People often ask us, “How do you live in Center City? Don’t you miss nature?” Well, of course we do! That is why we try to head into the woods a few times per month with our two dogs to enjoy some concrete-free adventures. If there is a hike around Philadelphia, we’ve probably done it (with two dogs trailing behind us…)
Here is our list of our favorite, dog-friendly spots for day-hikes in and around Philadelphia.
Wissahickon: This is Philly’s own gem! The park includes over 50 miles of hiking trails of all levels crisscross this creek gorge. Whenever I get into the woods here, I can’t help but think, “I can’t believe this is so close to a major city.” You can chose to walk along the scenic Forbidden Drive (a mostly flat, gravel road that runs along the creek) or head into the woods for one of the more challenging trails. Note: The trails aren’t always marked and trail blazes are sporadic at times, so before getting too ambitious, be sure to pick up a trail map handy from the “Friends of the Wisssahickon.” FOW volunteers usually have a tent set up by Valley Green on weekends. (Even with the map, navigation can be tricky at times. There are endless “connector trails” that are not marked. It makes it fun! The good news is you can always head “down to the creek” to find your bearings.) Tips: There is also a “Snack Shop” behind Valley green if you want to snag some ice cream, quick eats or beverages during your hike.
Wissahickon: Beautiful year round! Pictured: Lindsay, Lola and Jax.
Pinacle & Pulpit Lookouts – Appalachian Trail Segment Hike: Ever wish you hiked the Appalachian Trail? Most of us won’t do it all at once, but the good news is that you can access the trail from various locations in PA. This loop trail is a wonderful teaser. This is a CHALLENGING hike, but affords two beautiful vistas. Footing can be dangerous at times, and there are some extremely steep ascents/descents. We recommend sturdy shoes and some sort of hiking experience. You get to the trail head through the Blue Rocks Campground (one of our favorite dog-friendly campsites). There are other ways to get to this the AT, but we always hike it while camping at Blue Rocks.
Pulpit and Pinacle Trail: A tough climb, but the views are worth it. Yikes, don’t look over the edge.
NJ Pine Barrens: The Pine Barrens actually encompasses a few State Forests/Parks and hiking is stellar at all of them. In particular, Brendan T. Bryn State Park has dog-friendly camp sites, so if you want to make a weekend of it, it’s a great place to base yourself if you want to explore a very cool ecosystem. The park office has everything you’d need to set out for day-hikes. We’ve done the Mt. Misery trail a few times with the dogs and it’s a treat. If you are looking for some overnight backpacking, the 50-mile Batona Trail links Brendan T. Byrne, Wharton, and Bass River State Forests. Find out more about the Batona Trail. (Tip: During tick season, ticks are no joke in the Pine Barrens. Before you go, make sure your dogs are treated with tick repellant (and you are too) and do a tick-check during and after hiking. This is a good idea for any hiking trip!)
Lola inspects the water at Brendan T. Byrne State Park
Ridley Creek State Park: This little State Park is located just half an hour outside of Philadelphia and is one of our go-to spots when we need to get into the woods. We probably make at least 6-10 day-trip visits to Ridley each year because it’s so convenient (and on the way home to “mom’s house”). The creek itself is picturesk and serene. We’ve hiked every trial in the park, and our favorite loop is the Orange Trail Loop. It affords lovely views of the creek and a there are few great spots if you want to let your dog take a dip. Remember – anytime you’re hiking (and especially near water), clean up your dog’s poop! Every wonder how nasty things like Giardia get into our waterways? Bingo! The park also has plenty of spots for picnics and BBQs. Bring along some coals and make a day of it!
One of our fav pics of our late dog Max (1999-2012) at Ridley, in the winter of 2010.
French Creek State Park: Here’s another one of our favorite dog-friendly places to hike and camp. The trails are wonderful (many of them are very close to the dog-friendly campsites) and if you’re a mountain biker, many of the trails are also open to bikes. At 7,730 acres, the park is the largest continuous block of forest between DC and NYC. Nearby, Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is well worth a trip (adjacent to the Park; 10 minutes away) to learn about “the early American industrial lanscape.” Try to time it so you can watch one of the iron casting demos – they’re great. And last time we were there, they did let us bring our dogs into the structures. (Just be sure to ask, and be respectful of other guests.)
Checking out Hopewell Furnace with the dogs…
TIP: One of the most-used books in our household is: AMC’s Best Day Hikes Around Philadelphia. Almost every page has been doggie-eared, highlighted or marked with notes in the margin. And yes, it’s covered in mud. (What good hiking guide isn’t?) We’ve completed most of the hikes in the book, and many of them we would never have “found” if not for this nice guide. Locations of trail heads, trail cues, and simple maps are included.
Like what you see? Follow the Monster Minders on Twitter and Facebook
Do you have a favorite trail near Philly? Where is it? Leave a comment below and let us know!
