Event

Meet at Carpenter’s Woods Trailhead Kiosk on Greene Street & North Mt. Pleasant Road On this set of two walks, we will explore waterways in Mt. Airy that are hidden in plain sight. Before embarking on this steady, silent, slow amble to the Wissahickon Creek, you will be introduced to the terrain, how it sheds water, and how this action safeguards our drinking water. Over the Carpenter Run and through the woods we will go, visiting varied surprise locations as we walk to Kitchens Lane Bridge, where we will take in spectacular views of the Wissahickon gorge. Before and after

Meeting at Blue Bell Park. The Annual Creek Clean-Up is an always-fun project we’re partnering on with our upstream partners Wissahickon Trails. This year, we’re setting our sights on the southern end of the Wissahickon Creek and it’s surrounding areas. Come help us make a difference in this highly used section of the park! No experience is needed. We provide gloves, tools and instruction – you just need to show up! Volunteer service Days are excellent, easy ways to help us take care of Wissahickon Valley Park. Be sure to wear sturdy footwear and long pants, and bring a water

Meet at Wigard Trailhead Elevate your mood, recenter and refocus as we walk, gratefully, into the woods. Walking and gratitude is a powerful combination only heightened by the beauty and serenity of the Yellow Trail in Spring. As we meander we will have opportunities to share and connect with others and learn about, and thankfully acknowledge, our predecessors who worked to preserve the Wissahickeon we enjoy today. The route includes some steep and rocky ascents and descents and is about 3-3.5 miles long. Children 12 years of age and older are welcome when accompanied by an adult; no dogs except

Meet at Rex Avenue Trailhead Come join us for a trek along the Wissahickon trails as we explore the films and television programs, the paintings, the literature and the music that have drawn inspiration from the Wissahickon and rooted it in American culture. We will hike both Forbidden Drive and the wooded trails of the northern portion of the park, stopping at points of interest to note and appreciate their cultural significance. We will try to maintain a moderate pace. Note that the terrain is hilly and uneven in spots, so plan your footwear accordingly. Level: Moderate (some inclines and

Meet at Crefeld Street Trailhead Join us on a mindful and silent, moderate paced saunter – we’ll have moments to connect and share with other participants throughout our contemplative journey. Enjoy a full sensory experience as the sun begins to set on these beautiful trails. This walk is most appropriate for adults and youth 16 and older. Pace will be set by the group. Please feel free to bring a flashlight for hikes closer to sunset. Note: hikes are scheduled closer to sunset, when possible, and otherwise late afternoon to experience the tranquility that timing offers. Distance: ~2.5 miles Level:

Jannette Street Trailhead  Join us on a mindful and silent, moderate paced saunter – we’ll have moments to connect and share with other participants throughout our contemplative journey. Enjoy a full sensory experience as the sun begins to set on these beautiful trails. This walk is most appropriate for adults and youth 16 and older. Pace will be set by the group. Please feel free to bring a flashlight for hikes closer to sunset. Note: hikes are scheduled closer to sunset, when possible, and otherwise late afternoon to experience the tranquility that timing offers. Distance: ~2.5 miles Level: Moderate (some

Regal UA Cinema Parking Lot, Main Street Manayunk Join us for a spring bike ride along three waterways that link trails in the Wissahickon Valley Park to the Schuylkill River Trail, all part of the vast Circuit Trail Network. We will meet in Manayunk at the Regal Cinema Lot on Main Street and will head toward Wissahickon Valley Park. We will hook onto the Wissahickon Bike Path and ride along Wissahickon Creek up to Historic Rittenhouse Town, and will then head to Forbidden Drive, where we will ride for a short period of time to view some of the historical

Valley Green Inn What’s a 100th birthday without a party? We may be 100 years old, but we can still party! Join Friends of the Wissahickon to celebrate our 100th anniversary at the park’s very own Valley Green Inn on May 10. We’re paying homage to the rich history of the Wissahickon and its roadhouses with catfish and waffles and cheersin’ to the future with special local beer crafted in our honor by Chestnut Hill Brewing. This is a community celebration for Wissahickon-lovers, FOW members, families, and friends. Come for the catfish, stay for the live music, an art gallery

Join the Junior League of Philadelphia during Mother’s Day weekend for Philly in Full Bloom: A Junior League Market! Taking place on Saturday May 11 at Philadelphia’s historic 23rd Street Armory the event will feature the city’s many sights and sounds of the spring season and allow patrons to shop from some of Philadelphia’s best artisans creators and vendors. Tickets are on sale now for $10 as part of a pre-sale discount and will go to $20 on March 20. Tickets will also be sold at the door for an increased price.

The small stone and log buildings along Forbidden Drive have captured the imagination of park users for years. They blend into the surroundings creating a feeling that they have always been part of it. They were constructed as part of a massive improvement project within the Wissahickon, but were intentionally designed to disappear into the valley.  Join Kate Cowing and FOW as she explains the controversy leading up to their construction, the history of the buildings, and then on to the present.  Kate Cowing, AIA, is both an architectural conservator and a registered architect with more than 25 years of

Meeting at Forbidden Drive & Bells Mill Road This Saturday we’re shaking things up and running a volunteer service day for women of the Wissahickon! We welcome cis and trans women & girls, as well as people of other gender identities who feel most aligned with this group. We ask that men interested in volunteering find other ways to enjoy the park on this date and join us for another service day in the future! We’ll be working on trail improvements along the popular Monster Trail (northern terminus of the Yellow Trail) which will be led by an all-female team.

Meet at North Mt. Pleasant Place Trailhead Join Debbie and Jim as we hike the Wissahickon in May. This will be at least the 5th FOW hike (not all ours) that goes past the frog pond. It’s fun to go from not seeing them, to seeing tadpoles, to seeing frogs. And we’ll see what the frogs are up to on the last day of May. We will also visit the site of one of the largest mills in colonial North America, walk through a work of art, and see some interesting rocks and plants. Our 3.5-4 mile route includes some