Mount Misery Trail at the summit of Mount Misery in Valley Forge

Length: .8 mile, one way
Time: 25 minutes (one way)
Difficulty: Moderate

Download the Valley Forge Trail Map (PDF)

The Mount Misery Trail is located on the western side of Valley Forge National Historical Park. I hiked it as part of a loop (3.1 miles long) that includes the Valley Creek and Horse-Shoe trails starting from the Yellow Springs Parking lot. Take the paved Yellow Springs Trail for a quarter mile to reach the start of the Mount Misery Trail. From here you will be hiking uphill to the summit of Mount Misery.

You can also do the hike down the mountain, still starting at Yellow Springs, by first hiking the Valley Creek and Horse-Shoe trails. This is the way I went, so my trail report is from the perspective of reaching the summit of Mount Misery via the Horse-Shoe Trail and coming down the mountain on the Mount Misery Trail.

The northern trailhead for the Mount Misery Trail is the intersection with the Horse-Shoe Trail. The intersection is also, conveniently, the summit of Mount Misery. It is marked with a directional sign and a bell that you can ring to let the world know you summited the mountain. From here it’s mainly downhill to the paved Yellow Springs Trail.

Hiking the Mount Misery Trail at Valley Forge National Historical Park

The Mount Misery Trail has its share of rocks on its surface, but it is smoother and wider than the Horse-Shoe Trail. There are a lot of ferns in this area, which makes the forest very picturesque.

Typical terrain on the upper portion of the Mount Misery Trail at Valley Forge

A quarter mile from the summit is the intersection with the Wolfinger Trail, which connects the Mount Misery Trail to the Valley Creek Trail. It serves no real purpose when coming down from the summit, but if you were hiking north on either the Mount Misery or Valley Creek trail and just wanted to make a shorter loop, use the Wolfinger Trail as a shortcut.

Wolfinger Trail at Valley Forge National Historical Park

The Mount Misery Trail flattens out for a tenth of a mile south of the Wolfinger Trail, but it is still rocky, so watch your step.

Terrain on the Mount Misery Trail just south of the Wolfinger Trail at Valley Forge

The Mount Misery Trail forks a few minutes past the Wolfinger Trail. There is no sign pointing out which way to go, but the Mount Misery Trail is marked with white blazes—painted splotches on trees that you follow like Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs. The trail to the left has a tree with a white blaze, so stay left. I have no idea where the trail to the right goes, as it is not on the Valley Forge National Historical Park map.

Mount Misery Trail at Valley Forge is marked with white blazes

When the trail does begin to descend, it does so with the help of a dirt and log staircase. It’s nice to think that the National Park Service is trying to make things easier for you, but the steps are actually for erosion control. Notice that after so many railroad-tie steps that there is a step made from a long log. This is used to divert water off the trail where it would naturally flow during a rainstorm. Since there is no grass or brush on the trail, the flowing rain water would eventually wash away the trail if it weren’t for the erosion control measures.

Erosion control steps on the lower end of the Mount Misery Trail at Valley Forge

The steepest part of the Mount Misery Trail is towards the bottom. You’ll know you are close to the end because you can hear the cars on Yellow Springs Road. The trail ends at a foot bridge over a ravine. Cross to the other side of the road to pick up the paved Yellow Springs Trail and hike back to the parking lot.

Start / Finish of the Mount Misery Trail near Yellow Springs, Valley Forge National Historical Park

I doubt many people will hike out and back on the Mount Misery Trail. They will either continue on to Washington’s Headquarters on the Horse-Shoe Trail or make a loop back to Yellow Springs as I did. The loop is 3.1 miles and takes about two hours. It’s a nice hike and well worth your time.

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