Rachel Carson Trail

Rachel Carson Trail
View of the Freeport Bridge from Rachel Carson Trail
Established	February 1975
Length	35.7 mi (57.5 km)
Location	Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Use	Hiking
Hiking details
Trail difficulty	Moderate
Sights	Streams
Hazards	Severe Weather, Hazardous Terrain

The Rachel Carson Trail is a 35.7-mile (57.5 km) hiking trail in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The trail stretches along a meandering path from Harrison Hills Park to North Park, crossing through a variety of dense woodlands, open meadows, streams, steep bluffs, power line clearings, as well as skirting the boundaries of local farms and suburban areas. There are no camps or shelters along the way, meaning the trail is intended for day-hiking. The trail contains hazardous terrain and is steep, rising 8,151 feet and dropping 8,214 feet. Few bridges have been built, causing hikers to cross waterways.

Because the trail passes close by the birthplace in Springdale of Rachel Carson, one of the early ecologists, the trail was dedicated in her name. Some offshoot spurs from the trail offer alternative routes to Hartwood Acres Park and the Rachel Carson Homestead.

Every year since 1996, the Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy hosts a "Rachel Carson Trail Challenge". Participants attempt a 34-mile long, one-day, sunrise to sunset endurance hike along the trail. The stated challenge is simply to finish the entire stretch before sunset, or approximately 15 hours. Two shorter challenge routes of 18 miles and 8 miles are offered, as well. The trail has also been part of the 100 Mile Quest, a challenge to hike 100 miles in one year.