If you’re looking for directions to Wolf Rocks Overlook in the Forbes State Forest, you’re in the right place!
Wolf Rocks Overlook is an outstanding scenic vista located approximately 9 miles northwest of Somerset, PA.
How to Find the Wolf Rocks Trail
Wolf Rocks Overlook is located at the end of the Wolf Rocks Trail.
The hike begins and ends at Laurel Summit State Park, a 6 acre park near the intersection of Linn Run Road and Laurel Summit Road.
If navigating by GPS, use coordinates 40.11842, -79.17625 for the Wolf Rocks Trail Head parking area.
Driving in from the Westmoreland County direction, I’d recommend coming up Linn Run Road through Linn Run State Park, and stopping off at Adam Falls on the way.
Driving from the east in Somerset County, I’d recommend coming in via Laurel Summit Road, where you’ll pass right by the trail head for Beam Rocks Overlook.
Hiking the Wolf Rocks Trail
Most of the hike to Wolf Rocks Overlook takes place in the Forbes State Forest on a relatively flat, sometimes rocky, 2 mile trail (one-way).
The middle section of the Wolf Rocks Trail can be done as a loop, but no matter which direction you take at this point, you’ll merge back onto one main trail before reaching the overlook.
I typically hike the Wolf Rocks Trail in a counterclockwise 4 mile loop, doing the section marked in yellow on the map below on the way out, and the section marked in white on the way back to my vehicle.
The trail passes though plenty of picturesque patches of laurel and tall ferns.
There’s also a rocky grotto along the trail.
And what I call the “Snout Tree” just before you reach the overlook.
The real payoff is at the western terminus of the Wolf Rocks Trail, where it dead-ends into a 180 degree view of Linn Run State Park and Westmoreland County.
Exploring Wolf Rocks Overlook
Even from a satellite view, you can see that Wolf Rocks are quite expansive – nearly 150 feet of jutting cliffside to explore.
In the springtime, the view is a sea of verdant green!
At the peak of fall foliage season in October the forest around Wolf Rocks Overlook is a sea of brilliant color.
In early November, the remaining burnt reds and oranges are equally magnificent.
The view to the northwest is in the general direction of Ligonier.
While the view to the southwest is in the direction of the PA Turnpike and Donegal.
The rocks that make up Wolf Rocks provide plenty of places to sit and take in the view.
Of course they also provide plenty of places for snakes to sun themselves, so be aware of your surroundings if visiting during warm weather.
Fall is my favorite time of year to hike the Wolf Rocks Trail.
The snakes are generally not an issue by then, and the fall foliage is magnificent.
Wolf Rocks Overlook truly is one of the best scenic overlooks in the Laurel Highlands!
Hiking to Wolf Rocks Overlook in the Forbes State Forest is an immensely fulfilling journey, offering breathtaking views that reward both the eyes and the soul.
Nearby Attractions
Spruce Flats Bog is a high-altitude bog accessed via a trail originating from the same parking lot as the Wolf Rocks Trail.
Linn Run State Park is a 612 acre park in Westmoreland County, popular with hikers, campers, and picnickers.
As mentioned earlier, Adam Falls at Linn Run State Park is just a few miles away.
Fish Run Falls in the Forbes State Forest may be the prettiest little waterfall in Westmoreland County that you’ve never heard of!
The abandoned hunting lodge at Linn Run State Park is a remarkable set of ruins from the early days of “retreat camping” in western Pennsylvania.
Mill Creek Falls is located nearby on State Game Lands 42 in Westmoreland County.
Beam Rocks Overlook in the Forbes State Forest offers a fantastic 180° eastern view from high above the treetops and the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail below.
Also, be sure to check out “The 14 Best Scenic Overlooks in the Laurel Highlands” for a list of ALL the best views in the region!
Exploring Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset County will introduce you to some of the best things to see and do at this iconic Laurel Highlands destination.
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