Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, PA

ABOUT THE PARK:
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary - HawkMountain.org
No dogs allowed.

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.63425, -75.98772

The first parking lot at 7:30 AM.  There are several parking lots and overflow lots.

That same parking lot at 1:43 PM.  ALL of the lots were full.

TRAIL MAP:
Hawk Mountain Trail Map
If that link doesn't work, this is the page with the link for the map file.

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HIKE DISTANCE:  6.3 miles

THE HIKE:
This is the most difficult hike I have every done.  The goal became to get through it without breaking any bones.  I am happy to report that I succeeded.

If the visitor center is open head there first to pay the $10 fee.  It was not open when I arrived at 7:30 and there is no self pay so I wasn't able to pay.  The trails are open dawn to dusk.

I went through the Habitat Garden first.

Back on the path to the trails, cross Hawk Mountain Road.

When staffed this would be where the person checks to see that you have the sticker indicating the fee was paid.

A little farther ahead, restrooms.

I started on the Silhouette Trail.

That trail comes out right at South Overlook.

A little farther along on the Lookout Trail ...

Appalachian Overlook

River of Rocks Overlook - this was taken on the return route since the earlier picture had too much sun glare.  The River of Rocks is that white part in the center.  My return route would be along that having come down from the ridge on the left.

Ridge Overlook

It's a scramble up to ...

Bald Overlook

A gray catbird at Bald Overlook.

As I was contemplating whether to take the Escarpment Trail to North Lookout or stay on the Lookout Trail when a staff member came up and started talking to me.  He said the Escarpment Trail is very difficult so since I knew I had a difficult hike ahead of me, I stayed with the Lookout Trail.

Heading left to Sunset Overlook.

It requires a bit of a scramble to get there.

Sunset Overlook

Back to that intersection and on to The Slide.

Coming up on The Slide which is ...

It looks so peaceful now.

Heading towards North Lookout.

Just before turning for North Lookout, a short distance to the right...

Kettle View

Now retracing and on to North Lookout.

Two staff members up ahead who were so kind and most knowledgeable about the trail I was about to embark on when we discussed what lie ahead.  Let's just say that this is where 99% of the people turn around and go back to their cars.  But not me, I was there to hike.

First the views from North Lookout.

The fake owl is a lure for raptors which sometimes dive bomb it.

You can actually stand in one spot and see all of these views on all sides.

Now venturing on where many don't go.

Right off the bat it drops down with a 30 foot vertical scramble.

I had to stow my trekking poles and lower my backpack down step by step so I could get myself down.

Pictures don't do it justice - it is STEEP!

More descending alternating with a bit of climbing.  It is very slow going.

Finally, a reprieve.

But it doesn't last for long.  This is Rocksylvania at it's finest.

The Golden Eagle Trail joins in from the right.

Now following yellow/blue.

To the left, the East Rocks views.

Then right at the top as I was scrambling up, a juvenile black vulture.

He still has baby fuzz on his head.

Momma sitting calmly off to the right.

The juvenile vulture went on ahead up the trail a bit and met up with a sibling.

More rocks to climb.

Views to the right.

When the trail finally smooths out ...

The Golden Eagle Trail leaves to the right.  I had planned on continuing to the AT and turning around then taking this part of the Golden Eagle Trail but that was another 1.4 miles and if it was as much scrambling as I had just done, then having to come back, well, no, I'll pass.  Right on the Golden Eagle Trail it was.

This was a very smooth and pleasant descent on switchbacks.

At the bottom, right on the River of Rocks Trail.

Although the River of Rocks is off to the left and soon comes into view, the trail becomes very rocky again.

It's almost  like walking on the River of Rocks.

Here is the actual River of Rocks on the left as the trail skirts closely by.

After the River of Rocks the trail becomes smoother but then starts to climb.

At the top, turning around, the entrance sign of the River of Rocks Trail.

Back on the Lookout Trail

Soooooo nice to be on completely flat ground!

A view of The River of Rocks where I had just come from down below.

The overlooks are now crowded and droves up people are heading up to North Lookout.

Leaving the trails, crossing Hawk Mountain Road and back to the car.

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