where can I find greenery in Philadelphia?

March 5, 2008 10:07 AM

[Philly filter] Where's the fair part of Fairmont Park?

Can anyone point me towards the pretty parts of Fairmont Park? By pretty I mean NOT next to four-lane Kelly Drive or through Lemon hill type suburban wastelands. I really miss having a nice dirt path through the woods to run on. Do such places exist in Fairmont Park/philadelphia-at-large? The park website claims so, but their maps confuse and upset me. Help?

Extra gratitude if you can identify someplace within running/biking distance of the Art Museum, but I'm fine hopping on the SEPTA too.

Thanks..

posted by bluenausea to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (7 answers total)

Best answer: You want the Wissahickon Creek. "Forbidden Trail" is the main access point, off Lincoln Drive near Wissahickon Avenue. From there you can access a ton of trails, and the main trail runs all the way up to Chestnut Hill.
posted by The Straightener at 10:17 AM on March 5, 2008

Make that Forbidden Drive, not Forbidden Trail, sorry.
posted by The Straightener at 10:19 AM on March 5, 2008

Response by poster: yeah, that's about perfect. no chance of finding anything closer, i suppose?
posted by bluenausea at 10:38 AM on March 5, 2008

I can't think of anything closer that has substantial dirt trails. If you have a car or can get a Philly Car Share you could check out Ridley Creek State Park in Delaware County, Brandywine Creek State Park on the Delaware border and Valley Forge.
posted by The Straightener at 10:58 AM on March 5, 2008

Best answer: Again, you want the Wissahickon Creek. Bike to the end of kelly drive (about 5 miles). You'll end up at a crowded bus stop. There'll be a long dirt driveway on your left marked with a sign for the philadelphia canoe club. Across the street, there'll be a smaller river that feeds into the schuylkill river. Follow the path along the left side of the smaller river into the Wissahickon park.

The main trail just follows the river. Not that interesting. Explore the side trails up the sides of the valley.
posted by malp at 11:28 AM on March 5, 2008

If you're into running/hiking, take either the 23 bus or the R7 to chestnut hill. Walk down (w) Germantown about 1/2 mile or so to E northwestern rd and take a left to the start of the Wissahickon. Then you can run back to the Art Museum through the gorge and Fairmont, a little over 10 miles total. Take the west side of the Schulkyl running path, especially on Sundays when it is closed to car traffic.

I miss that run, it was one of my favorite parts of my favorite city.
posted by overhauser at 12:33 PM on March 5, 2008

Response by poster: thanks guys!
posted by bluenausea at 5:30 PM on March 5, 2008