Great Park and a great Dog Park. Clean and beautiful! The fenced area is mulch with some benches…read more The rest of the park has trails down to a small creek and through the woods, which can be off leash or on leash. It's a beautiful park and a beautiful neighborhood.

Lovely park, great for dogs! The trail is well marked and dogs can swim in the creek. Large fenced…read morein dog park area too:)

I absolutely love this trail. It has two connecting points where you can walk on the Bala Cynwyd…read moreside or the Manayunk side you have the option of riding your bike, walking or jogging. You meet so many friendly faces along the way . On the cynwyd side all the way at the end there's the Cynwyd train station Where you can stop in for a cup of coffee or bite to eat whatever hits your fancy. There's also a children's park there are several parking lots where you can enter into the trail. It's really peaceful, serene, well kept and maintained.

I bike thru this trail several times a week - and I've also run it. It's a short little trail that…read moreis very well maintained and quite beautiful. There is a gravel portion and a paved portion and I have biked and run on both. Pre pandemic they hosted yoga classes on the bridge. It is much improved now that the bridge doesn't lock at night. It still seems well used into the evenings when I've been on it. Def hit this trail up if you are in the area!

Hard to rate an entire park this massive, but all things considered, after 5 years of traversing…read morethe 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.

Whatever "cool and chill" means to you, please safely picture the polar opposite when it comes to…read moreme planning a hike with my dog. "Absolutely unhinged level of planning" is more accurate. Google maps view of the entrance I am thinking of? Yes. Read all the Yelp reviews? Yes. Looked at the website and trail maps? Yes. I really put the "you" in "what's wrong with you" given that hikes are supposed to be, I don't know, relaxing and fun? I am miserable to report that, for the Wissahickon, you can probably just show up somewhere near the park, find an entrance, and have an absolutely beautiful ambling experience no matter what. This is a sprawling park with many different trails that are clearly marked, many of which veer off of the main "Forbidden Drive" that anchors you to the creek. My dog and I traversed for about 4 miles along this path and the yellow trail, looping back to where I parked on Green Lane. There was SO much that we missed so I am looking forward to heading back soon and trying a different trail. We arrived at around 10am on a beautiful Saturday morning, later than I had hoped due to traffic, but the park was not overcrowded and I found parking with ease. This is a park for every season and I can't believe it took me seven months of Philly living to get up here. If you're an overplanner like me, I DO recommend a look at the website which does a great job discussing parking and realistic trail descriptions. Looking forward to many a park day with my dog and exploring more elements of this fantastic park.

Intro to Rock Climbing with Valley to Summit on September 18, 2022…read more This was my second trip to Chickies Rock with VTS and it was wonderful! There were only 5 of us, so plenty of time to climb. Our Guide, Bob, was so patient, engaged and informative. I learned a lot of great things that I had not known before about clothing, ropes and technique. Bob was so patient with me and was there with his " green pointer" to help me over the tough spots. You should know that I am 74 years old and tho I have climbed indoors for a few years, my stamina was not that of the youngsters who were there! Nonetheless, it was a great time! I highly recommend Valley to Summit, this being my 3 rd trip with them. They Rock!

We were scheduled to do a 1/2 day ice hike at Ricketts Glen. I had spoken to the owner Dave and…read morelet him know of my disabilities. He asked a few questions, then determined that it should be OK for me to go on the hike. Shortly before the hike we received an email from Dave saying that because of the warm weather the trip would not have as much ice as it normally does. He offered to reschedule or refund our money if we wanted, but also said we could go if we wanted. We wanted. When I got there Dave and the guides were fantastic. Very personable. They were helpful but without being intrusive. One of them carried one of my forearm canes in his backpack in case I needed it. (This was to have one hand free for the ice axe.) The hike was great. At the end of the hike I asked one of the guides if he thought I could do the repelling they offer... he conferred with the owner and the lead repeller guide, and they agreed that I would be allowed to do that in the Spring. I highly recommend Valley to Summit for a great time. I look forward to a full day ice hike in February.

You can walk behind all the shops along main street without all the people stopping in front of…read moreyou. Safe travels and be careful for bikes

I was recently looking for a nice, easy hike somewhere in the vicinity of my home in Center City…read moreand came across The Towpath. By hiking standards, I'd rate this as very easy, as the trail is flat and wide, with a combination of dirt and gravel for walking. The Towpath runs along the Manayunk Canal and Schulykill River beyond and makes for a nice, peaceful stroll along the water. Along the way you see plenty of artwork and murals, as well as eerie remnants of a time when this place was a booming center for industry. Fascinating! Being it was late fall, there wasn't a lot of wildlife out and about, but I'm sure it's even more beautiful and alive in the warmer months. PS. Main Street in Manayunk runs parallel to the Towpath and is a great place to explore in and of itself! Plenty of unique shops and eateries to be found.

Just a fun little spot. Try to stay out of the way of the people fishing though... They get very…read moreupset.

Good morning FoW, with another fishing season approaching, I need to bring to your attention as…read morewell as fairmount park commission & PA fish & wildlife. Kitchens lane has been a point of contention for years now. I see community posts about dog beach and dog meet ups at kitchen lane. I would like to see signs or notice reenforcing the rules of the Wissahickon creek. Dogs are to be on a leash at all times 6ft maximum. I have had countless amount of hostile interactions with Dog owners explaining the rules. I have 3 small children that I fish with at Kitchens lane with. 1st for the protection of my children dogs should be on a leash , 2nd I purchase a fishing license every year. Which permits me to fish in the wissahickon creek. Please correct me if I am wrong. There is no such permit or license which allows dog owners to let there dogs roam freely thru the Wissahickon or Fairmount park. Again I understand everyone want to enjoy nature. However there are rules in place for people's protection & enjoyment. I am simply asking these rules to be enforced

Fairmount Park is one of the biggest parks in the United States. It still has original houses from…read morethe 1700s. It has walking trails, ballfields and playgrounds. You can also drive through the park. Smith playground is a mansion with indoor activities and a big outdoor playground for kids. The best part about Smith playground is the giant wooden slide. The kids and adults can both go on the discovery center is in a former reservoir. It has walking trails and indoor activities to learn about the park. The horticultural center in Japanese teahouse are also located in the park. It's a great place to picnic!

Fairmount Park offers a wide range of activities, from exploring historical sites and gardens to…read moreenjoying outdoor recreation and attending events. You can stroll along the Trolley Trail, visit Boathouse Row, and marvel at Shofuso Japanese House and Garden. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, as well as opportunities for picnicking and boating on Concourse Lake. Fairmount Park is also home to the Please Touch Museum and the Philadelphia Zoo, making it a great destination for families. I am normally here for The roots picnic, but realized this park has so much to offer. If you are up for outdoor activities, make sure to come by and explore. One tidbit, make sure you make sure you are going to this park because there is another Fairmount park that is also in Philly. Enjoy!

Beautiful. Between the natural scenery & serenity it invokes you can get the happiest kind of lost…read morehere. Easy walking with some challenges attached in case you're looking for it but it is generally clean & tended to. Several markers adorn the trails so you can educate yourself while burning a couple calories. Enough trees for shade and enough water to hold our long gazes. Treat yourself to a walk. It's worth of it.

Lovely trail that's easily accessible throughout the Philly area, and it goes quite a long way…read more We've usually picked it up around the Conshohocken train station and bike either east toward Manayunk or west toward King of Prussia. Manayunk is a great bike-friendly area with plenty of spots to lock up the bike, whereas going west is scenic and great for just biking around. On the way west, one thing to watch out for is the sewage treatment plant as you approach Norristown - it stinks, especially in the summer! Beyond that point, though, there are beautiful views of the river as you continue on toward Valley Forge. Also on the way there, you pass by Port Indian, a charming little community that I don't know much about. Then, you can bike into Valley Forge or keep going to explore more. One of my favorite places to bike in the Philly area!

I was in Gladwyne because I had to drop something off at house there. Only a minute or two away…read morefrom the home I was at is Saunders Woods Preserve and I decided to stop in. There is a medium sized parking lot towards the entrance of the preserve, which is convenient. I assume it could get a big crowded during the summer months. A large meadow that has path mowed down the middle greets you as you begin your walk. Eventually, the meadow leads to a wooded trail. Along the trail are some scenic sights including beautiful trees and a small creek. Overhead, you'll see many beautiful birds flying. Towards the summer, this seems like a nice place to see butterflies and flowers, too. There's also a historic building on this property, which is cool. There's a benches outside Altogether, Saunders Woods is a nice place to take a nice, casual hike!

4 stars for greenspace, but in the grand scheme of what Natural Lands has to offer, this is one of…read moretheir neighborhood trail spots, and not a grand destination preserve. This was my 12th NL preserve out of their current 20 properties. Saunders Woods is the second smallest preserve, and to give an idea, it is only 25 acres, while 90% of their preserves are over 40 acres, and 75% of their preserves are over 100 acres. That said, if you want a brief walk, or to sit in some serene nature, you've found a cool spot. This preserve has a swing on a tree that is wide enough to fit two adults. There is a meadow adjacent to the parking lot (one of the few paved lots at NL preserves), and the wooded portion is mostly the valley between surrounding residential neighborhoods. In the winter you can clearly see all the neighboring houses from the trail. It's great that this land has been made into a public nature preserve, and this suits locals as a wonderful spot to enjoy the outdoors. I don't recommend planning to visit if you are looking for a long hike, or a destination preserve with a lot to explore. Below is a list of all preserves from smallest to largest, so you can get an idea of the levels of wilderness they offer. Stone Hills Preserve 13 acres Sauders Woods Preserve 25 acres Stoneleigh 42 acres Hildacy Preserve 55 acres Wawa Preserve 98 acres Meng Preserve 101 acres Binky Lee Preserve 112 acres Willisbrook Preserve 126 acres Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary 200 acres Green Hills Preserve 201 acres Peacedale Preserve 222 acres Gwynedd Preserve 279 acres Harold N. Peek Preserve 344 acres Sadsbury Woods Preserve 508 acres Bryn Coed Preserve 520 acres Stroud Preserve 571 acres Crow's Nest Preserve 712 acres ChesLen Preserve 1,282 acres Bear Creek Preserve 3,565 acres Glades Wildlife Refuge 7,440 acres **Apparently 27-acre Sharp's Woods Preserve is now part of the Radnor Conservancy and is no longer a Natural Lands property.

X-posting a review from the Wissahickon Park page. This park is so good it deserves two 5-star…read moreratings. 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.

Today I decided to switch things up and take a trip to Valley Green in Wissahickon Park, Philly…read more 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.