AMC's Best Day Hikes near Philadelphia Four-Season Guide to 50 of the Best Trails in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware

by Charkes, Susan

• ISBN13: 9781628420906
• ISBN10: 1628420901
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2018-03-27
• Publisher: Appalachian Mountain Club Books

Summary

AMC's Best Day Hikes near Philadelphia will take you through 50 of the region's best hikes for all levels. Ideal for families, tourists, and locals alike, this easy-to-use guide will help you explore Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware year-round, from lesser-known excursions to area favorites, including several hikes on the Appalachian Trail.

Take a walk through historic Valley Forge, discover the beautiful Brandywine Creek State Park, and see the Pinnacle's spectacular views on the Appalachian Trail. Fully revised and updated, this edition features new hikes in Wolf's Hollow Country Park, Stroud Preserve, Brendan Byrne State Forest, Rockhopper/Dry Run Creek Trails, Trexler Preserve, and Blue Marsh Lake. All descriptions of previously featured trails have been updated to reflect the most recent openings, closings, and reroutings, highlighting the best hikes within an hour or two of Philadelphia.

Author Biography

Susan Charkes, a resident of southeast Pennsylvania, is a hike leader with AMC's Delaware Valley Chapter and a trail maintainer with Batona Hiking Club of Philadelphia. She works in land conservation and has served on the Stewardship Council of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Her other books include Outdoors With Kids Philadelphia, published by AMC Books, and The Wild Here and Now, a collection of nature essays.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

How to Use This Book

AMC content

Trip Planning and Safety

AMC content

Leave No Trace

AMC content

Section 1: Southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware

1. Fairmount Park Loop (Art Museum)

2. Wissahickon Valley Park

3. Pennypack Park

4. John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum

5. Ridley Creek State Park

6. Valley Forge National Historical Park—Mount Misery and Mount Joy

7. Valley Forge National Historical Park—River Trail

8. Green Ribbon Trail

9. Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust

10. Alapocas Run State Park

11. Lums Pond State Park

12. White Clay Creek Preserve/White Clay Creek State Park

13. Brandywine Creek State Park

14. Wolf's Hollow County Park NEW

15. Stroud Preserve NEW

16. French Creek State Park

17. Green Lane Park—Perkiomen Trail

18. Peace Valley Nature Center

19. Ralph Stover State Park and Tohickon Valley Park

20. Nockamixon State Park

21. Clarence Schock Memorial Park at Governor Dick

22. Money Rocks Park

23. Kelly's Run

24. Mason-Dixon Trail—Holtwood Environmental Area

Section 2: Central and Southern New Jersey

25. Cape May

26. Parvin State Park

27. Mullica River Trail

28. Batona Trail: Carranza Memorial to Apple Pie Hill

29. Brendan Byrne State Forest NEW

30. Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain

31. Sourland Mountain Preserve

32. Bull's Island—Delaware Canal and Delaware & Raritan Canal

33. Rockhopper/Dry Run Creek Trails NEW

34. Musconetcong Gorge Preserve

Section 3: Berks County & Lehigh Valley

35. Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary

36. Trexler Preserve NEW

37. Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center

38. Monocacy Trail

39. Neversink Mountain Preserve

40. Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center

41. Blue Marsh Lake NEW

42. Lehigh Parkway

43. South Mountain Preserve

44. Appalachian Trail—Route 309 to Bake Oven Knob

45. Lehigh Gap Nature Center (revision of AT Lehigh Gap W)

46. Appalachian Trail—Lehigh Gap East

47. Hickory Run State Park

48. Glen Onoko Falls/Lehigh Gorge State Park

49. Appalachian Trail—The Pinnacle and the Pulpit

50. Sand Spring Trail and Tom Lowe Trail

Nature Essays

Wissahickon Schist

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Valley Forge: The Encampmnet of 1777-78

Splendor in the Grass: Meadowlands and Grasslands

Signs Without Words

Jump in the Pool

Bambi, Keep Out!

Out of the Blue, Into the White

Eight Legs, One Orb

Brown is Not Dirty

Black Rock, Green Forests

How Green is My Valley?

Song of the Eternal Morning

Trailside Fruits and Berries

The King is Dead; Long Live the King

APPENDICES

Critical Treasures of the Highlands

AMC content

Resources

Further Reading

Index

About the Author

Applachian Mountain Club

AMC content

AMC Delaware Valley Chapter

AMC content

AMC Books Updates

AMC content