Hiking to the Throne Room Along the Standing Stone Trail

Hiking to the Throne Room along the Standing Stone Trail in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania.

If you’re looking for detailed directions to the Throne Room along the Standing Stone Trail, you’re in the right place!

The Throne Room is often cited as one of the finest vistas along the 85 mile-long Standing Stone Trail.
The Throne Room is often cited as one of the finest vistas along the 85 mile-long Standing Stone Trail.

The Throne Room is a panoramic overlook often referred to as one of the finest vistas in all of Pennsylvania, and deservedly so.

Fall foliage views from the Throne Room on an October afternoon on Huntingdon County PA.
Fall foliage views from the Throne Room.

Located along the Huntingdon County portion of the 85 mile-long Standing Stone Trail, what I’m going to describe here is a one-mile southbound hike to the Throne Room, the shortest possible route to the overlook.

Trail map from the parking area along the Standing Stone Trail to the Throne Room in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania.
Trail map from the parking area along the Standing Stone Trail to the Throne Room.

From maps to GPS coordinates to photos of important landmarks along the hike, I’m going to provide you with all the information you need to find and enjoy to the magnificent views from the Throne Room, with as little difficulty as possible!

The author at the Throne Room on an October afternoon.
The author at the Throne Room on an October afternoon.

Where to Park When Hiking to the Throne Room

This hike starts at a parking pull-off in the Rothrock State Forest.

Directions to the Throne Room parking area using Jacks Mountain Road in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania.
Directions to the Throne Room parking area using Jacks Mountain Road in Huntingdon County.

To reach the parking area, turn off of Route 655 roughly 6 miles south of Mapleton, and proceed 3.2 miles along Jacks Mountain Road.

Jacks Mountain Road intersects with Route 655 roughly 6 miles south of Mapleton in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania.
Jacks Mountain Road intersects with Route 655 roughly 6 miles south of Mapleton, at GPS coordinates 40.31927, -77.98376.

The first half-mile of Jacks Mountain Road is paved; the remainder of the road is a “No Winter Maintenance” dirt road.

Jacks Mountain Road on an October day in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania.
Jacks Mountain Road on an October day in Huntingdon County.

A high clearance vehicle like a truck or SUV is your best bet on any road like this, due to potholes and ruts that might cause you to bottom-out in a standard passenger car.

Jacks Mountain Road leading to the Throne Room parking area in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania.
Jacks Mountain Road leading to the Throne Room parking area.

Rougly 2.6 miles into your drive up Jack Mountain Road you’ll come to the fork in the road pictured below- stay to the RIGHT.

The road to the Throne Room parking area bears right at this intersection.
The road to the Throne Room parking area bears right at this intersection.

Follow that dirt road (which also doubles as the Standing Stone Trail on this stretch of the trail) another 0.6 miles to the fork in the road pictured below, and park in the pull-off along the upper road (don’t block the road) at GPS coordinates 40.31765, -77.95558.

The Throne Room parking area is located near this fork in the road in the Rothrock State Forest.
The Throne Room parking area is located near this fork in the road in the Rothrock State Forest.

As of April 2023, you’ll see these signs pictured below near the parking area, indicating you should drive no further down the otherwise ungated road.

Sign at the parking area along the state forest road which doubles as a portion of the Standing Stone Trail near the Throne Room.
Sign at the parking area along the state forest road which doubles as a portion of the Standing Stone Trail near the Throne Room.

Hiking to the Throne Room

From this parking area along the dirt road/Standing Stone Trail, hike south (straight forward) for 0.3 miles, and look for the trail markers pictured below to indicate where the trail diverges from the dirt road and starts uphill towards the Throne Room.

From the Throne Room parking area follow the forest road for 0.3 miles and then bear right to follow the Standing Stone Trail uphill to the Throne Room.
From the Throne Room parking area follow the forest road for 0.3 miles and then bear right to follow the Standing Stone Trail uphill to the Throne Room.

From this point, you have a 0.7 mile hike to the Throne Room, with 660 feet of elevation gain to look forward to!

The Standing Stone Trail ascends from the forest road for 0.7 miles before reaching the Throne Room.
The Standing Stone Trail ascends from the forest road for 0.7 miles before reaching the Throne Room.

After hiking uphill for a half-mile, the remaining 0.2 miles features a slight decline to the overlook, following a yellow-blazed spur of the otherwise orange-blazed Standing Stone Trail.

The Throne Room is located along a short yellow-blazed spur of the orange-blazed Standing Stone Trail.
The Throne Room is located along a short yellow-blazed spur of the orange-blazed Standing Stone Trail.

Once you step out onto the boulder field which comprises the Throne Room, the payoff for your short-but-steep climb will become apparent!

Magnificent fall foliage views from the Throne Room along the Standing Stone Trail.
Magnificent fall foliage views from the Throne Room along the Standing Stone Trail.

Exploring the Throne Room

The views from the Throne Room are simply outstanding, no matter which direction you look or what season you visit it in.

View to the north from the Throne Room along the Standing Stone Trail.
View to the north from the Throne Room along the Standing Stone Trail.

Sitting at 2283 feet above sea level, you seem to have an infinite view to the horizon.

The Throne Room sits at an elevation of 2283 feet above sea level.
The Throne Room sits at an elevation of 2283 feet above sea level.

To the west, the cobble piles slope more gently down the side of Jacks Mountain.

View to the west from the Throne Room on an October afternoon.
View to the west from the Throne Room on an October afternoon.

To the east, the boulders seem larger and the drop-off steeper.

View to the east from the Throne Room on an October afternoon.
View to the east from the Throne Room on an October afternoon.

In my opinion, the view to the north, in the direction of Mapleton, is the crème de la crème at the Throne Room.

The author at the Throne Room on an early April afternoon.
The author at the Throne Room on an early April afternoon.

Nearby Overlooks

The Throne Room isn’t the only game in town when it comes to scenic overlooks on this section of the Standing Stone Trail; by hiking just a few hundred yards further south along the ridgeline you’ll encounter a pair of regal-sounding vistas sure to please as well.

Overlooks near the Throne Room along the Standing Stone Trail in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania.
Overlooks near the Throne Room along the Standing Stone Trail.

The King’s Chamber

The King’s Chamber, roughly 200 yards south of the Throne Room spur, offers a “regal view” to the south and east.

The author at the King's Chamber along the Standing Stone Trail on an October afternoon.
The author at the King’s Chamber along the Standing Stone Trail on an October afternoon.

The fall foliage views from the King’s Chamber are stunning.

View to the southeast from the King's Chamber along the Standing Stone Trail in Huntingdon County.
October views to the southeast from the King’s Chamber.

But even on a leafless April afternoon, the view is no less impressive.

The King's Chamber on an early April afternoon in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania.
The King’s Chamber on an early April afternoon.

Hall of the Mountain King

150 yards beyond the King’s Chamber, you’ll find the Hall of the Mountain King, a tip of the hat to Spill the Wine by Eric Burdon and War.

The Hall of the Mountain King along the Standing Stone Trail on an early April afternoon.
The Hall of the Mountain King along the Standing Stone Trail on an early April afternoon.

This 100 yard-long cobble pile slopes gently downhill, from north to south.

View to the south from the Hall of the Mountain King on an early April afternoon in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania.
View to the south from the Hall of the Mountain King on an early April afternoon in Huntingdon County.

If ever you needed a good example for where trekking poles are useful, the Hall of the Mountain King is that example!

View to the north at the Hall of the Mountain King on the Standing Stone Trail.
View to the north at the Hall of the Mountain King on the Standing Stone Trail.

The views to both the east and west are equally good, especially on an October afternoon.

The author at the Hall of the Mountain King on an October afternoon.
The author at the Hall of the Mountain King on an October afternoon.

If you’re short on time or it’s late in the day, this is a good spot to turn back towards the parking area, netting you 3 fantastic vistas on an out-and-back hike of just over 2 miles in total length.

View to the east from the Hall of the Mountain King along the Standing Stone Trail in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania.
View to the east from the Hall of the Mountain King.

Butler Knob Vista

If you have the time, another 1.5 miles south of the Hall of the Mountain King you’ll find Butler Knob Vista.

Map showing the route from the Throne Room to other nearby vistas to the south along the Standing Stone Trail.
Map showing the route from the Throne Room to other nearby vistas to the south along the Standing Stone Trail.

While you can also drive to this vista (and park next to the now-defunct Jacks Mountain fire tower), since you’re already on top of the ridge, the hike from the Hall of the Mountain King to Butler Knob is relatively flat and easy.

Jacks Mountain fire tower in the Rothrock State Forest Huntingdon County Pennsylvania.
Jacks Mountain fire tower.

As a point of reference, the vista is roughly 175 yards south of the fire tower.

Map to Butler Knob Vista along the Standing Stone Trail, near Jacks Mountain Fire Tower.
Map to Butler Knob Vista along the Standing Stone Trail, near Jacks Mountain Fire Tower.

The view from Butler Knob Vista is a panoramic picture of the southern horizon.

View to the south from Butler Knob Vista along the Standing Stone Trail in the Rothrock State Forest.
View to the south from Butler Knob Vista along the Standing Stone Trail.

If you choose to visit Butler Knob after first visiting the Throne Room, it makes a great midpoint spot to sit for a bit before completing a 5.5 mile out-and-back hike.

The author at Butler Knob Vista in April 2023.
The author at Butler Knob Vista in April 2023.

If you chose to visit Butler Knob at a later date, you can navigate to the fire tower parking area using GPS coordinates 40.29352, -77.96635 and driving up Jacks Tower Road, yet another high-clearance-recommended dirt road.

View to the southwest from Butler Knob Vista along the Standing Stone Trail in the Rothrock State Forest.
View to the southwest from Butler Knob Vista along the Standing Stone Trail in the Rothrock State Forest.

Cowans Gap State Park is the southern terminus of the Standing Stone Trail, where you’ll find the spectacular Cowans Gap Overlook along the trail.

A horse and rider along the Knobsville Road Trail at Cowans Gap Overlook.
A horse and rider at Cowans Gap Overlook.

Just north of the Throne Room you’ll find the 1000 Steps portion of the Standing Stone Trail, one of the most famous hikes in central PA.

The 1000 Steps near Mount Union in Huntingdon County.
The 1000 Steps near Mount Union in Huntingdon County.

Beyond the 1000 Steps lies Sausser’s Stone Pile, a massive rock formation in the Rothrock State Forest that also happens to be a superb scenic overlook.

Sausser's Stone Pile in the Rothrock State Forest.
Sausser’s Stone Pile in the Rothrock State Forest.

Stone Valley Vista is a panoramic scenic overlook located along the Standing Stone Trail, 2.2 miles south of Greenwood Furnace State Park.

The author at Stone Valley Vista in March 2023.
The author at Stone Valley Vista in March 2023.

The Alan Seeger Trail is a short but beautiful loop hike through the Alan Seeger Natural Area near the northern terminus of the Standing Stone Trail.

Hiking the Alan Seeger Trail in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania.
Bridge along the Alan Seeger Trail.

Did you enjoy this article?

If so, be sure to like and follow PA Bucket List on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Pinterest to learn more about the best things to see and do in Pennsylvania!

Click on any of the icons below to get connected to PA Bucket List on social media.


PA Bucket List 2022 Sasquatch Logo

Pennsylvania’s Best Travel Blog!

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