Discover the Wissahickon: Lavender Loop Hike

Meeting at the Bells Mill Road East Parking Lot (view location on Google Maps)
Join Trail Ambassadors Kathryn Rapp, Jin Xu, and Autumn Zellers for an evening hike on some of the park’s less-traveled trails. Starting at Bells Mill Road, we’ll hike up and down the Lavender Trail, then loop back along Forbidden Drive. Along the way, we’ll cross the Thomas Mill Red Covered Bridge and pass through one of the park’s largest restoration sites.
Check out a preview of our hike on Komoot below!

Parking and Transit: If you’re driving, there should be plenty of parking at our meeting location. Overflow parking is in the lot just up W Bells Mill Road. Reminder to never leave valuables behind in your car, and please be mindful of your surroundings when crossing the Bells Mill Bridge. If taking transit, our meeting location is a short hike away from the Bus 97 Stop at Germantown Pike & Rogers Drive. See map for details.
Bathrooms: There will be porta-potties available for use on Forbidden Drive near our meeting location.
Distance: 2.3 miles
Registration is required for all hikes so that participants can be informed of weather or other emergency cancellations. Unless otherwise specified, Trail Ambassador Walks may be on rocky, rugged trails that may be wet and slippery. Wear sturdy shoes or boots with socks. Walks are cancelled in heavy rain, extreme heat, muddy conditions, or icy conditions. Service animals are always welcome. For more information contact Marisa Miller at miller@fow.org.
Register below!
Discover the Wissahickon is a guided hikes series made up of 14 routes spanning almost every section of the park’s 50+ miles of trails. On these hikes, our knowledgeable Trail Ambassadors will lead participants on an exploratory journey through the Wissahickon. Running every weekend from late August to November, join one or join them all, and see if you can discover a trail you’ve never traveled before!
Register for any of our guided hikes on our events calendar.
Sunday, August 16 from 5-7 PM—Lavender Loop Hike at Bells Mill and Orange Trail
Sunday, August 23 from 9 AM-12 PM—Rolling Ridge Hike at Saylor’s Grove
Saturday, August 29 from 8 AM-12 PM—Cresheim Crawl at Valley Green Inn
Saturday, September 5 from 8 AM-12:30 PM—Yellow Trail Trek at Wigard Avenue Trailhead
Sunday, September 13 from 4-6 PM—Carpenter’s Woods Walk at Mt. Airy Avenue Trailhead
Saturday, September 19 from 9-11 AM—Andorra Amble Hike at Northwestern Avenue and Forbidden Drive
Sunday, September 27 from 1-3:30 PM—Mill Miler Hike at Bells Mill and Forbidden Drive
Sunday, October 4 from 9 AM-12 PM—Hella Pachella Hike at Pachella Field
Saturday, October 10 from 8 AM-12:30 PM—Meadow Miler Hike at Northwestern Avenue and Forbidden Drive
Saturday, October 10 from 10 AM-12 PM—Orange Trail Outing at Valley Green Inn
Saturday, October 17 from 3-5 PM—Toleration Trail Hike at W Hortter St and Park Line Drive
Sunday, October 25 from 9 AM-12 PM—White Trail Wander at Mt. Airy Avenue Trailhead
Saturday, October 31 from 10 AM-12:30 PM—Spooky Wissahickon Walk at Historic RittenhouseTown
Sunday, November 8 from 9 AM-12 PM—Valley Green Hike at Valley Green Inn