Exploring Band Rock Vista in Lycoming County

Hiking to Band Rock Vista in Lycoming County.

Band Rock Vista in Lycoming County offers a stunning 180-degree view of the Lycoming Creek Valley and the town of Ralston more than 900 feet below.

Snow-covered Band Rock Vista overlooking Ralston and the Lycoming Creek Valley below.
Snow-covered Band Rock Vista overlooking Ralston and the Lycoming Creek Valley below.

This scenic overlook is steeped in history, located on the edge of the ghost town of McIntyre, now part of the McIntyre Wild Area in the Loyalsock State Forest.

The McIntyre Wild Area near Ralson in Lycoming County, PA.
The McIntyre Wild Area near Ralston in Lycoming County, PA.

Founded in 1870, McIntyre was a mountaintop coal mining town and home to nearly 300 structures including houses, a school, a church, and a cemetery.

"Gone Home" epitaph on a tombstone near the ghost town of McIntyre near Band Rock Vista.
“Gone Home” epitaph on a tombstone near the ghost town of McIntyre.

Band Rock Vista was a favorite spot of the town’s nearly 2,000 residents for picnics and concerts, and the name sticks even today, long after most (but not all) remains of the town of McIntyre have vanished.

Mining-related ruins along the hike to Band Rock Vista in the McIntyre Wild Area.

How to Find Band Rock Vista

There are two ways to get to Band Rock Vista – drive there or hike there.

Map showing various routes to Band Rock Vista in the McIntyre Wild Area.
Map showing various routes to Band Rock Vista in the McIntyre Wild Area.

Driving to Band Rock Vista

Driving to Band Rock Vista is simple, with a few caveats.

From Ralston, simply follow McIntyre Road (white dashed line on the map above) as it winds its way 4.5 miles up McIntyre Mountain and dead ends at the parking area near Band Rock Vista.

The Band Rock Vista parking area in the McIntyre Wild Area.
The Band Rock Vista parking area in the McIntyre Wild Area.

Caveat #1 – McIntyre Road is a “no winter maintenance” forest road, and the rest of the year, it is a “barely maintained” forest road.

So if you want to see Band Rock Vista in the winter, you’ll either need a snowmobile, or you’ll want to hike there (the subject of the second part of this article).

McIntyre Mountain Road near Band Rock Vista.
McIntyre Mountain Road.

Caveat #2 – Even when McIntyre Road isn’t covered with snow, it’s a rough road and I would urge you NOT to attempt driving on it in anything other than a truck, SUV, or something with LOTS of ground clearance.


Hiking to Band Rock Vista

Hiking to Band Rock Vista is a far more scenic way to get to the overlook, but again, there are a few caveats.

Caveat #1 – there is no official/blazed trail to follow, although the hike I lay out here uses existing rail/road grades that are relatively easy to discern and follow.

The old rail grade above Dutchmans Run in the McIntyre Wild Area.
Old rail grade along the hike to Band Rock Vista in the McIntyre Wild Area.

Caveat #2 – this hike entails 900 feet of elevation gain over the course of its 2.4 mile length (one-way).

Map showing Band Rock Vista hiking trail in the McIntyre Wild Area.
Map showing Band Rock Vista hiking trail (red dashed line) in the McIntyre Wild Area.

And half of that elevation gain occurs in the span of just 400 yards, as you follow the grade of the old McIntyre Inclined Plane up the mountain.

Historical photo showing the McIntyre Inclined Plane from the bottom.
Historical photo showing the McIntyre Inclined Plane from the bottom.

So this hike definitely is not a beginners hike, or for those faint of heart – literally!

Looking up the steep grade of the McIntyre Inclined Plane in 2022.
Looking up the steep grade of the McIntyre Inclined Plane in 2022.

But if you’re good with off-trail hiking and looking for a physical challenge, I’ll describe the route I take from Ralston to Band Rock Vista and back again, pointing out some of the interesting historic ruins you’ll pass along the way.

Remains of the McIntyre Inclined Plane engine house on McIntyre Mountain.
Remains of the McIntyre Inclined Plane engine house on McIntyre Mountain.

Hiking the Band Rock Vista Trail

This hike starts at the DCNR parking area next to the bridge over Lycoming Creek in Ralston.

Parking area in Ralston for Band Rock Vista trail hike.
DCNR parking area in Ralston, next to bridge over Lycoming Creek.

From here you’ll follow the old (and relatively flat) Northern Central Railroad grade 0.9 miles.

Hiking an old railroad grade to Band Rock Vista in the McIntyre Wild Area in Lycoming County, PA.
Hiking the former Northern Central Railroad grade in the McIntyre Wild Area.

At the 0.9 mile mark, you’ll see the gate pictured below, to the right of the trail (GPS coordinates 41.51997, -76.94903) – this is the bottom of the former McIntyre Inclined Plane, where railroad cars full of coal mined on top of the mountain were lowered by means of a rail/cable system to the Northern Central Railroad below.

Gate at the base of the old McIntyre Inclined Plane near Ralston.
Gate at the base of the old McIntyre Inclined Plane near Ralston.

This will be the STEEPEST part of the entire hike – 475 feet of elevation gain over the course of 400 yards!

Along the way up, you’ll see remnants of the inclined plane sticking up out of the ground.

Remains of the McIntyre Inclined Plane along the hike to Band Rock Vista in the McIntyre Wild Area.
Remains of the McIntyre Inclined Plane.

When you get to the top of the inclined plane, you’ll see the ruins of the engine house that powered this operation (GPS coordinates 41.52266, -76.94715).

Ruins of the McIntyre Inclined Plane engine house.
Ruins of the McIntyre Inclined Plane engine house.

In its heyday in the late 19th century, more than 1,000 tons of coal was lowered down the McIntyre inclined plane every day.

View from the top of the McIntyre Inclined Plane - historic image courtesy David L. Richards Collection/Chamouni Grove Press.
View from the top of the McIntyre Inclined Plane – historic image courtesy David L. Richards Collection/Chamouni Grove Press.

Today nature is slowly reclaiming the grade, but it is still well suited for hiking up and down McIntyre Mountain.

Looking down the path of the McIntyre Inclined Plane in 2022.
Looking down the path of the McIntyre Inclined Plane in 2022.

With the steepest part of the hike out of the way, the remaining 1.3 miles will seem like a pleasant stroll through the woods, which it is!

Old road grade along the hike to Band Rock Vista in the Loyalsock State Forest.
Old road grade along the hike to Band Rock Vista in the Loyalsock State Forest.

You’ll continue following the rail grade above the inclined plane in a northeasterly direction, as it passes high above Dutchmans Run below.

The trail to Band Rock Vista runs parallel to and high above Dutchmans Run for part of the hike.
The trail to Band Rock Vista runs parallel to and high above Dutchmans Run for part of the hike.

Eventually the rail grade intersects with an old wagon road and makes a dogleg right turn to the south, finally bringing you out onto McIntyre Road, near a large wooden cross (GPS coordinates 41.52498, -76.93910).

Wooden cross along McIntyre Mountain Road near the McIntyre Cemetery.
Wooden cross along McIntyre Mountain Road near the McIntyre Cemetery.

100 yards or so behind the cross is the McIntyre Cemetery, with many of the headstones dating back to the 1880s.

Epitaph on a headstone at the McIntyre Cemetery near Band Rock Vista in the McIntyre Wild Area.
Epitaph on a headstone in the McIntyre Cemetery.

Follow McIntyre Road west (your right when standing on the road in front of the cross) the remaining 1/2 mile to Band Rock Vista (GPS coordinates 41.52082, -76.94555).

Band Rock Vista in the McIntyre Wild Area of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
Band Rock Vista in the McIntyre Wild Area.

Views from Band Rock Vista

Band Rock Vista sits at an elevation 1770 feet above sea level, and is composed primarily of Pottsville sandstone.

View to the north from Band Rock Vista in the McIntyre Wild Area.
View to the north.

Band Rock Vista is the westernmost escarpment of McIntyre Mountain, providing a commanding view of the Lycoming Creek valley 900 feet below.

Band Rock Vista in the McIntyre Wild Area of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
View to the south, overlooking Ralston.

And while driving up to Band Rock Vista is certainly easier (at least spring-fall), hiking up just feels more rewarding to me personally.

Directions to Band Rock Vista in the McIntyre Wild Area, Lycoming COunty PA.
The author at Band Rock Vista.

Every time I hike in this area, I discover some new-to-me ruins, furthering my interest in the McIntyre coal mining story.

Remains of the McIntyre Inclined Plane along the Band Rock Vista Trail.
Remains of the McIntyre Inclined Plane along the Band Rock Vista hike.

If you choose to take on this hike, I hope you enjoy the challenge as well as the history, and respect both the natural and man-made sights to behold in the McIntyre Wild Area, leaving them as you found them for the next hiker to enjoy.

Tombstone in the McIntyre Wild Area near Band Rock Vista.
Tombstone in the McIntyre Wild Area near Band Rock Vista.

Nearby Attractions

On the return hike you may want to take a side trip to see Dutchmans Run Falls.

The First Falls on Dutchmans Run in the McIntyre Wild Area
The First Falls on Dutchmans Run in the McIntyre Wild Area

Dutchmans Run Falls is a series of towering waterfalls along the stream closest to the old McIntyre Inclined Plane.

The Third Falls on Dutchmans Run in the McIntyre Wild Area.
The Third Falls on Dutchmans Run in the McIntyre Wild Area.

Don’t confuse these waterfalls with Dutchman Falls in the Sullivan County portion of the Loyalsock State Forest!

Dutchman Falls in the winter.
Dutchman Falls in Sullivan County.

Exploring Abbott Run Falls in the McIntyre Wild Area will introduce you to yet another nearby stream with multiple waterfalls on it.

The author at Abbott Run Falls in the McIntyre Wild Area.
The author at Abbott Run Falls in the McIntyre Wild Area.

Exploring Miners Run Falls in the McIntyre Wild Area will introduce you to the most popular waterfall hike in this portion of the Loyalsock State Forest.

Summer view of the fifth waterfall on Miners Run in the Loyalsock State Forest.
The author and daughter at the fifth waterfall on Miners Run in the Loyalsock State Forest.

Exploring Hounds Run Falls in the McIntyre Wild Area will introduce you to the easiest waterfall hike nearby.

Two photographers enjoying the scenery at Hounds Run Falls in the Loyalsock State Forest.
Two photographers enjoying the scenery at Hounds Run Falls in the Loyalsock State Forest.

Exploring Jacoby Falls in the Loyalsock State Forest is another introduction to a great Lycoming County waterfall hike.

Jacoby Falls swollen by heavy summer rain.
Jacoby Falls swollen by heavy summer rain.

Montgomery Pike Scenic Overlook is a gorgeous roadside overlook and picnic spot located approximately 3.5 miles south of Williamsport along Route 15 in Lycoming County.

Exploring Montgomery Pike Scenic Overlook in Lycoming County
Montgomery Pike Scenic Overlook in Lycoming County.

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Rusty Glessner
Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and a frequently-cited authority on PA's best travel destinations.