60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Philadelphia: Including Surrounding Counties and Outlying Areas of New Jersey and Delaware

by Lori Litchman

Overview

The Best Way to Experience Philadelphia Is by Hiking It.
Get outdoors with local author and hiking expert Lori Litchman with the new full-color edition of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Philadelphia. These trails transport you to scenic overlooks, wildlife hot spots, and historical settings that renew your spirit and recharge your body.

Go bird-watching at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. See the unique ecosystem at the New Jersey Pine Barrens, with its diverse plant and animal life. Enjoy nature in Wissahickon Valley Park, which is only minutes from the city center and has over 50 miles of trails. Immerse yourself in history at the Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Each hike description features:
Key information on length, hiking time, difficulty, configuration, scenery, traffic, trail surface, and accessibility
Information on the history and natural history of the areas the hikes pass through
A detailed trail map and elevation profile
Clear directions to the trailhead and trailhead GPS data
Tips on nearby activities

Whether you are a local looking for new places to explore, or a visitor in the area for business or pleasure, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Philadelphia will provide plenty of options for outings lasting a full day to a couple of hours, all within about an hour's drive of Philadelphia and the surrounding communities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781634040662
Publisher:	Menasha Ridge Press
Publication date:	08/15/2017
Series:	60 Hikes Within 60 Miles
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	683,900
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Lori Litchman is a lifelong Pennsylvanian. Lori grew up near coal country in the Pocono Mountains before making Philadelphia her home, but she's lived in Philadelphia long enough to consider herself a native. She's an outdoors enthusiast who loves to hike and kayak. When Lori's not writing, she's usually teaching English to nonnative speakers. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Dave Tavani, and their basset hound, Wendell.

Read an Excerpt

SCHUYLKILL RIVER TRAIL: Schuylkill Banks, Center City

• DISTANCE & CONFIGURATION: 4-mile out-and-back
• DIFFICULTY: Easy
• SCENERY: Urban hike, Fairmount Waterworks, skyline views, Schuylkill River
• EXPOSURE: Full sun
• TRAFFIC: Heavy
• TRAIL SURFACE: Paved
• HIKING TIME: 1.5 hours
• DRIVING DISTANCE FROM CENTER CITY: In Center City
• ACCESS: 24 hours
• MAPS: USGS Philadelphia
• WHEELCHAIR TRAVERSABLE: Yes
• DOG FRIENDLY: Yes
• FACILITIES: Bathrooms at Lloyd Hall and Walnut Lane
• CONTACT: 484-945-0200, 215-309-5523; schuylkillrivertrail.com, schuylkillbanks.org
• LOCATION: Kelly Drive and Waterworks Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19130

DESCRIPTION

Schuylkill Banks is an amazing new addition to Philadelphia’s open space. This trail is part of the Schuylkill River Trail (also see page 133), a proposed 130-mile-long trail along the Schuylkill River.

The trail originally stopped short in Center City because the area between the railroad tracks and the river was too narrow for a trail. So the City of Philadelphia and the Schuylkill River Development Corporation partnered to build a 2,000-foot-long boardwalk that takes you out over the river. The views are amazing, and you actually feel like you are on top of the river.

Parking is at Lloyd Hall, at the beginning of Boathouse Row, and the trail goes right along the parking area toward the river. As the trail weaves its way toward the river, you’ll pass behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art and in front of the Fairmount Waterworks. When you see Fairmount Waterworks, you’ll cross the road and pick up the trail on your left.

This is a heavily trafficked trail, so it’s best to stay to the right at all times and keep any dogs on a short leash.

Continue following the path as it winds its way along the river. You’ll eventually cross under Spring Garden Street and West River Drive/Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The rest of the trail runs beside the scenic Schuylkill River.

Benches offer a place to stop and relax if you would like to do so. The trail also follows active train tracks, so you might see a train during your hike. When you come to a fork in the path just after you go under the Market Street Bridge, take the right path. Both paths end up in the same place, but the section to the right seems to have fewer bikes on it and is closer to the river.

Booths provide information along the way, and you can even find out how to kayak the Schuylkill River. There is a bathroom stop at Walnut Street, and there’s also a water fountain if you need a water break.

When you see the bridge ahead, stay straight on the path. You’ll see a ramp off to the left at Locust Street that can take you to the Schuylkill River Park and the Schuylkill River Park Dog Run if you have a four-legged friend with you. But, for the purpose of this hike, continue on the boardwalk.

When you see the South Street Bridge ahead, you’ll see part of the trail goes off to the left. That will take you up to the South Street Bridge. To continue on the trail, stay straight and go under the bridge.

The trail ends just under the South Street Bridge, so you can turn around and head back the way you came. You’ll follow the same path you took to get back to the parking area at Lloyd Hall, enjoying the sights along the way. Just before you get to the Fairmount Waterworks, there’s a water fountain for humans, with a low fountain for dogs if your pet needs a water break.

NEARBY ACTIVITIES

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a world-renowned art museum and is right next to the trail. Hours and admission vary. Visit philamuseum.org for details.

GPS Trailhead Coordinates:

N39°58.127' W75°11.077'

DIRECTIONS From Center City, take I-76 W to Exit 342 (Girard Ave./Philadelphia Zoo). Turn right onto W. Girard Ave., and after 0.2 mile, turn right onto Sedgley Dr. After 0.6 mile, Sedgley Dr. crosses Kelly Dr. and becomes Waterworks Dr.; directly to your right is Lloyd Hall.

Table of Contents

Overview Map iv

Map Legend viii

Acknowledgments ix

Foreword x

Preface xi

60 Hikes by Category xiii

Introduction 1

Philadelphia County 14

1 Carpenter's Woods 16

2 John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge 20

3 Manayunk Bridge Trail 24

4 The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education 28

5 Schuylkill River Trail: Schuylkill Banks, Center City 32

6 Wissahickon Valley Park: Hermit Lane Trail 35

7 Wissahickon Valley Park: Lavender and Orange Trails 39

8 Wissahickon Valley Park: Lower Trails 43

9 Wissahickon Valley Park: Upper Trails 47

Northern Suburbs (Bucks, Montgomery, and Lehigh Counties) 52

10 Audubon Center at Mill Grove 54

11 Churchville Nature Center 58

12 Delaware Canal State Park: Pennsylvania Side, Tinicum Park 62

13 Evansburg State Park 66

14 Five Mile Woods Nature Preserve 70

15 Fort Washington State Park: Green Ribbon Trail 74

16 Green Lane Park 78

17 Green Ribbon Trail: Wissahickon Valley Watershed 82

18 Lehigh Parkway Trail 86

19 Manderfield Preserve 90

20 Neshaminy State Park: River Walk 94

21 Nockamixon State Park: Quarry Trail 98

22 Nockaraixon State Park: Top Rock Trail at Haycock Mountain 102

23 Norristown Farm Park 107

24 Peace Valley Nature Center 111

25 Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust: Bethayres Woods 115

26 Pennypack Trail: Lorimer Park 118

27 Ralph Stover State Park: High Rocks 122

28 Ringing Rocks County Park 126

29 Rolling Hill Park 130

30 Schuylkill River Trail: Spring Mill to Conshohocken 133

31 Silver Lake Nature Center 137

32 Tyler State Park: Covered Bridge 141

33 Valley Forge National Historical Park: Chapel Trail 145

34 Valley Forge National Historical Park: Horse-Shoe Trail/Mount Misery 149

New Jersey 154

35 Baldpate Mountain: Ted Stiles Preserve 156

36 Black Run Preserve 160

37 Bull's Island Recreation Area 163

38 Crystal Lake Park 167

39 Cushetunk Mountain Preserve 171

40 Franklin Parker Preserve 175

41 Goat Hill Overlook 179

42 Herrontown Woods Arboretum 182

43 Hunterdon County Arboretum 186

44 Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve 190

45 Musconetcong Gorge Preserve 194

46 Sourland Mountain Preserve 199

47 Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve 203

48 Washington Crossing State Park 207

49 Wharton State Forest: Batsto Lake Trail 211

Western Suburbs (Berks, Chester, and Delaware Counties) 216

50 Binky Lee Preserve 218

51 French Creek State Park 222

52 Marsh Creek State Park 226

53 Neversink Mountain 230

54 Ridley Creek State Park 234

55 Sadsbury Woods Preserve 238

56 Stroud Preserve 242

57 Struble Trail-Brandywine Creek 246

58 Wawa Preserve: Rocky Run Trail 249

Delaware 252

59 Brandywine Creek State Park 254

60 White Clay Creek State Park: Twin Valley Trail 258

Appendix A Outdoor Retailers 262

Appendix B Hiking Clubs 264

Index 265

About the Author 270