Big Mountain

At 2,428 feet, Big Mountain is a summit in Pennsylvania. The Big Mountain Trail covers 3.6 miles round trip (out-and-back) with about 751 feet of elevation gain — a gradual walk with modest climbing.

The Route

Most of the climbing comes early — the first half of the route does the bulk of the work before the grade eases. The steepest stretch arrives around mile 1.54, gaining roughly 1,700 feet per mile — expect a slow, deliberate pace through here. From the trailhead at about 1,240 feet, the route tops out near 1,991 feet. Along the way the route passes a spring (Oak Spring) near mile 1.19 — useful checkpoints for judging your pace.

Getting There

The trailhead is at 39.99405, -77.92828 (tap for driving directions). It's roughly 90 miles northwest of Washington, DC, DC area. Arrive early on weekends — trailhead lots at popular peaks fill quickly, and cell service is often unreliable once you leave the highway.

When to Go

Spring through fall is the main season. Conditions change fast in the shoulder months — check a point forecast for the summit, not the nearest town, before you commit.

Know Before You Go

The Moderate rating comes from the National Park Service difficulty formula, which weighs total distance against elevation gain. Most hikers should budget about 1.5 hours of moving time; add margin for breaks, photos and the descent. Download the GPX track from this page before you go — cell coverage is unreliable in the mountains and a saved route works offline in any GPS app. Conditions change: verify current access, closures and weather with the official land manager before you go. Trail data is sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Looking to link objectives or plan a weekend? Nearby summits include Loop Mountain, Schaefer Head and Savage Mountain — each has its own guide on this site.