Beam Rocks

This short 1 mile long out and back trail takes you along a broad gravel trail through the forest to Beam Rocks, a geologic marvel consisting of 60′ – 90′ tall sandstone rock outcroppings.

Driving Directions

Parking Lot GPS Coordinates: 40° 07′ 58.691″ N, 79° 09′ 49.874″ W

Trail Length:  .9 Miles

Estimated Time To Complete: 45 Minutes Or Less

Elevation Change: ~130′

Trailhead Location: Directly In Front Of The Parking Area

Trail Type: Out & Back

Trail Blazes: Beam Rocks Trail – Red Rectangles, Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail – Yellow Rectangles

Trail Map: Forbes State Forest Map  – Available At Forest District Headquarters On Route 30,

Difficulty:  Moderate

Required Equipment: Sneakers or Hiking Boots, Water

Optional Equipment: Trekking Poles,

Facilities: Picnic Facilities, & Pit Toilets In The State Park

Nearby Trails:

• John C. Saylor Trail – Northern Loop
• Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail
• Laurel Mountain Loop
• Wolf Rocks Loop

Nearby Attractions:

• Laurel Ridge State Park
• Adam’s Falls
• Linn Run State Park
• Wolf Rocks

The first thing you encounter at the parking area is a porcupine ravaged sign warning of the dangers of hiking or rock climbing at Beam Rocks.  Over the years several tragic and fatal accidents have occurred at the rocks however if your careful and take your time going through the rocks and don’t take unnecessary risks you will have no problems during your visit to Beam Rocks just like the tens of thousands of people who have safely explored the area before you.

As you proceed down the red blazed trail you’ll soon come to a split in the trail where the gravel path bends to the right around a couple of boulders on the trail, you can go wither way you want but be aware that there is about a 2.5′ drop on the far side of the boulders.  From here continue the short way to another split in the trail the left trail takes you to Beam Rocks while the right trail connects to the Laurel Highland Hiking Trail which passes along the bottom of the cliff below.  We want the left hand trail where you’ll emerge from the woods on a broad outcropping of rock that looks out over the valley in front of you, to the east you can see farmlands in the direction of the towns of Gray and Jennerstown.

If you’re not comfortable on the rocks you can either return back to your car or go back to where the trail splits and head down to the bottom of the rocks if you wish to explore some more  but from the safety of the ground.  However if you’d like to explore around the rocks more feel free to do so, I’d only recommend this if you have hiking boots with very good tread and rocks aren’t wet.  From where you emerged from the woods you want to head to the right or in a south-easterly direction carefully making your way through the rocks.

When you reach the end of the rocks you will notice the red trail blazes begin again at a tree with a sign pointing the way to the top of the rocks.   You can either go back to the top of the rocks via the trail or head left on the yellow blazed Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail which will take to the bottom of the rocks.  Be sure to not follow the LHHT for too long as it does continue for 29 more miles to Laurel Ridge State Park.  When you are ready to go head back to the top of the rocks and follow the trail back to the parking area.