3 Best Hiking Trails in Philadelphia, PA

“Wissahickon Valley Park is a scenic 1,800-acre area with trees and pastures leading into the sunlit waters of Wissahickon Creek. The park is renowned for its extensive history and its many miles of trails. The trail's elevation gain is 225 meters, and loop-type trails are generally considered easy to navigate. Visitors can explore nature's beauty in this gem of Philadelphia's park system, designated as an important birding area by the National Audubon Society. Wissahickon Valley Park offers glimpses into history with its remaining roadhouses and taverns. This park also provides a variety of trails, including over 50 miles of often rugged pathways for hiking, off-road biking, and horseback riding. Visitors can also enjoy miles of scenic side paths winding through the wooded hillside.”

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“John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge has 1,200 acres and is a refuge for exotic plants, native and songbirds, and native animals like squirrels and deer. The total length of the trail is 6.0km and the trail is generally considered an easy trail route. The elevation gain of the trail is 10 meters. The trail is loop type. The sanctuary is an excellent venue where Philadelphians can participate in many wildlife-related outdoor activities. John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge offers several family-friendly walks and nature programs. The park offers a wide range of walks and nature programs appropriate for the entire family year-round. The refuge has over 300 bird species in and around the refuge, 85 of which nest here. You can enjoy free hiking and fishing every day of the year from sunrise to sunset. The sanctuary also has more than 10 kilometers of trails. Every Tuesday and Thursday, programs are scheduled on Facebook Live.”

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“Pennypack Park spans over 1,600 acres of woodland, meadows, wetlands, and fields. The trail's total length is 25.3 kilometers, with an elevation gain of 175 meters. The trail is a point-to-point type. The park has multi-use trails, an outdoor bandstand, historic houses, and a farm. This is an excellent place for children to attend summer music festivals and a beautiful location for strolls and picnics. There are several paved and unpaved trails for hiking, biking, running, and horseback riding. This sprawling city park features rolling hills, open meadows, and various historic buildings, including a farm. Pennypack Park is home to over 150 species of nesting and migrating birds. The park offers a variety of trails and activities for visitors to enjoy.”

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