east. This flat and level connector can also be used to form a larger loop with the Mountain View and Group Camp Trails.

Chappells Field Trail (easy, 2.5 miles, orange ‘V’ blazes): This loop offers a calmer experience in the northwestern corner of the park. Composed of grass and dirt doubletrack, it provides a fairly flat 2.5 miles, complete with picturesque views of the surrounding area.

Pavia Lookout Loop (moderate, 2.2 miles, blue blazes): In a place like Blue Knob, you know that any trail with “lookout” in its name is going to have some good views. The Pavia Lookout Loop does not disappoint, with a stunning vista overlooking a stretch of southern mountains. It’s practically at the peak of Blue Knob, and it features rocky sections for a bit of added challenge.

Group Camp Trail (advanced, 2.1 miles, orange blazes): The Group Camp Trail is essentially a shorter but more technical version of the Sawmill Trail. It too connects the eastern and western sides of the network, tying the Rock ‘N’ Ridge and Mountain View Trails together; also like the Sawmill, its almost entirely flat. This path is sometimes referred to as the “Mountain View Connector” or lovingly called the “Clickety Clack” trail.

Crist Ridge Trail (advanced, 1.9 miles, orange blazes): Blue Knob’s most popular trail is probably Crist Ridge, which stretches along the western edge of the trail system. Going uphill, ascend from Mowery Hollow to Chappells Field and appreciate some lesser-known lookouts along the way. Going downhill, fly through some tricky, technical features on your way to the bottom; these include the ever-popular “Daytona 500 turn” near Mowery Hollow.

Homestead Trail (easy, 1.7 miles, orange blazes): This peaceful loop is relatively isolated at the southern end of the park, and it features calm, rolling hills through open fields. This popular bird-watching path can be accessed via the Willow Springs trailhead or park roads.

Three Springs Trail (moderate, 1.5 miles, orange blazes): Despite offering 2,000-foot-high views of the surrounding landscape, the Three Springs Trail only features moderate elevation changes as it skirts the grassy eastern edge of the Knob. It roughly parallels the Mountain View Trail; unlike its neighbor, however, it does not form a loop.

Other Information

Hours: The trails remain open from sunrise to sunset.

Hunting: Most of Blue Knob State Park is open for hunting. For your own safety, wear orange if utilizing the park trails during hunting seasons. Visit the PA Game Commission Website for more information on hunting seasons.

For equestrians: Horseback riding is only permitted on certain trails, which are indicated by orange diamond markers. Trails that allow horses include Sawmill, Homestead, and Three Springs. Part of the Chappell Field Trail also permits equestrian use.

For snowmobilers: Snowmobiles are permitted on the same trails as horses. See the above notice for equestrians.

Trail Manager

This trail network is managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). For more information, visit the Blue Knob State Park Website. Contact the DCNR at blueknobsp@pa.gov.