Showing posts with label PA Wissahickon Valley Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PA Wissahickon Valley Park. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Fairmount Park, PA - Wissahickon Valley South


ABOUT THE PARK:

Wissahickon Valley Park - Friends of the Wissahickon
Valley Green Inn

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.056599, -75.214606

View Larger Map

Large Parking Lot on Valley Green Road

TRAIL MAP:
Map of the Wissahickon Valley - Friends of Wissahickon (purchase)

HIKE DISTANCE:  9.8 miles

THE HIKE:
I hiked the northern section of this park on 10/26/12 just before Hurricane Sandy hit.  At this time, all the trails I hiked had been cleared of storm debris and were completely passable.
The trail starts out along Valley Green Road from the parking lot.
Keep straight along Valley Green Road when a trail leaves to the right.  This boardwalk leads to Valley Green Roadl; cross over ...
... walk beyond the barrier then take the right fork just beyond the stone wall.  White/green goes left, to the right should be orange but there are no blazes.  It doesn't much matter since multiple trails run parallel along Wissahickon Creek at different levels.  The white trail is an easier trail, the orange trail is more rugged.  Plus there are additional trails that are not on the map but they all basically take you to the same place.
Historic Valley Green Inn (still in operation as a restaurant) across the Wissahickon Creek
An old bridge to the left of the trail over Cresheim Creek with Devil's Pool underneath.
Close-up of Devil's Pool
Historic Livezey House - parts date back to 1683.
Dam in the Wissahickon near the Livezey House.
Old mill ruins - these can only be seen from an unmarked trail that runs below the orange trail; the orange trail runs on top of the ruins.
The trail goes through some interesting rock formations.  It's hard to believe this entire park, which can be quite rugged, lies within the Philadephia city limits.
Wissahickon Creek to the south.
Found some breakfast!
Wissahickon Creek to the north.
Lots of steps leading up to...
Fingerspan was install in 1987 using a helicopter. 
Not very canine compatible - she didn't like the grate AT ALL but there was no other way.
Another old stone bridge over the Wissahickon - these bridges allow for shorter loop hikes connecting over to trails on the other side.
The Forbidden Drive on the other side of the Wissahickon.
Baptismal Pool ~ 1723
Toleration Statue on Mom Rinker's Rock
The trail goes under the Walnut Lane Bridge.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Rittenhouse Town, site of the first paper mill in North America
Although there are no signs or blazes (and it took me a couple of miles of trying this way and that way to figure it out) you cross the bridge towards the Rittenhouse Homestead with the yellow shutters and continue on a footpath up to Lincoln Drive...
... turn left on Lincoln Drive and proceed to the traffic lights, cross over at the crosswalk...
... then immediately turn right and cross over Rittenhouse Street (no crosswalk) to rejoin the trail which heads back along Lincoln Drive on the opposite side of Rittenhouse Town.  Again, no signs, blazes, nothing and the trail is very hard to find if you don't know where to look for it.  Now you know :)
Finally some blazes!  (The green blaze along with the trail blaze denotes that mountain biking is allowed.) Although this is a rugged footpath, it does run a level or so up from Lincoln Drive so there is traffic noise for a while.
Just after going under the railroad tracks (on top of this bridge) the trail ends at a very busy road.  Turn right on the sidewalk and cross the bridge over the Wissahickon, then immediately after crossing the creek ...
... turn right on the paved Lincoln Drive Trail that goes back under the railroad tracks.  This is also the yellow trail although you probably won't find any blazes.
Although I prefer not to walk on pavement, there are some pretty areas worth seeing and it's for less than a mile.
Just before the bridge up ahead come up on an intersection where the paved trail continues right towards a footbridge crossing the Wissahickon.  At this intersection, take the paved trail to the left, uphill, doubling back the way you just came.  The trail will turn to dirt and switchback the other way.  This is the continuation of the yellow trail but there aren't any blazes or signs at the intersection. 
Once you start seeing blazes, the trail is well-blazed going forward.  The traffic noise disappears, also.
The yellow trail.
Although I would have preferred to have taken the yellow trail all the way back, because of the added 3.5 miles in searching for trail continuations and not wanting to get stuck in rush hour traffic going home, I took one of the side trails down to The Forbidden Drive since it is faster going and a more direct route.
Fingerspan from The Forbidden Drive.
Livezey Homestead and Mill from the other side of the creek.
The Forbidden Drive
Coming up on Valley Green Inn.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[0.00]    Take trail along Valley Green Road at kiosk
[0.15]    Stay left along Valley Green Road when a trail leaves to the right over a bridge
[0.20]    Cross Valley Green Road, keep right after barrier at end of stone wall when white/green goes left (should be orange but no blazes)
[0.55]    Rock hop over Cresheim Creek with Devil's Pool to the left under bridge
[0.75]    Trail comes out on paved area at Livezey House/Glen Fern; continue on unmarked trail to the right (trail to the left of that is the orange trail but you can't see the mill ruins from the orange trail since it runs on top of them)
[0.90]    After old mill ruins on left, trail fizzles out, work your way up to the left to continue on orange trail
[1.05]    Cross metal grate bridge, ascend steps, continue through Fingerspan
[1.35]    Keep straight old stone bridge on right over Wissahickon Creek
[2.10]    Trail joins in from the left, continue on orange
[2.20]    With bridge on right, turn left on gravel road briefly then leave gravel road to the right just after railing on footpath
[2.25]    Keep right at top of hill when trail comes in from the left
[2.40]    Look up to the left at Mom Rinker's Rock with Tolerance Statue on top
[2.45]    Keep right on orange when white/green comes in from left
[2.75]    Keep straight when trail crosses over drainage area on left at double orange blazes
[3.15]    Turn left at T-intersection
[3.20]    At intersection where multiple trails converge, turn right towards parking lot; at end of parking lot keep left into historic Rittenhouse Town when right goes to Lincoln Drive
[3.30]    Turn right and cross wooden footbridge at Rittenhouse Homestead with yellow shutters, continue on footpath past house to Lincoln Drive, turn left and walk along Lincoln Drive
[3.40]    Cross Lincoln Drive to the right on crosswalk at traffic light, immediately cross Rittenhouse Street to the right and pick up orange trail (no blazes or signs) following back along Lincoln Drive with Rittenhouse Town on the right
[3.55]    Can see parking lot P-12 down to the right on the other side of Lincoln Drive
[3.90]    Orange trail goes under Henry Avenue bridge
[4.55]    Cross over paved Gypsy Lane
[4.80]    Trail switchbacks down to Lincoln Avenue and follows Lincoln Avenue to the left of guardrail
[4.95]    Trail goes under railroad bridge then ends at busy road, turn right on sidewalk and proceed under Lincoln Drive to dam and waterfalls on right
[5.05]    Turn right on paved Lincoln Drive Trail bikepath immediately after crossing over Wissahickon Creek at dam
[5.15]    100 Steps on left; continue straight on bikepath
[5.25]    First yellow trail blaze
[5.95]    Just before footbridge goes right over the Wissahickon and Henry Street Bridge is up ahead, turn left and double back uphill on paved path which will turn to gravel
[6.15]    Keep right when trail comes in from left
[6.20]    When gravel road veers left towards large old house, turn right on footpath following yellow blazes
[6.45]    Lover's Leap at rock outcrop over gorge; keep left at fork
[6.80]    At T-intersection turn left to stay on yellow (right goes down to Forbidden Drive)
[7.10]    Trail goes under Walnut Lane bridge
[7.45]    Keep straight on yellow at intersection (right goes to Forbidden Drive)
[7.85]    Turn right at intersection
[7.95]    When yellow leaves to the left, continue straight a few steps then turn left on the Forbidden Drive
[8.00]    Four mile marker
[8.45]    Keep straight on Forbidden Drive when bridge crosses creek to the right
[8.75]    Fingerspan visible on other side of creek
[9.00]    Three mile marker
[9.20]    Devil's Pool on other side of creek
[9.50]    Valley Green Inn - continue to stone bridge, turn right and cross bridge then turn left on wooden bridge on trail to parking lot
[9.65]    Keep right when trail goes left over bridge
[9.80]    Back at parking lot

Friday, October 26, 2012

Fairmount Park, PA - Wissahickon Valley North and Andorra Natual Area


ABOUT THE PARK:


Wissahickon Valley Park - Friends of the Wissahickon
Valley Green Inn

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.056599, -75.214606


View Larger Map
This is shown as parking P-9 on the map although there is nothing at the parking lot that says it is that number.  it is on the right shortly after the park sign.

TRAIL MAP:
Map of the Wissahickon Valley - Friends of Wissahickon (purchase)
Andorra Natural Area Trails

HIKE DISTANCE:  8 miles

THE HIKE:
The trail leaves from the kiosk in the parking lot and runs along Valley Green Road
At an intersection turn right and you will be on the orange/white trail (very few blazes) that leads down and along Wissahickon Creek.
Magarge Dam ~ 1883
Magarge Dam
The white trail leaves to the right - this is the yellow trail (again, very few blazes) which can be quite rugged as it follows along Wissahickon Creek.
The Forbidden Drive, a wide, flat multi-use trail where 95% of the people are, follows along the opposite side of Wissahickon Creek.
Looks like the mallards are having a boys' day out.
A bridge over the Wissahickon allows you to cross over if you decide you want an eaiser walk on the Forbidden Drive.
At that bridge, the orange trail continues through the archway and up the steps.
Wissahickon Creek from the bridge.
Looking back down the Wissahickon from the bridge.
Looking back at the bridge with the Forbidden Drive on the other side.
A restoration of a covered bridge built here in 1737.
The orange trail ends at Germantown Avenue at a pedestrian bridge which avoids traffic and crosses over Wissahickon Creek.
Wissahickon Creek from the pedestrian bridge.
At the other side of the pedestrian bridge turn left through a picnic area in Harper's Meadow...
... with Northwest Stables on the right.
Pick up the Andorra Trails to...
... the Tree House, which used to have a tree going through it (hence the name Tree House) but the tree is no longer there.
You might see some activity at the bird feeder while there.
Follow the signs to The Great Beech which was declared a PA state champion European Beech in 2006.
This magnolia was dated 250+ years in 1979.
A bird feeder a short distance from the old magnolia trunk has lots of visitors.
The purple trail circles around a pretty hilltop meadow.
These nice people are volunteer trail ambassadors for Fairmount Park.  They offer assistance such as letting me know I was heading in the direction to meet up with the trail I wanted since my map only showed brown lines for the Andorra Trails and no colors - it became very difficult to keep track of exactly where I was.
Indeed, as the trail ambassadors told me, this is the intersection I was looking for.  On to Forbidden Drive to leave Andorra Natural Area and return to Wissahickon Gorge.
Along the way, a 128-year-old tulip tree.
Descending down to the Forbidden Drive.
The trail meets up with the Forbidden Drive at Bell's Mill Road with LOTS of traffic, but it is a 4-way stop (for both people and cars) so crossing is very easy.
The Forbidden Drive
From this point you can stay on the Forbidden Drive or turn right and climb up out of the gorge on the yellow trail (very few blazes) and hike along the top.
The covered bridge from up above on the yellow trail.
Hiking along the top of the gorge.
Come back out on the Forbidden Drive at the dam from early in the hike and continue along Forbidden Drive briefly towards...
Valley Green Inn
A Wood Duck and a Mallard Duck

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Take trail next to kiosk running parallel to Valley Green Road
[  0.15]  Right at intersection over footbridge on orange/white
[  0.55]  Magarge Dam
[  0.95]  Trail merges in from the right
[  1.15]  Cross at stone bridge and up steps through archway
[  1.45]  Keep straight when unmarked trail goes right
[  1.55]  Pass through picnic area, covered bridge
[  1.75]  Cross concrete bridge
[  1.85]  Creek access sign
[  1.95]  Keep straight at fork when a trail veers right
[  2.15]  Cross Bell's Mill Road and proceed through parking lot to continue on orange trail at boardwalk
[  2.70]  At Germantown Avenue turn left and follow pedestrian bridge over creek
[  2.75]  Turn left into picnic area other side of bridge and follow path with creek on left and stables on right
[  2.95]  Right at fork coming up on Forbidden Drive, then veer left then right on Forbidden Drive towards P-3 parking then left towards the Tree House at the split rail fence
[  3.10]  Turn left at Andorra Trails sign on to foot path that switchbacks uphill
[  3.15]  Turn right at intersection towards the Tree House
[  3.25]  At intersection turn right on red when green goes left, Tree House on right
[  3.35]  Turn left at unmarked T-intersection then straight on yellow when red goes right to P-1 Parking; Great Beach tree a few steps ahead on the right
[  3.50]  Turn left at arrow showing gnome and mushroom
[  3.60]  Straight at intersection where left goes to the Tree House
[  3.70]  Right at intersection to cucumber tree trunk; keep right with bench and bird feeders on your left
[  3.75]  Turn left on red
[  3.85]  Turn left on purple when red goes straight
[  3.95]  Keep straight on purple when navy goes right
[  4.00]  Left on light purple with butterfly across hilltop meadow
[  4.15]  Enter woods then turn left on purple
[  4.20]  Keep straight on purple when P-1 goes right; stay on purple as it winds around the meadows
[  4.90]  Leave meadow entering woods then turn right at direction sign towards Forbidden Drive
[  5.20]  At intersection turn right towards Forbidden Drive
[  5.50]  Turn right on Forbidden Drive, cross over Bell's Mill Road, then after railing on right, turn right at yellow, red and green blazes; trail switchbacks uphill (this should be the yellow trail but blazes, if any, are confusing)
[  5.70]  Keep left at fork
[  5.90]  Keep right at fork; left fork has green blaze - this trail goes down to Forbidden Drive
[  6.10]  Covered bridge may be visible below to the left
[  6.25]  Keep straight when a green-blazed trail goes right
[  6.65]  Keep straight at 4-way intersection
[  6.80]  After descending, trail turns right just before Forbidden Drive, crosses tributary gorge and ascends
[  6.95]  Keep straight when a trail leaves to the right
[  7.20]  Keep straight on unmarked when yellow turns sharply right
[  7.30]  Keep right on Forbidden Drive
[  7.60]  Paved road merges in from the right, keep straight as Forbidden Drive becomes paved (there is traffic accessing parking lot on this section)
[  7.75]  At fork keep left through parking lot
[  7.80]  At end of parking lot turn left and cross stone bridge
[  7.85]  Turn left after bridge following trail back to parking lot
[  8.00]  Back at parking lot