HomePennsylvaniaAllentown › South Mountain Trail

South Mountain Trail

4.3 ★★★★☆ 167 Google reviews · Running trail in Allentown, Pennsylvania · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from South Mountain Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicDog-friendlyQuiet

Quiet park offering picnic tables and trails for hiking and biking.

What runners say about South Mountain Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (167 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions
🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“Doesn't offer much in great views but it's a good afternoon hike through the woods.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Absolutely love it here whenever passing thru we stop very quiet and peaceful really hard to believe your in allentown”

I love taking my dog for little hikes here all year long. It's my easy escape from the world that is literally in my back yard. We always find some neat things on our walks. And she is a husky so she can just pull me thru some areas if I need it haha.

★★★★★ — Justine , Nov 2023

Very beautiful in the fall, especially the little ponds. Watch out though, a few trails lead to private property and the signs are not very well-placed

★★★★☆ — Sam , Oct 2021

My favorite place to exercise. Follow the trails and make sure you bring water

★★★★★ — Jessica , Oct 2025

Great place! Lots of interconnected trails. Streams, big boulders, well defined trails. The upper trails are great and secluded. Highly recommend this trail. Hidden gem.

★★★★★ — Daniel , May 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 167 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 7 mentions

“Doesn't offer much in great views but it's a good afternoon hike through the woods.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 5 mentions

“I love taking my dog for little hikes here all year long.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Absolutely love it here whenever passing thru we stop very quiet and peaceful really hard to believe your in allentown”

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Plan your run at South Mountain Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.

Hours

Monday 7 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–8 PM
Thursday 7 AM–8 PM
Friday 7 AM–8 PM
Saturday 7 AM–8 PM
Sunday 7 AM–8 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find South Mountain Trail

Reservoir Dr, Allentown, PA 18103

Get directions

Running trails near Allentown

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Ithaca Park & Wilderness Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 14 reviews

Allentown, PA

Dog-friendly

under a mile away

Shark’s Rock

4.8 ★★★★★ 6 reviews

Emmaus, PA

1.2 miles away

Wildlands Conservancy’s South Mountain Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 425 reviews

Emmaus, PA

0.2 miLoopMixedScenic

A wildlife-rich reserve with trails, set amid ancient boulders, old quarries & hardwood forests.

1.4 miles away

Boroline Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 93 reviews

Emmaus, PA

Natural surface

Informal park with a volleyball court, basketball courts, swings and hiking trails.

1.5 miles away

South Mountain Big Rock Park

3.9 ★★★★☆ 127 reviews

Allentown, PA

Scenic

Dense forest with hiking trails, named for its massive, towering natural rock formation.

1.5 miles away

Trout Creek Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 452 reviews

Allentown, PA

Recreation area with a playground, grills, and a creek, plus basketball courts and trails.

1.6 miles away

All running trails in Allentown, PA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.