Distance is one measure of a hike. Elevation gain is the one that decides how your legs feel the next morning. We pulled every trail in Pennsylvania with a measurable elevation-gain tag — out of the 19,247 entries OutsideAtlas tracks here — and ranked them by total vertical. The result is a roster of climbs that punch above their mileage.
Pennsylvania's ridge-and-valley Appalachians dominate the state — the "Rocksylvania" reputation along the AT comes from genuine geology. Mount Davis (3,213 ft) and the Allegheny Front ridges deliver most of the state's significant vertical. Timber rattlesnakes in the rocky ridges, ticks (Lyme endemic), and ankle-rolling rock fields on the AT.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 19,247 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Pennsylvania — but the data has limits worth being honest about. Elevation-gain figures depend on the surveyor and the digital-elevation model used. Some trails are missing this tag entirely and are excluded from the list. Treat numbers as approximate but directionally reliable.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #9. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail
Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail leads the elevation rankings with 4,593 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 4,593 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Blue Loop
Blue Loop comes in at #2 with 4,462 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 4,462 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Blue Loop trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Blue Steel
Blue Steel comes in at #3 with 328 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 328 ft of gain, dirt surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Blue Steel trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Forge Ahead
Forge Ahead comes in at #4 with 328 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 328 ft of gain, dirt surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Pennsylvania, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Forge Ahead trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Forge Ahead
Forge Ahead comes in at #5 with 328 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 328 ft of gain, dirt surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Forge Ahead trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Ben Franklin Bridge Walkway (South)
Ben Franklin Bridge Walkway (South) comes in at #6 with 148 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 148 ft of gain, concrete surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Ben Franklin Bridge Walkway (South) trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Ben Franklin Bridge Walkway (South)
Ben Franklin Bridge Walkway (South) comes in at #7 with 148 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 148 ft of gain, concrete surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Ben Franklin Bridge Walkway (South) trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Connector
Connector comes in at #8 with 69 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 69 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Connector trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Connector
Connector comes in at #9 with 69 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 69 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Pennsylvania, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Connector trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Pennsylvania trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Pennsylvania. Spring and fall are best; summer is humid and rattlesnake-active in the mountains; winter ice is common on shaded ridges. Timber rattlesnakes in the rocky ridges, ticks (Lyme endemic), and ankle-rolling rock fields on the AT.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Pennsylvania hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Pennsylvania coverage continues below.
- Top 10 longest trails in Pennsylvania — Multi-day routes and through-hikes ranked by distance.
- Best beginner hikes in Pennsylvania — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Pennsylvania — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Pennsylvania — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Pennsylvania — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Pennsylvania — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Pennsylvania — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Pennsylvania last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
