During this hot weather, a shady stroll through Lorimer Park was pleasant. The path was paved and…read morestroller accessible . Everyone we encountered was friendly although there were not many people. There were a few benches along the way, but I could see how there could be a need for more benches if more people were present. We were also surprised that we did not encounter many bugs. We did use bug spray just in case! The parking lot was easy to find and there was plenty of space. We plan to return again for a family walk.

This 230 acre park was given to the people of Montgomery County by the estate of George Horace…read moreLorimer, the editor of the Saturday Evening Post and president of Curtis Publishing Co., both headquartered in Philadelphia from the late 19th Century to the present. His mausoleum is in Laurel Hill Cemetery, so although originally from North Carolina, his true impact was on the cultural life of our city. Fairly small, it feels considerably larger due to its connection to Pennypack Park covering a large area in Northeast Philadelphia to the border with Montco. The creek by the same name flows through both parks, tying them together geologically. The watercourse meanders through Lorimer where it has cut a deep ravine over the millennia. There are multiple scenic overlooks worth exploring, even in winter when the absence of foliage allows you to see through the trees to the actual contours of the steep rocky hills across the creek. If power walking or family bike riding is your jam, Pennypack Trail runs along the northern boundary of the park and beyond for several miles, and it is flat, wide and dirt/gravel packed for smooth ambulation or cross country biking, allowing excellent views of the topography and creek vale. Plenty of parking in a big lot across the road from the main entrance.

I wish I had taken pictures, but this is one of the best rails to trails around. It has history…read morealong with beauty. The path is an easy walk/run/bike that goes on for miles. People along the path are friendly and just enjoying the day. It's a perfect path to practice for the Broad Street Run if you are local. A pleasant surprise if an eatery around Bryn Mawr I believe that offers food & drinks if you need to take a break. It's so easy that in an hours time you realize you have walked 4 miles. Very clean & well taken care of. Highly recommend!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, trail people are the best people! My friend and I…read morevisited on a Sunday afternoon and it basically looked like a Rockwell painting out there...older couples strolling, families riding bikes, kids with fishing rods, etc. Everyone is super friendly and the vibe is just wonderful. The trail is great for the novice bike rider like myself. It is paved which is good for my ridiculously impractical cruiser three speed bike. Mile markers as well as historical little signs help you keep your bearings and learn a thing or two along the way. There is plenty of parking, which makes it easier to come out and enjoy the outdoors!

A nice walk in the woods. I enjoyed an early spring walk there. Blue Jays and Robins were…read morenoticeable as were a group of turtles sunning themselves on a rock in the lake. Very glad I found this place

We really enjoyed this trail today, first time there!…read more The trail is relatively flat and very well maintained. There is a big loop around the lake that my dogs and I took, which is nice because it's a good walk without being too long or too short and you don't need to turn around. Lots of winding path areas so you feel pretty secluded. If you have reactive dogs you can easily step aside in many areas to let others pass. I'm excited to bring my dogs back here.

Beautiful morning for a hike! This park is dog friendly, but I wouldn't bring my 8lb pooch as the…read moreterrain is a lil rocky in certain places of the trail. I noticed a few benches and tables along the path if you want to stop and picnic. Overall, it was such a peaceful and serene setting, especially by the water, and the many sweet smelling honeysuckle paths. The park is basically a 2mi loop which took me about 35 mins to complete from beginning to end, with a couple stops for pics, and to take it all in. I only noticed one other person when I started, but as I was leaving, quite a few groups were arriving. So if you want to avoid crowds maybe early is best, or an afternoon start for those who want a lot of company.

Very beautiful natural park on the border of NJ and PA. Pet-friendly, has some great beaches and of…read morecourse beautiful sunsets.

Nice little trail for dogs, I have a shy dog who I enjoy taking new places for enrichment that…read morearen't too overwhelming for her and this park is perfect! It's two short loops with cut offs to look at the River and it's super easy. I love how easy to follow the trails are and it's perfect if you don't have hours to devote to going on a nature walk.

Good place for hiking with children or bird-watching…read more This park is small with trails that are well-maintained with boardwalks that jut off to offer views of the Rancocas Creek. There also informational signs that offer information on birds, ducks, etc.

Completed in Montgomery County in 2015, Pennypack Trail is actually 16 miles long (5.4 mi. in…read moreMontco), and part of the much larger trail network in eastern PA. In fact, the section extending into Bucks County reaches the Delaware River and connects with the East Coast Greenway which runs 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida. So, if you want a long hike, you can have one. The portion I was on yesterday was the border of Lorimer Park that was historically the railroad right of way since the 1860s, when first the Philadelphia Montgomery County Railroad Co., followed by the Philadelphia Newtown New York Railroad and finally the Newtown Branch of the Reading R&R used it to transport people and produce before highways took their place. SEPTA had it last and suspended commuter transportation (Fox Chase - Newtown Line) in 1983, and donated it to the Rails to Trails Project. While we all love a scenic walk, it sure would be nice to have mass transit available to get us from our bedroom communities to the heart of the city more conveniently, and redevelop the termini and old stations along the route for small commerce, too. There should be a way to have both more green space and village like economies working in tandem to attract people. Vision and capital are all that are required. Still, the Trail is a beautiful route for nature and scenic lovers as it is, and can be enjoyed in almost any weather. Walking along the heights above Pennypack Creek and watching the water course through the steep ravine cut out by erosion over eons of time, is remarkable. In the 18th and 19th Centuries many mills were busy using water wheels to grind flour, which was transported by the nearby rails to cities for further production and consumption. Some of those old structures are still there (mostly in ruins), and the stone houses built near to them were often maintained and are lived in today. Hiking further, the Bethayres Swamp beckons, with Audubon designation as an IBA - Important Bird Area. The trail goes through the town of Bryn Athyn, where the original train station has been repurposed as the local post office. Just beyond that is the site of a major head-on train collision in 1921, that killed many passengers. Not all the trail is smooth for bike riding, nor easy strolling, but with effort, grit and good footwear, these places can be reached, explored and fancied. The Pennypack Watershed is an ecological zone with long human history in the Philadelphia area. It is well worth sustaining and maintaining, even with reasonable respect for progress and our shared future.

This is such a staple to the North East Philly community and has been for decades. Trails in this…read more part wind through our area for miles and miles along Penny Pack Creek. There's usually 3 different levels of trails so no matter what your experience is, you'll have a great time. The main trail is paved and always clean. Perfect for those on bikes or brining a stroller. There's lot's of picnic areas and open fields for games. There's multIple entrances so you can go through the entire trail a bit each day. The main entrance is right across the street from Fox Chase Farm and has the biggest parking lot. Everything closes at sundown

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.

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.

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!