Flat Rock Trail is a popular 2.5 mile out and back trail located in the Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania. The trail leads to an area of flat rock at the top of Blue Mountain, overlooking the Cumberland Valley. The trailhead is located in Colonel Denning State Park, Newville, PA. There is a small parking lot at the trailhead, which can quickly fill up on nice weekends. There is additional parking up the hill near the ranger station.
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After an initial short set of steps, the relatively smooth trail meanders back and forth. About ½ mile into the hike the trail divided. Signage indicated a preferred route and a challenging route. We took the preferred route. It appears that the challenging route might be shorter but steeper. After the split the trail became rockier. A series of switchbacks led up to the top of the mountain. This section of the trail has a vast quantity of mount laurel (Pennsylvania’s state flower) but we were too early in the spring to see it in bloom.
Several trails converge on the mountain top so there is a large open area and a picnic table if you need a rest. At this point the trail is wide and starts to descend for a bit. It would have been a nice easy section, except that it was very wet and muddy. In several places the water was flowing over the trail. I was glad for my waterproof hiking boots, although my son managed to keep his feet dry by doing some jumping and detouring.
After descending for a while, the trail starts to climb again. The remainder of the trail is very rocky. Once you reach the top you are at Flat Rock. The area isn’t large but can accommodate several people at a time. Find a place to sit and enjoy the view before you turn around and head back to the parking lot. The day that we were there was mostly cloudy but several times the sun streamed out from the clouds, illuminating part of the valley.
Make sure that you allow several hours to complete the hike. I have heard that in the summer you need to watch for rattlesnakes while hiking. Even if the day is cooler, you should make sure that you have plenty of water along. The trail gains almost 1200 feet in elevation over the course of 2.5 miles. Because of the elevation gain and the rocky path, I would consider this a moderate trail.
My Takeaway
If you want a good work with a rewarding view at the end, the Flat Rock Trail at Colonel Denning State Park is definitely a trail worth hiking for a gorgeous view of the Cumberland Valley.