The magnificent Broad Mountain Trail near Jim Thorpe, PA features amazing mountain top views of the Lehigh Gorge and a wonderous waterfall you can walk behind.
The Broad Mountain Trail loop, located in State Game Lands 141 in Carbon County, PA is an excellent day hike just north of the picturesque town of Jim Thorpe. The trail runs along a plateau on the east side of the majestic Lehigh Gorge and skirts the notorious waterfalls of Glen Onoko.
We parked at the State Game Lands parking lot located at 40.89214, -75.80590, across Route 93 from the SGL 141 shooting range. Much of the trail is more-or-less level gravel road making for easy hiking. Large sections of the loop interior consist of brushy logged areas while the outer edge of the loop tend to be more wooded. The aspen- and brush-lined trail dipped around Jeans Run where the flora briefly converted to young hemlock and rhododendron.
We turned south off the main Broad Mountain Trail at 40.89029, -75.76826 to explore the Cave Waterfall, the topmost of the notorious Glen Onoko waterfalls. Sadly, the Glen Onoko trail closed in 2019 after numerous injuries and several fatalities. Thankfully we experienced the glorious waterfalls and craggy boulders of Glen Onoko before it closed and hope that it will someday re-open. Here is a view from the top of Cave Falls.
Signage on the Glen Onoko Trail just past the top of Cave Falls clearly indicates that it is closed. You can still enjoy Cave falls by crossing Glen Onoko Run above the falls and taking a side trail to the bottom Cave Falls.
Join us in going behind the showers of Cave Falls in the video at the end of the post.
After our marvelous excursion to Cave Falls, we returned to the top of the falls and headed east at 40.88861, -75.76697 on the Overlook Trail. The Overlook Trail runs roughly parallel to the Broad Mountain Trail. The Overlook Trail terrain is more rugged, but offers boulder formations, stone steps, and scenic views as it runs along the rim of the Lehigh Gorge.
Stone steps on the Overlook Trail from the Cave Waterfall to the western rim of the Lehigh Gorge.
There are numerous rock formations in the woods visible from the Overlook Trail.
Although nothing to write home about on account of small field of view from the foliage, there are rock outcroppings and window views of the Lehigh Gorge at 40.89379, -75.75998 and 40.89529, -75.75966. However, there is a spectacular view of the Lehigh Gorge, mountain country, and town of East Jim Thorpe in the distance at 40.89809, -75.75797, near where the Overlook Trail rejoins the Broad Mountain Trail.
The second must-see vista of the Broad Mountain Trail is the Oxbow Bend at 40.90828, -75.75235. We could hear the raging Lehigh River from this lookout. The Old D&L railway runs through the gorge with the river. We even saw a train pass through while we were here.
We shared the spectacular view of the Oxbow Bend with a black phase timber rattlesnake. It never rattled but nonchalantly slithered under the rock when we got close. You can see this and another rattlesnake we encountered on the trail in the video at the end of the post.
A velvet-antler buck in the brush stared us down for a few seconds before bounding across the trail and out of sight into the woods.
The northern part of the Broad Mountain Trail that loops back west toward Route 93. Here it is mostly open, young post-logging re-growth. The trail is a very easy gravel road on which you can move quickly. Rather than returning to the parking area via Route 93, we took a connector trail at 40.90643, -75.80757 south across the plateau. The connector trail passes by an excavated area and grew weedier (but still manageable) as we approached the southern portion of the Borad Mountain Trail loop. As indicated on the map below, there is a wet crossing just before the connector trail rejoins the Broad Mountain loop.
Overall, the route we took was a 11.6-mile loop.
Parking is at 40.89214, -75.80590.
The Broad Mountain Trail loop was a relatively easy hike because there was little elevation change and most of the trail, except the Overlook Trail and the connector trail, was gravel road. Although some parts are wooded, much of the terrain immediately adjacent to the trail is open and brushy, so bring a hat and sun protection. We love the area of the Lehigh Gorge because of the multitude of trails through the old coal mountains and the beauty of the gorge. The Broad Mountain Trail made us love it even more. The majestic Cave Falls (which you can indeed go behind), the rock formations, and the multiple scenic views of the mighty gorge make the Broad Mountain Trail well worth the visit. The wildlife, which you can see on the video was a bonus. We can’t wait to return for further exploration of the area.
Be sure to check out our other adventures.
