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Pole Steeple Trail
Pole Steeple's blue-blazed trail starts in Pine Grove Furnace State Park and ends in Michaux State Forest. The steep, but rewarding .75 mile climb up Piney Mountain takes you to a beautiful white and maroon colored quartzite rock outcropping where you can view the entire park. In the valley, nearly five hundred feet below, lies Laurel Lake and its sandy beaches. To the west you can see the central ridge of South Mountain as it reaches heights of just over two-thousand feet.
The Pole Steeple Trail is the main trail used to reach the summit, but there is also a longer trail which heads out around the cliffs to the south side. Unlike the shorter Pole Steeple trail, you won't have to climb up any rocks to get to the top. Also, there is a link trail between Pole Steeple Trail and the Appalachian Trail.
Pole Steeple's summit along with the rest of South Mountain was created during the collision of the last Pangaea as North America slammed into the continent of Africa.
Leashed pets are allowed.
Pole Steeple Trail Map
Find Pole Steeple Trail on the Pine Grove Furnace State Park Map (.pdf)
Pole Steeple Trail Parking
It you are traveling along Pine Grove Road to get to the park, parking for the Pole Steeple Trail is on the opposite side of Laurel Lake along Railroad Bed Road.
