Pulpit Rock And The Pinnacle Loop — Attraction in Windsor Township

This trail is 100% different than my first Pennsylvania AT experience where I was walking between farmhouses and wheat fields. I'm an avid hiker from the cornfields of Indiana so elevation is not a real concern normally (normally I see a 300-500 ft elevation). This trail to Pulpit Rock gave me quite the education regarding elevation, (over 1300 ft), "rock scramble", and trail maintenance! It was labeled as moderate trail but it far exceeds the "very rugged" trail back home. I learned to navigate fallen trees but the mossy rocks in the stream got me and for the first time I went down on a trail. Never seen such a rocky trail in my life and disappointingly trekking poles were not helpful (really needed my hiking stick). An old nerve injury was greatly irritated with the frequent stepping motion and I was reduced to crawling up the pinnacle rocks at the top. But the photos are mine, we met several "through hikers" who fortunately did not share in my disappointments, and while I was too exhausted to appreciate the journey to the top, going down was 1000x easier until I ran out of water and then I slowed down again. What a memorable trip to the top! We entered from the Blue Rocks Campground (campsite #160) and were able to fully appreciate (and gawk) over the boulder field next to their...

11/05/2020:

We started from the Furnace Creek Watershed to the white trailhead and then all the way up to the mountain top with boulders to reach the Pulpit Rock (2 miles), then followed the white trail from the right of the Observatory to the Pinnacle (another 2 miles). Then took a shortcut on the blue trail by Furnace Creek to the reservoir then back to the trailhead. Total a 7.5-mile nice hike. Walking down the mountain by the creek can sometimes be steep, muddy or wet. Make sure you wear shoes with more toe room so that your toes won’t suffer. 😂

If you want to go to both of the overlooks but don’t want to go thru the hard hikes, you can drive directly thru Reservoir Road to the Observatory and then go to the Pulpit Rock and walk 2 miles to the Pinnacle and back, total about 4 miles instead of 7.5 miles or 9.1 miles.

Anyway, the views on top of the mountains are so worth...

The experience was an interesting one. I started by the water treatment plant where this landmark is situated, and hiked up following the white markings trailhead of the map that is clearly displayed by the entrance to the trailhead. I got to the summit of this mountain, and as I went to find my way back down I somehow got redirected, and was spat out by the woods at The Kempton Rod and Gun club which is down the valley next to Hawk Mountain which is an entirely different mountain. I'm just happy that I didn't get so lost I ended up in Mount Penn in Reading somehow. A crazy 8 hours of hiking, but an adventure nonetheless. Totally suggested though that if you're going on a multiple hour hike like this to bring a fully charged smart phone/watch, and a power bank to recharge. I'll be coming back here to get the shots I so desire now...