The Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) are leading free hikes in Wissahickon Valley Park this spring led by FOW Trail Ambassadors.
Here is a list of upcoming hikes:
Meanderings in the Wissahickon with Shelly Brick
Find out what's happening in Chestnut Hill-Mt. Airywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
March 17, 2 pm. Meet at Kitchens Lane parking lot.
April 8 at 2 pm. Meet at Chestnut Hill Avenue entrance to the park.
Find out what's happening in Chestnut Hill-Mt. Airywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
April 28, 1 pm. Meet at Livezey Lane, Allens Lane and Wayne Avenue intersection.
May 20, 2 pm. Meet at Rex Avenue entrance to the park.
June 16, 1 pm. Meet at Kitchens Lane entrance parking area.
Enjoy our park and "talk stories" as we explore the Wissahickon trails. Pace will be set by the group. Hikes last 1 1/2 to two hours. Children younger than seven are welcome if they are hikers. Bring water.
Waters of the Wissahickon with Diane Garvey: March 18, 1 to 3 p.m.
Meet at Northwest Equestrian Facility on Northwestern Ave. Difficulty: moderate. Length: Two-plus miles. Walk downstream on the orange trail to Covered Bridge, back on Wissahickon Drive. Waterproof shoes recommended. Will measure how much and how fast the water flows and look at turbulent and laminar flow of creek. Test tube experiments will be conducted to measure stream water quality. Learn about sources of pollution in the Wissahickon and its prevention. Binoculars recommended for birding. Ideal for families and homeschoolers six years & older accompanied by a responsible adult. More information is available at Diane@GarveyResources.com.
Winding up Winter by Winding Through the Gorge with Scott Quitel: March 24, 9 a.m.
Meet at the junction of Hortter Street and Park Line Drive. Duration: Three hours. Look for early signs of spring as we get a good feel of the Wissahickon Gorge on this rigorous hike. Traversing sections of several different park trails, we pass Climber's Rock, the Fingerspan, a cool cave, Baptismal Pool, Mom Rinker's Rock, Toleration Statue, awesome geology, and a schist barren topped by mountain laurel, blueberry, and craggy chestnut oak. More information at squitel@comcast.net
Geology Hike with Sarah West: March 24 from 3 to 4:45 p.m.
Meet at Valley Green Inn. Length: 1.5 miles along a rough, steep trail on the east side of the creek upstream from Valley Green. Can be slippery or muddy in places. Will discuss the likely formation of Wissahickon rocks as the result of plate tectonics and identify several different types. Suitable for children over 10 accompanied by a responsible adult. Bring water and sturdy footwear. More information: westsarah@aol.com.
Lower Wissahickon with Scott Quitel: April 7 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Meet at the RittenhouseTown parking lot. Mildly strenuous hike. Will explore interesting sections of the less travelled lower Park, visit Lover’s Leap and Hermit’s Cave. People will take in breathtaking views, see ancient boulders and gnarly, old chestnut oaks. Will also traverse one of the more secluded side trails in the Park. More information: squitel@comcast.net.
Wildflower Walk with Don Simon: April 28 from 10 a.m. to noon
Meet at Valley Green Inn. Difficulty: Easy to moderate, depending on where the wildflowers are located. Will identify spring wildflowers which should be in bloom in the Wissahickon, such as trout lilies, may apple, spring beauty, and Solomon's seal. Bring a wildflower field guide if you have one.
An Overview of the Wissahickon with Peter Lapham: April 29 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Meet at the Warming Shed at Valley Green. Length: 4 miles. Learn about the natural and man-made history of the Wissahickon while walking to Kitchens Lane Bridge on Forbidden Drive and back along the east-bank, orange trail over the Fingerspan Bridge and through Devil's Pool to Valley Green. Pace is casual, but there is some climbing over low rocks on the return trail.
Lower Forbidden Drive with Sarah West: May 19 from 3 to 4:45 p.m.
Meet at the small parking lot where Forbidden Drive meets Lincoln Drive, a short distance downstream from RittenhouseTown. This hike is about one mile along lower Forbidden Drive on level ground and extends as far as the Walnut Lane Bridge. It will look at two historical sites connected to the Revolutionary War era, including the Henry Rittenhouse Mill foundation. See the Blue Stone Bridge, the foundation of the Lotus Inn, and discuss the history of the Wissahickon Turnpike, Forbidden Drive, and the Walnut Lane Bridge. Children with a responsible adult are welcome. More information: westsarah@aol.com.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
