Intermediate English: Top Day Hikes Around Philadelphia
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The great thing about living in Philadelphia is that you have access to many awesome outdoor adventures. The options are plentiful. Hiking is one of my favorite outdoor activities. This is a list of my favorite hiking destinations around Philadelphia. The list reads from the locations closest to the city to the furthest. All of these locations can be done as day hikes. Although, some could be turned into weekend adventures.
The Wissahickon
The Wissahickon is great if you are just looking for a quick escape from the city. The environment is calming and you forget that you are still in Philly. There are over 50 miles of trails. You can spend a whole day hiking here and not cover the entire park! You can hike through smaller trails that wind up and down through the valley, explore meadows, walk over covered or stone bridges, and walk along an old horse and buggy road that people used to ride to get to Philadelphia. During the Fall, the park turns into a beautiful mixture of reds, yellows, and oranges. It’s a scene you don’t want to miss! The main trail in the Wissahickon is wide and flat so it is a great place to take a family. Some trails are handicapped accessible because parking locations lead right to the trail.
Hiking isn’t the only activity you can do at the Wissahickon. When you go, you will find people riding bikes, fishing, swimming, bird watching. There is also the historic Valley Green Inn where you can eat delicious food. There are many historical signs around the park that you can spend your time reading and learning about.
Fairmount Park
This is another huge park in the city and is divided by the Schuylkill River. There are many activities you can do in the park including hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. The park is connected to museums like the Philadelphia Art Museum. It is home to a Japanese Tea House, multiple Colonial Mansions, and Philadelphia’s famous Boat-House row. In the Spring the Cherry Blossom and Dogwood trees bloom in different shades of pinks and white. I enjoy sitting underneath the Cherry Blossom trees, reading a book, and watching the rowing teams practice. It is a uniquely Philly experience! Fairmount Park has many different types of trails and a number of them are accessible.
If you want to learn more about the park visit Fairmount Park’s Website.
Schuylkill River Trail
This trail is still a work in progress, but don’t let that deter you! I promise there are plenty of completed sections that would take you multiple days to hike. Many parts of the trail follow old train routes. Over the years people have been working to connect smaller trails to make one very large Schuylkill River Trail. Currently, there are about 75 miles of completed trail, but there are still some sections that do not connect… yet.
I love this trail because it is only a 5-minute walk from my apartment. You will find many people running, walking their dogs, and bicycling. However, I have also dedicated full days to hiking this trail. I love how it winds through the city. There are so many places where you can just walk right off and stop in a restaurant for some food or a beverage. The trail also goes through other beautiful parks like Fairmount and Valley Forge. It even extends far beyond Philadelphia! Many parts of the trail are paved with easy access and are accessible. If you are interested in learning more about the trail here is the website.
Valley Forge National Park
This national park is free to enter and has great hiking trails any time of the year. The best part is that you get to learn about U.S. history when you hike. While tours are closed during Covid, there are many ways you can still explore the park and learn about its history. The park also offers fun programs for younger kids. There are also multiple paved trails here with easy access points which make multiple trails accessible.
It is important to note that in the winter they only shovel out a few trails. If it snows, you will see many people come to the park for winter sports like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. One of my favorites is to go sledding down the hills. This park has some awesome sledding spots! If you are interested in learning more about the park click here for the website.
Hawk Mountain
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is about an hour and a half drive from Philadelphia and is located on the Blue Mountain Ridge. It is a bird sanctuary and is the world’s first refuge for birds of prey. The sanctuary has multiple trails that range in difficulty and accessibility. When visiting you can also check out the native habitat garden, visitor center, and education building. (Although during Covid, the buildings are closed.)
The trails have many viewpoints that overlook the valley. You will find bursts of colors in the Fall or meadows of beautiful flowers in the spring. If you do choose to hike here, there is a $10 fee you will be required to pay to help support the sanctuary. There are some trails outside of the sanctuary that you can start from and might not have to pay the fee. Starting your hike outside of the sanctuary will make your hike a lot longer. Be prepared by bringing extra water and food! If you want to know more about the Sanctuary or trails click here.
The Pinnacle
This is a trail along the Blue Mountain Ridge in Pennsylvania. It has the reputation of being one of the best viewpoints in the state. Even though my most recent trip was on a cloudy day, I was still blown away by the view! Seeing the mist roll through the mountains and the sunbeams breaking through the clouds for miles was well worth the hike! The great thing about the Pinnacle is that you can continue on a connecting trail to see another beautiful vista called The Pulpit. These two trails make for an excellent day hike. You can hike from these trails to Hawk Mountain, but it could possibly take more than a day. If you are interested in the trail, here is the link to the All Trails map. You can also search All Trails for the routes.
Delaware Water Gap
This is a National Recreation Area that is a little under 2 hours of a drive from Philadelphia. The drive is definitely worth the hikes here! The scenery is diverse and very beautiful! One of my favorite views is on the Mt. Tammany trail. It makes me feel like I am in the mountains of British Columbia. If you can, I would recommend turning your day trip into a weekend trip. There are more than 100 miles of hiking trails. You can see many waterfalls, rivers, and lakes. The trails have different difficulty ratings and some are accessible. People also enjoy driving through the beautiful landscape or participating in fun activities along the Delaware River like kayaking or rafting. To learn more about the park click here.
Bushkill Falls
Right outside of the Delaware Water Gap are the Bushkill Falls Trails. Known as the Niagara of Pennsylvania, these trails take you through an almost enchanted gorge with multiple waterfalls. However, this location is privately owned and there is a fee to hike on the trails. The area where you buy tickets has also been built up over the years. It includes a gift shop, small places to get food, and hands-on activities for kids. This place has turned into a bit of a tourist trap and can get pretty crowded. However, I suggest buying your tickets online in advance and heading right for the trails once you get there. I think the waterfalls are worth the price of the ticket. Click here to learn more about the falls and buy your tickets online.
Ricketts Glen State Park
While this park is the furthest away from Philadelphia, I couldn’t leave it off this list. It’s about a 2 and a half-hour drive. Ricketts Glen offers about 26 miles of trails, but their 7 mile Falls Trail is my favorite! You come across 21 different waterfalls when hiking this trail. The tallest waterfall is 94 feet high! I enjoy hiking this trail each summer. The breeze from the splashing water can help cool you off in the summer heat. It is important to wear appropriate hiking shoes because the trail is wet and slippery at many points. I recommended bringing a pair of water shoes and a towel so that you can stop along the way to dip your feet in the water.
The campsites at the park are also very nice. I would recommend trying to stay overnight so you can enjoy the other trails and lake activities at the park. However, you will need to book a campsite far in advance because the camping spots fill up quickly! Click here if you want to learn more about the park and book a campsite.
The Philadelphia area is great for hiking no matter the time of year. These locations are only a few of what the state has to offer. If you do choose to go hiking at any of these locations, I recommend checking out the website before you go. That way you know what to expect. Also, many of these places have trails that are categorized as moderate to hard so make sure you have appropriate clothing and enough food and water to last you the whole hike. Feel free to comment down below with some of your favorite trails in the area. I am always down for a new hiking adventure!
