Solo Hiking the Black Forest Trail – Hammock Camping Trip – 3 Days, 42 Miles

Join me for 3 days of Hiking, Hammock Camping & Backpacking on Pennsylvania’s Black Forest Trail.  

For this adventure, I’ll be doing a 3 day, 2 night solo backpacking trip in Pennsylvania’s Tiadaghton State Forest.  The Black Forest Trail is a 42 – 43 mile loop (depending on where you park and start from) with a total elevation gain of 8,550′.

Black Forest Trail Route Overview – Sintax77

GPS Data for this trip and many others can be found on my Trip Data Page.  Includes full track data for each day, and way-points for campsites used / observed along the loop.

I also highly recommend the Black Forest Trail Guidebook and Map.  I found the mile by mile information provided and overall quality to be great and very helpful.

For a detailed look at all of the gear used on this backpacking trip, check out my 9 lb ‘Stealth Backpacking Gear List’ post / video.

Trailhead Used: Pine Creek Rail Trail Access Area behind Wolfe’s General Store  – 41°28’15.6″N 77°30’05.8″W
Trailhead is on the other side of the auto bridge, behind the Hotel Manor inn / pub. Parking immediately at the trailhead is for day use only. No overnight parking is permitted in the hotel’s parking lot by the actual trailhead.

Black Forest Trail Full Loop Elevation Profile

Day 1
Park at the Slate Run Rail Trail parking lot
Head over the auto bridge and make a right.
Begin the loop at the Black Forest Trailhead, located in the lot behind Hotel Manor.
Head Counter Clockwise on the Black Forest Trail
Setup camp at an unestablished spot about a quarter mile past the crossing of Dyer Branch

Black Forest Trail Day 1 Elevation Profile- Sintax77

Day 1 Mileage: 16 miles
Day 1 Gross Elevation Gain: 2,989′

Day 2
Continue Counter-Clockwise on the Black Forest Trail
Setup camp at an establish spot along Naval Run creek.

Black Forest Trail Day 2 Elevation Profile- Sintax77

Day 2 Mileage: 15 miles
Day 2 Gross Elevation Gain: 3,182′

Day 3
Continue Counter-Clockwise in the Black Forest Trail
Return to the Slate Run Rail Trail Recreation Area Parking Lot

Black Forest Trail Day 3 Elevation Profile- Sintax77

Day 3 Mileage: 13
Day 3 Gross Elevation Gain: 2,953′