Wissahickon Valley Park
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Wissahickon Valley Park offers a unique urban oasis, providing a vast natural refuge where families can walk, bike, and hike amidst stunning scenery. It's lauded as a relaxing escape from city life, featuring diverse trails and a charming on-site inn, offering both gentle strolls and challenging adventures.
Key Highlights
- ✓Versatile trail system accommodating walking, biking, hiking, and even horseback riding.
- ✓Features a quaint, on-site restaurant, the Valley Green Inn, with courteous staff for convenient dining.
- ✓Boasts significant natural beauty, particularly in spring with vibrant blooming flowers, creating a relaxing atmosphere with abundant trees.
- ✓Trails are extensive (approximately 2000 acres) and consistently well-marked, ensuring clear navigation and a variety of routes.
- ✓Offers stunning scenic views, especially from higher vantage points or challenging trails.
Standout Features
- ⭐Multi-use trails offering activities for walkers, bikers, joggers, and horseback riders.
- ⭐On-site dining at the Valley Green Inn provides a convenient and pleasant meal option.
- ⭐Effective natural escape from city life, fostering a strong connection with nature.
- ⭐Free and ample parking available at multiple accessible spots, including near the Valley Green Inn and various river entrances.
- ⭐Clearly marked trails throughout the park simplify navigation, even on complex loops.
- ⭐The park's beauty is particularly vibrant during springtime with blooming flowers.
- ⭐Opportunities for wildlife spotting, such as geese.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →**Trail Selection:** For an easy, relaxing experience, stick to the main, wide trails or walks alongside the riverbanks. For a challenge, explore trails like the Forbidden Path or Margaree Dam Loop, but be prepared for steep, rocky terrain.
- →**Gear:** Bring walking sticks for more challenging trails with steep inclines, rocks, and roots to aid stability.
- →**Best Time to Visit:** Consider visiting in spring to experience the park with all the flowers blooming in color.
- →**Parking:** Utilize the free parking available near the Valley Green Inn or at the entrances located on the inner banks of the river.
- →**Food:** The Valley Green Inn offers a convenient dining option; for longer hikes, it's wise to bring your own snacks and water.
- →The park is open on holidays (e.g., Easter).
Things to Consider
- ⚠Some trails (e.g., Forbidden Path, Margaree Dam Loop) feature challenging terrain including steep inclines (up to 25-35 degrees), numerous rocks, roots, and potentially muddy sections, requiring careful footing.
- ⚠Newly packed trail sections on challenging routes can be soft, making the climb more difficult.
- ⚠One bridge on a challenging trail was described as 'kind of Ricky T' (rickety), which may be a minor concern for some.
Price & Value
Entry to Wissahickon Valley Park and its trails is free. There is also free and safe parking available. The only potential costs would be for dining at the on-site Valley Green Inn. This offers excellent value for a vast, diverse, and well-maintained natural experience.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •**Main trails:** Are described as 'extremely wide' and are suitable for walking, biking, and jogging, suggesting they may accommodate strollers or some mobility devices on flatter sections.
- •**Challenging trails:** Such as the Forbidden Path or Margaree Dam Loop, are not wheelchair or stroller accessible due to steep inclines, rocky terrain, roots, and uneven surfaces.
- •No specific accessibility accommodations (e.g., sensory-friendly hours) are mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •An on-site restaurant, the Valley Green Inn, provides dining options.
- •As a public park, bringing your own snacks, drinks, and picnic items is generally acceptable and implied, though not explicitly stated in reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •Free parking is widely available 'inside in the trail' and is described as 'safe' and 'lots of space'.
- •Specific parking areas mentioned include spots near the Valley Green Inn and entrances located on the 'inner banks of the river'.
👥Crowd Levels
- •The park's trails are shared by a variety of users including hikers, bikers, and joggers, indicating it's a popular destination.
- •Even challenging trails have occasional users ('every now and then a jogger or biker would come by'), suggesting it's not deserted.
- •No specific complaints about overcrowding are mentioned, likely due to its vastness (2000 acres) and extensive trail network helping to distribute visitors.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Trails are consistently described as 'clearly marked' and 'well marked,' which greatly aids in safe navigation.
- •'Safe parking space' is explicitly mentioned.
- •No specific mention of park rangers, dedicated first aid stations, or other typical supervised safety measures beyond clear trail signage.
⏰When to Avoid
- • **Forbidden Path / Margaree Dam Loop:** Avoid these more challenging trails with very young children or individuals with limited mobility due to steep inclines (up to 35 degrees), significant rocks, roots, and potential muddy conditions.
- • **Unprepared:** Do not attempt challenging trails without appropriate sturdy footwear (e.g., hiking boots), sufficient water, and potentially walking sticks.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
ATC Hike 7: Rolling Ridge with Jin Xu, Dave Bonar, and Andrea DeSabato
October 4
Not specified
Meeting at Saylor's Grove. Street parking available. This hike is a part of our All Trails Challenge (ATC) hike series, presented by Newrez LLC, geared for Challengers to rack up miles and explore different areas of the park on each hike. Join us for all 15 parts.
ATC Hike 8: Lavender Loop with Trish Fries, Doug Gibson, Peter Curatolo, and Jill Curatolo
October 8
Not specified
Meeting at the Bells Mill Road East Parking Lot. Parking available at meeting location or further up Bells Mill at the Forbidden Drive Upper Parking Lot. There are porta-potties available for use on Forbidden Drive near our meeting location. This hike is a part of our All Trails Challenge (ATC) hike series.
Bikes and Bridges with Lisa Kleiman, Sheryl Rose, Doug Gibson, and Jean McWilliams
October 10
Not specified
Meeting at Regal UA Cinema Parking Lot. Plenty of free parking at our meeting location. There may not be bathroom access available along our route. Join us for a midday bike ride along two waterways that link trails in the Wissahickon Valley Park to the Schuylkill River Trail.
Native Planting and Fall Nature Challenge
October 11
Not specified
Meeting at Forbidden Drive and Kitchens Lane Bridge. Limited parking at the Kitchens Lane Parking lot, as well as more extensive street parking near the Jannette Street Trailhead. Both of these options are a short hike away from our meeting location. There will be restroom access.
ATC Hike 9: Cresheim Crawl with Trish Fries, Lisa Kleiman, and Jin Xu
October 12
Not specified
Meeting at Valley Green Inn. Several parking lots near the Inn (northern via Wises Mill Road, southern via Valley Green Road). Restrooms available for use outside of the Inn. This hike is a part of our All Trails Challenge (ATC) hike series.
Valley Talk – Exploring the Trees that Shape Wissahickon Valley Park with Andrew Conboy
October 15
Not specified
In person at the Valley Green Inn or online on Zoom. Explore common native and invasive tree species, and uncover intriguing remnants from the old nursery.
ATC Hike 10: Toleration Trail with Amy Hirsch, Debbie Hoellein, Doug Gibson, and Courtney Malley
October 16
Not specified
Meeting at W Hortter St and Parkline Drive. Street parking available. Bathroom access along the route. This hike is a part of our All Trails Challenge (ATC) hike series.
Woodland Writers and Artists: A Creative Journey of Observation and Connection
October 16
Not specified
Meeting at Upper Andorra Parking Lot. Plenty of parking in the lot. Bathrooms at Wissahickon Environmental Center available. Fall invites us to step outside! Want to become more intentional with observation and connection.
ATC Hike 11: White Trail Wander with Peter Curatolo, Jill Curatolo, Pat Jacona, and Debra Brackett
October 22
Not specified
Meeting at Mt. Airy Avenue Trailhead. Plenty of street parking nearby on W Mt. Airy Avenue and Mt. Airy Terrace. Bathroom along our route. This hike is a part of our All Trails Challenge (ATC) hike series.
The Wissahickon in October with Debbie Hoellein, Jim McClory, and Peter & Jill Curatolo
October 24
Not specified
Meeting at Blue Bell Field Parking Lot. Plenty of parking available in the lot. Porta potties available for use at Blue Bell Park. Hike through areas of historical and natural points of interest.
Halloween Planting at Hermitage Mansion
October 25
Not specified (volunteer event)
Meeting at Hermitage Mansion. Recommend parking on Barnes Street and walking over, as Hermit Lane has been known to experience car break-ins. No restroom access during the service day.
ATC Hike 12: Woods Walk with Amy Hirsch, Dave Bonar, Reagan Hedlund, and Ted Apple
October 26
Not specified
Meeting at Mt. Airy Avenue Trailhead. Street parking at the meeting location. Bathroom along the route. This hike is a part of our All Trails Challenge (ATC) hike series.
Bat Night at the Upper Roxborough Reservoir Preserve with Kris Soffa & JoAnne Woods
October 30
Not specified
Meeting at Upper Roxborough Reservoir. Join us for some Batty fun to celebrate National Bat Week. This is your chance to take a twilight hike around the Upper Roxborough Reservoir Preserve and learn more about these fascinating nocturnal creatures.
ATC Hike 13: Spooky Wissahickon with Sheryl Rose, Katherine Bonar, Dave Bonar, and Ted Apple
October 31
Not specified
Meeting at Historic RittenhouseTown. Parking in several small lots around HRT as well as nearby street parking on W Rittenhouse Street. Parking in the paved lot along Lincoln Drive is not recommended, as it is the site of frequent car break-ins. No bathroom.
ATC Hike 14: Meadow Miler with Sue Amon, Jin Xu, and Leigh Ashbrook
November 1
Not specified
Meeting at Northwestern Avenue and Forbidden Drive. Plenty of parking in the nearby Northwestern Ave Parking Area. Porta potties on Forbidden Drive at the beginning of the hike. This hike is a part of our All Trails Challenge (ATC) hike series.
Volunteer Service at Carpenter’s Woods
November 1
Not specified (volunteer event)
Meeting at Wayne Avenue Trailhead. This location will not require hiking to access from the available parking areas. No bathroom access during the service day.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Refrain from leaving any valuables in your car (general advice, and specifically mentioned for Houston Playground event).
- • Specific parking areas noted for car break-in risk: Hermit Lane (for Hermitage Mansion parking), paved lot along Lincoln Drive (for Historic RittenhouseTown parking).
📅Booking Policy
- • For volunteer service days: All are welcome to attend, and no experience is needed. We encourage attendees to work within their own comfort level, and we always strive to accommodate needs.
🚗Parking Information
- • Harper's Meadow: Northwestern Avenue Parking Area and nearby neighborhood streets.
- • FOW Workshop Driveway: Wigard Avenue Trailhead (about a 5-minute hike from meeting location).
- • Forbidden Drive and Thomas Mill Red Covered Bridge: Both main parking options require a 10-15 minute walk (up to .7 miles) to the work site.
- • Saylor's Grove: Street parking available.
- • Thomas Mansion: Park on Wissahickon Avenue or the surrounding neighborhood streets rather than the Thomas Mansion driveway.
- • Valley Green Road Upper Parking Lot: Parking available at meeting site.
- • Bells Mill Road East Parking Lot: Parking available at meeting location or further up Bells Mill at the Forbidden Drive Upper Parking Lot.
- • Regal UA Cinema Parking Lot: Plenty of free parking at our meeting location.
- • Forbidden Drive and Kitchens Lane Bridge: Limited parking at the Kitchens Lane Parking lot, as well as more extensive street parking near the Jannette Street Trailhead (short hike away).
- • Valley Green Inn: Several parking lots near the Inn (northern parking lot accessible by Wises Mill Road, southern by Valley Green Road).
- • W Hortter St and Parkline Drive: Street parking available.
- • Upper Andorra Parking Lot: Plenty of parking in the lot.
- • Houston Playground: Parking mentioned, with advice to refrain from leaving any valuables in car.
- • Hermitage Mansion: Recommend parking on Barnes Street and walking over, as Hermit Lane has been known to experience car break-ins.
- • Mt. Airy Avenue Trailhead: Plenty of street parking nearby on W Mt. Airy Avenue and Mt. Airy Terrace; street parking at the meeting location.
- • Blue Bell Field Parking Lot: Plenty of parking available in the lot.
- • Historic RittenhouseTown: Plenty of nearby parking, although parking in the paved lot along Lincoln Drive is not recommended due to frequent car break-ins. Parking in several small lots around HRT as well as nearby street parking on W Rittenhouse Street.
- • Northwestern Avenue and Forbidden Drive: Plenty of parking in the nearby Northwestern Ave Parking Area.
- • Wayne Avenue Trailhead: This location will not require hiking to access from the available parking areas.
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Suchitra Kamath
2 weeks agoThis is amazing! To be able to walk, bike and hike amidst nature in the middle of the city! It is truly a refuge! Even a quaint little restaurant ( Valley Green Inn) in there if you get hungry. The staff at the restaurant are very courteous and friendly.
Daniel Roberts
a week agoThird times, a charm. Enjoy this trail all the time being around so many trees is always relaxing. First time doing this during spring with all the flowers blooming in color. Huge recommendations for those who need to just air out themselves from the city, chat with your closest friend, and enjoy the day. P.s. did this on easter.
Russell Pierre
a week agoAfter leaving our hotel in PA ,we always like to visit a park or trails and go sight seeing,just before heading back to NY.This park was the closest from the hotel about 15mins drive on our way back to NY.We just decided to enter on the inner banks of the river entrance where we parked the truck.There's also another entrance once you parked your car and walk up a little hill.There's free parking inside in the trail.We decided to take a walk alongside the banks of river,there were hikers and even dirt bike that passed us along the way.In all it was very relaxing and made you feel in touch with nature,we also saw a goose.This took me back where I grew up,since I came from the Caribbean islands.If your ever in this area pass by and experience a little nature,our kids loved it and had fun.
KingVegan
3 weeks agoIt’s been about 10 years since I’ve been to Valley Green, which is part of the Wissahican Valley Park system so I didn’t know what to expect but not much has changed. I parked near the valley green restaurant which is iconic. I’ve never been to it, but I will visit this in the future. I decided to do a mix of trail walking using the main trail, which is extremely wide people bike, jog, walk, etc. on this trail with the trail also offers hiking and horseback riding and all the trails are clearly marked halfway down the trail. I decided to take a turn up a hill to the forbidden path or trail as it’s called which is about a mile long or so This is fairly steep incline on the way up. I’m gonna say probably about 25 to 30° it was a little difficult because they had just packed the trail with fresh stone and dirt so it was kind of soft when I made it to the forbidden trail which was also clearly marked my little journey began, and further up I went to the cliffside, and eventually I was able to look down to the riverside which seemed to be about 1000 feet or so down not exactly exactly sure but that’s what it felt like about a half a mile and I was unsure of what was going on as far as where I was going every now and then a jogger or biker would come by and I did manage to stop when and ask if I was on the right direction in the jogger told me to take the next right at Valley Green. I thanked him and went on higher and higher. This trail has lots of rocks and roots running through it so you have to be very mindful and very careful. I recommend walking sticks as a knucklehead. I forgot mine, and eventually grab two sticks on the side of the trail, which helped out greatly after walking for about another 15 minutes and not seeing the turn. The jogger told me about I was a little worried, but eventually I came up on it. The trail started to descend through a very windy, picturesque, beautiful part of the valley. Eventually, I started to see a turn downwards towards the valley, and that was a little relieving. I did come across a bridge that was kind of Ricky T. I do have photos the grading going down was had to be about 35° again with rocks and roots and sticks going through the paths very challenging for me but when I finished, it was a heck of a sense of accomplishment. This is such a beautiful place. It’s about 2000 acres. I can’t wait for the springtime and summer. I’ll be visiting this again.
David Leonard
2 months agoTrail Review Margaree Dam White, Orange, and Forbidden Drive Loop - 3.5 Miles Absolutely awesome trail. Lots of safe parking space. The first part really feels like a woody trail. Lots of elevation gain, rocky and rutty, and muddy at certain parts. This is by no means a problem, the trail is really well marked and doable. It adds a layer of challenge to an otherwise easy trail. The views were absolutely stunning. The ending portion of the trail is rather easy and mostly flat. Would highly recommend this trail and the many other connecting trails.