Top Day Hikes Around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The great thing about living in Philadelphia is that you have access to many awesome outdoor adventures that are only a day trip away. From going to the beach in the summer in the neighboring states of Delaware or New Jersey to hitting the slopes in the winter up in the Poconos, the options are plentiful. However, hiking is one of my favorite outdoor activities that can be done any time of year. This is a list of my favorite day hikes in and around Philadelphia. The list generally reads from the locations closest to the city to the furthest. All of these locations can be done as day hikes, but some you might want to turn into weekend adventures.
The Wissahickon
The Wissahickon is a gem if you are just looking for a quick escape from city life. Once in the park, the trees surround you, the sound of the river replaces the hustle of the city and you quickly forget that you are actually still in Philly. With over 50 miles of trails, you can spend a whole day hiking here and not cover the entire park! You can find yourself hiking through smaller trails that wind up and down through the valley, exploring meadows, and walking over covered or stone bridges. The main trail is along an old horse and buggy road that people used to ride to visit 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. Certain parking locations lead right to the trail, making some trails handicapped accessible.
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, eating at the historic Valley Green Inn, or strolling around delving into the history of the park by reading the historical signs found throughout. If you want to learn more about the Wissahickon, click here.
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. However, the park is also connected to museums like the Philadelphia Art Museum, is home to a Japanese Tea House and multiple Colonial Mansions, and leads to Philadelphia’s famous Boat-House row. I love to go in the Spring when the Cherry Blossom and Dogwood trees bloom different shades of pinks and white. Sitting along the river underneath the Cherry Blossom trees, reading a book, and watching the rowing teams practice is a unique 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 and 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 and 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 during pre-covid times that will start again once it is safe. 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. However, 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. I can attest that 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.) Along the trails, multiple viewpoints 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. If you choose to start at a trail outside of the sanctuary, know that it will make your hike a lot longer. So 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 neighboring 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. If you want to make it into an overnight backpacking trip, you can follow the trails to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. There is a designated spot where backpackers can camp out for the night along the trails. The longer loop is possible to do in a day, but I would only recommend it for experienced hikers. If you are interested in the trail, here is the link to the All Trails map. You can also search All Trails for the route that takes you to The Pulpit and the route that connects you to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.
Delaware Water Gap
This is another National Park 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 downright gorgeous! One of my favorite vista spots is on the Mt. Tammany trail and the view 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 that wind along waterfalls, the tops of mountains, rivers, lakes, and the Appalachian Trail. The many 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 and includes a gift shop, small places to get food, and hands-on activities for kids. Needless to say, 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, it’s about a 2 and a half-hour drive, I couldn’t leave it off this list. This park offers about 26 miles of trails, but their 7 mile Falls Trail is my favorite! When hiking this trail, you come across 21 different waterfalls, with the tallest being 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 that anyone hiking this trail wears 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 and then change back into your hiking shoes once you are done.
The campsites at the park are also very nice and 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.
Pennsylvania is great for hiking no matter the time of year and 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, so 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 equipment as well as enough food and water to last you the whole hike. Feel free to comment down below with some of your favorite day hikes around Philadelphia. I am always down for a new hiking adventure!
