A Trip Down The Rocks

Shortly after the Devil’s Pulpit Kelly and I continued our Appalachian Trail hike, which took us across the gap to a much smaller section. Instead of heading northbound we had decided to head southbound.

We started the at the trail head by Blue Mountain Ski Area, where we parked one care and left the other in the parking area in the Lehigh Gap.

The trail starts with a rocky beginning much like bake oven and the rest of Pennsylvania and gradually goes uphill for about a half mile. Along the way there are no shelters, but plenty of decent campsites to use. One you hit the half mile mark you are greeted by an open area where electric lines run through the mountain. Here, you can elect to walk over to a huge structure made up of a bunch of rocks where you can climb and look south!

I recommend you take the time.

The Rock Structure

From the point the trail leads slightly down the north side across a service road and you walk across the north face of the mountain which is relatively flat and easy. You’ll find that it is marked with a double white blaze with one offset from the other which means a change in direction which in some locations, is optional. The trail continues on the north face and allows you to see the area of Aquashicola and Palmerton.

Palmerton and Horsehead Zinc Plant

As you get to the end of palmerton and intersect with the winter trail (marked blue blaze) you’ll see there is a gated area for vegetation regrowth. So you actually did a detour from the older part of the trail!

Kelly going down the Rock Descent

From the intersection you will start to descent and it becomes increasingly rocky. Eventually following the white blaze markers you’ll end up in the Lehigh Gap where you must go down a series of rocks which have decent foothold and handholds. After trekking down you end back in a wooded area that leads to a parking area.

The Lehigh Gap view and rafters!

This part of the trail was short and sweet, but it offered a lot of great vistas and was not too terribly difficult. There is always an option to bypass the Rock part and go the winter trail route. So plan a few hours and check it out!

Safe travels,

Mike

Me atop the rock structure