X-posting a review from the Wissahickon Park page. This park is so good it deserves two 5-star ratings. Hard to rate an entire park this massive, but all things considered, after 5 years of traversing the trails here, this is an awesome park. Note that I live in U-City, so the fact that such a massive trail system exists in only a ~20 minute drive, depending on which part of the park I start in, is a blessing and keeps my sanity. Friends of Wissahickon does a great job maintaining trails and even expanding the system over the past few years. I don't think I've ever observed an unseemly part of the park. Definitely unseemly times of year like the snow thaw or the time between the trees dying and the snow falling, but otherwise, this park is beautiful all times of year. I've never had a hard time parking, never even had trouble with crowds even around the most popular trails (ex. Forbidden Drive). Even the bikers are friendly and patient here! Would strongly recommend not only visiting but coming back to keep exploring! I'm still finding new gems in this massive trail system. read more

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Today I decided to switch things up and take a trip to Valley Green in Wissahickon Park, Philly. I've always heard about Devil's Pool but had never been, so when I saw the trailhead, I figured--why not check it out? What I've known about Devil's Pool is that it's been a popular hangout spot, especially for teens and young adults--swimming, drinking, smoking, etc. But I wasn't prepared for how disappointing the trail would be. At nearly every turn, there was trash--plastic bottles, wrappers, and even entire black garbage bags just left behind. The closer I got to Devil's Pool, the worse it got. There are clear signs asking visitors to take their trash with them, yet so many clearly don't. It's really disheartening to see such a beautiful natural space disrespected like that. Instead of feeling peaceful or connected to nature, it honestly felt a bit unsanitary and neglected. Wissahickon Park deserves better. If you visit, please respect the space and take out everything you bring in. read more

This is my regular, jogging and walking spot i.e. the forbidden trail. It is a 7 mile approximate distance where all of your local neighbors and friends frequent to get in their exercise and nature watching daily there are bikers, joggers, and walkers. There are dogs, hikers, and electric bikes, even! We take all of our family here when they visit for photographs in fact for Thanksgiving we did a photo shoot there, because there is no other place as a backdrop! read more

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This is the place to be if you're looking for some nature and outdoor time! I've had this place on my to go list for some time and finally had the opportunity for a Sunday stroll with adults and little ones as well. The adults were able to get good exercise and the little ones enjoyed because there were little dancing feet in strollers and eyes wide open taking in nature. We chose the forbidden drive entrance, found parking and headed to the trail. We decided on the main trail as there weren't too many inclines and comfortable rides in the strollers. Before we got to the main trail, it was a bit bumpy so we had to carry the strollers before the fun began. While the parking lot was relatively crowded, the trail was not crowded at all. People were spaced out really well so social distancing was pretty easy. We were able to get good pictures of nature and each other without impeding on other people's experience. The creek was along the path so the scenery was beautiful and the sounds of nature was a highlight. There was some rain a day or so before so some parts were muddy, comfy shoes are a must but expect it to get dusty or muddy. We walked a lot and still had so much more of the park to discover. We could have stayed and walked more of the trail but the boss babies had other plans! It was a great time! read more

Wissahickon Valley Trail - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I am so impressed! This is what nature is all about, man. My sister in law brought me to this place and I really couldn't have pictured how much I would love and be filled with nature during my time there. I mean, plush, in its organic state, waterfalls, moss, flowers and plants I've never seen before... just really beautiful. We went on Memorial Day weekend, so it was a little more crowded than I would have preferred, but still really bearable. I just feel like you couldn't walk an eighth of a mile and not discover something cool. I'm not a fan of heights, so I won't be returning to walk the high cliff areas with the rest of my family, but I can't imagine how thrilling that would be if I weren't! Oh and the drive to the trail is so pleasant. It's a whole mood.. beautiful, older homes, just really well kept area... I actually wouldn't mind living there if I would ever move to Philly. I'm already planning our next trip and I'm bringing some people who I know would be as equally impressed! read more

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Got my car broken into while visiting this location. Great walking trail, though. That's all I can say. read more

Wissahickon Valley Trail - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Such a pretty spot for a hike and lunch! We were so lucky to still see some fall foliage. read more

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Great trail system, but don't leave any valuables in the car. I got every credit card stolen on Sunday, October 8 2023. My purse was hidden, and someone still broke in my car and stole all the credit cards. read more

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I love this place! You can explore wooded trails or open meadows. Lots of the trees are labeled, and the trails are clearly marked. You can even use Google Maps to see all the trails and where they'll take you. You can bring your dog or bike, too. The parking lot at the Environmental Center is not too big, so beware. read more

If you love nature and outings involving the outdoor elements you would love Wissahickon Valley Trails. It's a great place for biking, hiking, fishing or just spending quality time with family , friends or just you and mother nature! Nature was all over me when I decided to visit last week for a hike on the white trail. I must say walking miles and miles on rocks and gravel was quite the adventure. I even climbed steeped hills, jumped over tree limbs and slid through muddy paths lol. During the trail I saw the last covered bridge, an Indian statue and hidden parts of Fairmount Park. Overall it was definitely a different world and also beautiful to explore my horizons and appreciate the simplicity of the Universe. Just hearing the birds sing and the clear water flow down the stream.... ahh makes you forget about the everyday hustle and bustle of life. The feeling was peaceful, tranquil and serene and I definitely look forward to visiting again and connecting with nature's most beautiful gift! read more

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Used to come here as a kid with my family. Really nice trails to walk walk, hike or bike alone or with your family. Used to come here all the time with my family as a kid, and haven't been here in a while, but from the reviews it hasn't changed too much since I was there. I remember walking the trails with my parents and siblings and bringing our dog with us to give our dog a chance to jump in the lake and cool off. There is lots of grounds to walk through and so much nature to enjoy. read more

This was an awesome walking trail park that my family and I did while we were in the area. It had a nice nature hike to it. A fun overall family experience. We really enjoyed the walk it wasn't bad at all for my children and overall we had a great time read more

M'y favoring running trails. I've been running here for years. Gréât when it's really hot trees provide much needed wind. Nice and quiet in the winter. Spring it's a little crowded so get out early. Enjoy so many great discoveries read more

Wissahickon Valley Trail - Upper trails - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I recommend you only go here during a week day. The park itself is one of the most beautiful areas and has great trails. However, the weekends are so busy that car break-ins and robberies are so common that the police cannot handle them. There are apparently only four police in the area. We were a victim today. Go on any day but a weekend!!! read more

Wissahickon Valley Trail - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wissahickon Valley Trail would be a decent place to hike except for two failings; one minor and one major. The minor failing is the fact that there are no maps available at the trailhead to take with you; there is a large map posted in the parking lot, but the writing is so small that you can't really read it. The major failing is the fact that there's WAY too much trash strew around the area - it completely detracts from the enjoyment of the natural setting. If you can get past the trash and the lack of maps and actually hike the trails here, I strongly advise that you wear boots rather than shoes. read more

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Nice trail. Some trash around but that's the people not the place. People were a little rude but most were nice read more

Just too nice to be at a stuffy gym. So I decided to go for a nice walk on Wissahock Valley Trail. It is the perfect place to be to take a long leisurely walk, ride a bike, walk your dog, take a hike, jog or run a country mile. Just a lovely place to be. People that are walking past you speak or give you a knowing smile because you're enjoying your day just like them. I go to this trail mostly when the weather is nice and just want to walk in peace and be with nature. For some reason I feel safe here. Which is strange for me, because I always keep my eyes open. The waterfalls and streams are breathtaking. Lots of hiking trails for all levels of fitness too. It's 23 miles of beautiful nature right in the city limits. So if you've never been there, I recommend you check it out. It's totally free along with free parking too. One downside, I don't see any bathrooms, just porta pottys, so go before you go. read more

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Some beautiful walking and hiking here. Each season has its own magic. Many entrances into the park, and parking is pretty easy. read more

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Courtesy of Yelp. Bf found this place to hike for a few hours to end a weekend trip in Philly before heading back to NYC. I LOVE this place. Dog friendly and with multiple hiking trails. One of the trails is through the trees, and another trail is on flatter terrain for the not so fit folks like me. I obviously prefer the flatter terrain, but the adventurous bf and dog takes me to the trail through the trees. Not as difficult as I thought it would be. Definitely an adventure when we have to stop and let the road bikers through or the occasional smell of horse poop. Pictures: 1) http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/uwF2zLAnZZ1SCwEF8QQKQA?select=eajIHcxAx3ptcZ0NgBZ81g#eajIHcxAx3ptcZ0NgBZ81g 2) http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/uwF2zLAnZZ1SCwEF8QQKQA?select=4-0ITDk9DsX3iJ4ZcfDOhg#4-0ITDk9DsX3iJ4ZcfDOhg 3) http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/uwF2zLAnZZ1SCwEF8QQKQA?select=PSMSoD0ARp2MESBa9W-GdQ#PSMSoD0ARp2MESBa9W-GdQ 4) http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/uwF2zLAnZZ1SCwEF8QQKQA?select=TcikYX8uSAxNCAVLrgt-Rw#TcikYX8uSAxNCAVLrgt-Rw 5) http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/uwF2zLAnZZ1SCwEF8QQKQA?select=E_oxbGtV6QA8X9jZHbncmg#E_oxbGtV6QA8X9jZHbncmg Tip: Bring something to drink! ENJOY!! read more

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I'm originally from Maryland and while we have our fair share of hiking places and even the Great Falls, I can say I miss this place very much. It is a great place to run and unwind, even on hot summer days because the trees will shade you from the sun. I've seen a great number of bikers as well. Would recommend anyone to visit! read more

Lovely little stroll here in Fairmount Park on the edge of the city border yesterday to savor that last bit of foliage. I've always wanted to come and do the 2 mile walk from Forbidden Drive along the Wissickon Creek down to Valley Green Inn for brunch one weekend, but I never knew just where to park at this end of the trail! Found it! I was so excited when I saw the sign over there on the west side of the bridge! Can't wait to come back and do it!! It's been "on the list" for a few years now. I actually took the trail on the east side this time because I wanted to wait for the fam to do the other as it's something we've talked about doing together.... It was paved and clearly marked. There were a couple of other walkers and pups along the way. Everyone was friendly and I felt safe walking alone late morning. I veered off trail which to me is where the magic happens! I walked down to the water, saw some interesting leaves and other fun natural elements. Man, I love nature! I kept thinking of how badly I wishes my little explorers were with me! This stuff is our favorite! I'm so excited I stumbled upon this part of the trail located not too far from Chestnut Hill. It makes for a nice thing to do before or after a trip there! I look forward to exploring more and finding the Lenape Indian statue from the early 1900's, the covered bridge and the horse stable! Perhaps maybe even a fox which signs to indicated they live here too! There is only one negative to this end of the park, and that is getting to the trail. While the parking lots were large and marked with numbers, one on each side of the bridge, neither have a pedestrian path! There's a very small shoulder along a very busy road cars come zipping down! Please use caution! It wasn't very safe! And there were wet leaves this time of year which could lead to someone slipping into traffic. Not good! read more

Wissahickon Valley Trail - Baby, it's cold outside - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

It's amazing that this park is in city limits of Philadelphia. With nearly 20 miles of trails there a lot of ground you can cover. I've been hiking, biking and running in the Wissahickon for years. Forbidden Drive is the main trial though the park, if you get lost ideally you can reorient yourself by getting back to Forbidden Drive. There are many hikes off this drive and many thing to find in the park sucks as Hermits Cave, Tolerance Statue, Tedyuscung Statue and Red Covered Bridge. read more

Once you make it onto Forbidden Drive, Wissahickon is your Oyster. There are many trails that branch off of this main one. In fact, too many to explore on one day so prepare yourself for continuous exploration. There's no good parking area for this place sadly. Your best bet is to park on Hermit Ln and the entrance to the trail is directly down the road. I've hiked many trails throughout the country and I have to say this trail has been thoroughly labeled. The only way you could get lost here is if you literally walked into the woods (aka not the path). The trails are never empty. There were a decent amount of hikers (including dogs), and bikers today. Considering it was super cold, I imagined no one else was as insane as me but great minds think a like. I can only imagine how packed the trails could get on a warmer day. I had no idea Wissahickon was this beautiful. They have signage for plant life, buildings, help locators, LED lampposts, Bio-Composting Toilet Houses (with Hand Sanitizer). I truly can not wait to visit this Trail again. What's great is this trail is only 10 minutes from downtown Philadelphia. It's insanity. read more

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Great spot for running, walking, or biking! Cars are not allowed on the Forbidden Drive, so it's great for a stroll or a jog. I've enjoyed hiking along the trail with my wife, and recently I went for a run along the creek with some friends. We've biked here before, and it's a good time as well, but it's dirt road, so it's best for mountain bikes. It's very scenic and has some good shade, and it's plenty wide. Horses use the trail too, so you need to pay attention for that. People can often be found fishing in the creek too. Also nice that it's easy to find parking nearby at different spots. If you take it all the way to the end, you can take a further connection to head into Philly, which is a cool thought. It would be cool to check that out sometime! read more

Weekend get away for me and my girlfriend. First time for both of us taking it. The views were amazing and the trail was pretty straight forward. I loved the waterfall she loved the Indian statue. By our surprise there was a wedding happening at the inn that we stayed and watched it was very nice. We will definitely go again because there was still so much we did not see. We ended up only hiking 4 miles of the hike. Still have a lot more to do. Another day. The parking is a pain but if you are patient you will find a spot. Plenty of people coming and going. If you love nature and just want to get away from the world this is definitely the place! This is a must go!!! read more

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The Night Kitchen is my family's go-to pace for cakes. My favorite is the vanilla lemon curd cake, simply delicious!

Greatest hiking spot in Philadelphia without a doubt. Can't be beat. I've gotten lost here and I couldn't even complain. Started the hike around 11 Am didn't make it out the woods until 9 PM and I was thrilled and loving it the entire time. Go go go! read more

Awesome place to hike, bike, walk and fish. BBQ, swimming, loud music, and coolers ARE NOT PERMITTED. Philly police and park rangers are starting to heavily enforce the rules. Be respectful. read more

Wissahickon Valley Trail - Rules - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wizzle Wuzzle?? Wissahickon! What a great multiuse trail and (huge) park within the City of Philadelphia limits! Hiking, biking, fishing, running, dog walking; we saw it all! This was a great place to spend a few hours hiking, without having to drive out of the city a few hours. The main trail is easy enough for families, and there are many offshoots. There's a rockier trail to the other side of the Wissahickon, just be sure to have good shoes for the slippery rocks, but it's not that bad. I was super jealous of the people fishing here, including the fly fisher. "The name of the creek comes from the Lenape word wiessahitkonk, for 'catfish creek' or 'stream of yellowish color'. (I looked it up on Wikipedia so you won't have to ask the Friends of the Wissahickon what it means and have a 20-minute explanation!) read more

I've somehow been in Philadelphia for 2+ years yet just discovered how marvelous Wissahickon Valley Trail is a few weeks ago. I came here with my dog one Saturday to hike, not expecting much more than racking up steps on my Fitbit. Let me tell you, this place is full of STUNNING NATURAL VIEWS. We took the paved Forbidden Trail, and I couldn't stop taking pictures of beautiful sight after beautiful sight. There are also lots of pups to say hello to while on the trail. We didn't even realize how many miles we had walked until got back to our car. We had an amazing time and didn't even get sunburnt thanks to the shade of all of the trees. The only thing that could be improved would be if people on horseback would clean their horse's poop. That was plain nasty. read more

To hell with 5 stars, this is a 10 star experience! Let's make sure everyone knows what an incredible variety of things you can do on this wonderful trail. * You can walk, jog, run, bike, or horseback ride. * You can choose easy trails or ones that will kick your butt. * You can bring your dog. * It's a photographer's dream. (Check out the posted pictures.) * You can just plain enjoy everything nature has to offer. * You can picnic. * Escape the heat in the summertime. (It's mostly in the shade.) * You can access it from several locations. * You can visit all year round. * You can see historic sites. * Appreciate historical structures. They say "A picture is worth a thousand words." There are dozens of pictures posted here. Even though they are great, they don't do this incredible place justice. There's only one solution- Get your Yelpy butts out there and enjoy it! read more

This is one of my favorite trails in the Philadelphia area, and you can't beat its price: free. It runs along the Wissahickon, and there's lots to see, from rock faces and vegetation to the creek itself. It's well-traveled, safe and peaceful. You're never alone. Watch for bikers, joggers, walkers, and riders on horseback. Once I saw a tyke on a Power Wheels car! If you get lost, there are markers along the path so you can tell emergency personnel exactly where you're picnicking. There's a cafe by one of the trail's entrances that I've yet to check out... read more

I hate running. But I love running the Wissahickon Valley Trail! See that? That was a bait and switch. It's employed to either trick you, or get you excited about something. In this case, the latter. And you're definitely getting excited about the Wissahickon Valley Trail, because if you're not, get the hell out! The Wissahickon Valley Trail is my place to run and be at peace with everything. The scenery is awesome - almost Ithaca level of breathtaking, but right here in Philly! Me and my brother like to pretend that they're taking the hobbits to Isengard. It makes us run faster. Pro-tip: One does not simply walk into Mordor. That, and watch out for horse crap. They never show that in the movies. read more

My favorite part about this park is that it's only 30 minutes away from where I live: Center City! I used to think the Jersey Shore would be a great day trip when I bought a car, but this beats it out simply for the ease of being here and because it's basically free minus gas money. The park is active and well very clean. Today I did the orange trail through the valley green east entrance. There's plenty of parking FYI. As for what you'll find, expect mountain bikers, many hikers, walking along the stream, a waterfall, fishing, and semi-strenuous hiking. From 1-10 with 10 being extremely difficult, I'd give the portion I did a 3.5. Overall, this place is beautiful, lively, and a welcome detour away from Center City! Oh, and the roads are winding, making for super fun driving! read more

The Wissahickon Valley Trail is one of the most beautiful and under-appreciated gems of Philadelphia. The city always touts the Fairmount Park system, as it is the largest public park system of any major city in the US, but there is hardly enough emphasis on the right parts. I grew up in rural southern New Jersey, and I started living in the city when I went to college. 10 years later, I still pine for the natural features and beauty of the country. The walk my girlfriend and I took on Sunday reminded me both of what I longed to have, as well as what I can get in Philadelphia. We saw so many wild animals, birds, natural springs, a covered bridge, flowers, plants, and so much more. We got great exercise, plenty of sun, and breathed deeply the fresh, near-summer air (cooled by the water and the shade-- it was 90 degrees that day and felt like 80). I want to go back every weekend if just to breath the air. read more

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Check my review for Wissahickon park. This is all part of the same trail system I believe.

I grew up in nearby Fort Washington and, as a kid, often biked, hiked or ran this trail with my family. I always enjoyed it. Today, we rode in from Lancaster, dropped the dog and youngest son off at grandma's, and parked at the Equestrian Stables near Chesnut Hill. We were able to click off a leisurely 3.5 miles before little legs wanted to turn around and head back. What did we see in 3.5 miles? 1. History. The Forbidden Drive was closed in 1923, according to placards placed along the trail. Not only will you read about the history of the trail, but will see covered bridges and stone bridges over the Wissahickon, water fountains (now sealed closed) from the early 1900's, Valley Green Inn (1850), and lots of 1938 WPA pavilions. You are riding history here...stop and learn it. Kids were impressed to find the former mill site that made paper for Ben Franklin! 2. Lots of people (safety in numbers), doing lots of awesome stuff. A wedding reception was ending at Valley Green...runners, bikers/mountain bikers (up in the trails), geocachers, fishers, swimmers,dog walkers, picnicers...you name it, this park provides ample opportunity to do whatever you want to do (GOSH!). It'svery safeby day, but I probably wouldn't send the wife out alone after dark. 3. Nature, nature, nature: rock formations, water falls, and lots of trails to explore. Another day. 4. Valley Green Inn: an awesome spot. Snack bar was open, and we shared a funnel cake. The inn itself has a beautiful front porch to watch the world go by; food was decently priced on the menu posted outside, but I can't vouch for the quality. I can vouch for the scenery and historical setting. Yes. For those of you lucky enough to live nearby, good for you.I can't think of a better place to spend an afternoon getting some serenity and recreation. It's been about 6 years since we were here last, but it won't be another 6, guaranteed...this place has topped our biking-destination list! read more

An excerpt from my blog: However, Forbidden Drive is more like a street than a path. If you're like us and always seem to try the hardest way first, then you'll end up on a dirt path instead. There is a DISTINCT difference between the two. The paths are full of rocks, thick tree roots, sharp elevation changes and that "lost in the woods" feeling. Also, some paths have plenty of "evidence" of horseback riders. The extra care needed with just walking around will make for a longer hike. To give you a comparison, it took 2.5 hrs on the way to Valley Green, and just 1.5 hrs on the way back using Forbidden Drive. (y'know... for a "forbidden" path, it's awfully accommodating... but I digress) Of course, there's rewards for taking the harder route. You're far more likely to see woodland creatures with being deeper in the woods & there being much less foot traffic. Don't expect to see a Sasquatch, however. All we saw on our outing were birds and chipmunks. Okay, I was totally psyched to see chipmunks. read more

Wissahickon Valley Trail - Valley Green Inn - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Wissahickon Valley Trail is a wonderful wooded park in North Philadelphia. It provides a sense of calm in an otherwise hectic city. There are lots of people walking, jogging, mountain biking and walking their dogs. If you're an outdoors kind of person, this place is perfect for you! Check it out. You won't regret it! read more

Thank you for being so close to my apartment, but just so you know, even if you weren't a block away, I'd still drive my car to come visit you. For a first time Philadelphian coming from California, I didn't really know what to expect when I moved out here. So when I walked around my neighborhood and came across the pathway entrance, I was more than excited to go, "exploring." The trail is totally walkable, but while making my way down the trail, I couldn't help but wish I had brought my mountain bike from home with me. It's filled with gorgeous scenery, and if you go on a day with great weather, you'll find the trail packed with people just as excited to breathe some fresh air. I cant wait to buy a bike for the upcoming spring! read more

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