Wolf Rocks
This easy trail in the heart of the Laurel Highlands winds through the forest passing many types of terrain before emerging from the trees on the side of the ridge at a broad shelf of sandstone perched several hundred feet above the valley below.
Parking Lot GPS Coordinates: 40° 07′ 05.969″ N, 79° 10′ 34.243″ W
Trail Length: 4 Miles
Estimated Time To Complete: 2 Hours
Elevation Change: ~180′
Trailhead Location: On the left side of the parking lot.
Trail Type: Out & Back
Trail Map: Forbes State Forest Map – Available at the Forest District Office on Route 30. Linn Run State Park Map – Available at the Linn Run State Park Office
Difficulty: Easy
Recommended Equipment: Sneakers or Hiking Boots, Water, Sunscreen, Bug Spray
Optional Equipment: Trekking Poles, Camera,
Facilities: Pit Toilets at Laurel Summit State Park
Nearby Trails:
- Beam Rocks Trail
- Spruce Flats Bog Trail
- Adam’s Falls Loop
- Nearby Attractions:
- Laurel Hill State Park
- Kooser State Park
- Flight 93 National Memorial
- Roaring Run Natural Area
Starting out from the parking lot at Laurel Summit State Park at the sign for Wolf Rocks Trail you’ll shortly cross a grassy forest road and then come to an intersection of trails, for the out and back hike to Wolf Rocks continue straight ahead on the Wolf Rocks Trail. Being a typical Pennsylvania mountain trail you’ll find the trail to be moderately rocky, with low spots that are sometimes wet and muddy, there are also occasional trees down over the trail but nothing so big that you can’t just step over it.
The right side of the trail is bordered by Spruce Flats Bog at first with walls of mountain laurel and or rhododendrons on either side, quickly you transition to woodlands on either side and the trail becomes virtually rock free in many places. After you pass a large wooded meadow on your right you will come to a split in the trail where a connector rail runs from Wolf Rocks Trail to the Old Rector Edie Road, continue on the left hand trail. Next you’ll find on the left side of the trail a large ring of boulders like an old giant fire pit, as you continue down the trail pass where Wolf Rocks Loop intersects the trail on the left side and then shortly thereafter continue past the Bobcat Trail which intersects the trail on your right side. As you get closer to Wolf Rocks the trail will begin to get rocky again until you reach the overlook ahead, passing a campsite on your right you’ll shortly emerge from the forest at Wolf Rocks.
The overlook is formed by a number of large sandstone blocks and runs for about 300′ along the side of the ridge. In the ravine below Linn Run flows north towards where it will join Loyalhanna creek, alongside the creek Linn Run Road parallels the trail for much of the way. From the rocks you can see sunsets for much of the year especially from September through March. When your ready to go return the way you came or you can head down the side trail where Wolf Rocks Trail and Wolf Rocks Loop trail splits.
