What we’re about
FreeWalkers.org is a social network dedicated to exploring life on foot, for walkers and hikers interested in participating in long-distance walking events in the Mid-Atlantic region. Membership is free and open to everyone. We support each member's effort to reach their own goals of fitness and enjoyment as we walk together, explore our surroundings, and promote pro-pedestrian interests.
FreeWalkers has thousands of members and hosts dozens of long-distance walking events each year in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York, as well as many in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. Most walks are supported by mass transit for easy access and return, and are between ten and fifty miles in length. Some walks are longer multi-day or shorter distance events. We have all kinds of walks, but we are most known for our longer distance walking events. Some of our walks offer shorter 5k to 10k options.
Walkers are free to move at their own pace and distance. It is not necessary for a walk to be completed or timed, only enjoyed. Our walks expose members to countless locations of scenic beauty, historic importance, and pedestrian convenience, all with the benefit of social support, event organization and the opportunity to engage with interesting fellow walkers.
We are an IRS-approved 501(c)3 non-profit and your tax-free donations help us create free and low-cost walks that are interesting, challenging and open to everyone. We manage multiple regional FreeWalkers groups on Meetup. We do encourage joining freewalkers.org and actively supporting our partners and sponsors who help make these events possible. At our website, you can browse photos of our events, learn about our history and mission, and read about the experiences of some of our walkers.
Look for our many walks every year in greater New York City, many parts of New Jersey including Hudson, Union, Middlesex, Somerset, Union, Morris, Monmouth, Mercer and Burlington County; Southeastern Pennsylvania including Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery County; Delaware and greater Washington DC. Join us on nature hikes, city walks, history walking tours, long-distance walks, scenic walks and themed walking outings.
Why you might like to join the FreeWalkers:
• Did you ever wonder how far you could walk?
• Would you like to know more about the places you walk?
• Are you more interested in accomplishing personal goals than winning a race?
• Are you the type of person who can't pass up an interesting challenge or adventure?
• Have you ever longed to get out of your car and experience what a community is really like?
• Do you believe you spend nearly as many calories walking as running but over a longer period of time?
• Are you looking for a sport where social interaction is possible?
• Are you looking for an alternative exercise routine that's both easy on the body and builds endurance?
We look forward to seeing you at our next event. Walk the Walk! It's good for you, good for us and good for the greater community. Get out there for your first FreeWalk, and you will be glad that you did.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Princeton Loop TourPrinceton Station, Princeton, NJ
Walk in the footsteps of geniuses through campus, town and history.
Start: Princeton Station (in town)
Finish: Princeton Station
Distance: 10mi
Coordinator: Charles Updike
Transit: NJTransit to Princeton Station (transfer to light rail at Princeton Junction).
Please register for free if you plan to attend.
A scenic winter tour of campus, cemetery, battlefield and town, with a little history mixed in.
A casual walk giving full treatment to Princeton New Jersey's offerings, on and off campus. We will visit the site where Washington cemented his gains after crossing the Delaware and assured the Revolution of survival. He will attend the homes and graves and many notable people.
Take the Dinky (the light rail) from Princeton Junction to arrive at the start. If you are coming from north of Princeton, arrive at 9:26am at Princeton Jct and exit to the platform off to your right to transfer to the Dinky, which will leave shortly thereafter. If taking SEPTA, arrive at Trenton at 8:56. From Trenton, take the 8:59 train to Princeton, crossing over to the far platform at Princeton Junction, or take the 606 bus across the street from the Trenton station at 9:01 to Palmer Square and walk to the start.
Highlights:
-Princeton University
-Palmer Square-
Princeton Cemetery-
Grover Cleveland house
-Woodrow Wilson houses
-Einstein's house
-Princeton Battlefield
-Clark House
-Institute for Advanced Study
- Spring Hike: Columbia Trail and Ken Lockwood Gorge75 Main St, High Bridge, NJ
Start and finish: High Bridge Columbia trailhead, 75 Main Street
Distance: 12mi
Where to find us: Parking lot near trailhead
Terrain: paved, flat trail
Return: on foot
Parking: Parking at the start
Difficulty: Average
Category: nature, scenic
Coordinator: TBDBrowse our 2023 calendar of events.
We've done this hike in the summer at night and in the winter in the snow, now we'll do it in the beauty of spring! Park in High Bridge at the trail head. Trail may be muddy so light hiking shoes recommended. Pack a snack/lunch/drink and we will take a break in Califon - a cute country town. There are port-a-johns at the start and midway at picnic grounds. Kids welcome with parents if they can handle the distance. If you start and decide not to do the entire distance, you can turn around and head back on your own. Not a fast pace, but we will keep moving.
Registration Required. Share with friends but be sure to have them register please. Any changes due to weather and you will be notified via Eventbrite.
FreeWalkers shirts, hats and neck gaiters will be available for sale at the start - so arrive early if you'd like to purchase something. Cash, Check or Venmo. - FreeWalkers Spring Weekend of Walking in Bethesda, Md and the area!Hyatt Regency Bethesda, Bethesda, MD
Walk with us on a beautiful Spring weekend in the DC area. We start each day in Bethesda, MD and explore several historic sites, trails and parks of DC and the surrounding areas.
- Day 1 (Sat) is 20 miles and Day 2 (Sun.) is 18 miles. You can choose to shorten these distances to whatever you are comfortable doing (optional end points will be shared before the weekend starts) and you can elect to do one day if you prefer.
Registration on Eventbrite ($25) is required for this event: For all details and to register click on this link: FreeWalkers Spring Weekend in Bethesda, MD. Questions: info@freewalkers.org or reply here.