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
8
Freewalkers Lewes Delaware Getaway Weekend
Lewes Ferry terminal, 43 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, DE, USExperience walking around historic Lewes and the lower Delaware peninsula. Join us for one day or two days; your choice. Total mileage for the weekend is up to 27 miles - you decide how much you want to do.
Please register for FREE to attend.
THIS IS A FREE EVENT.
You can drive directly to Lewes or leave your car in Cape May and cruise on a beautiful 90-minute ferry ride. Free parking at the ferry terminal on both sides.Ferry departs Saturday morning from Cape May to Lewes at 10:30 AM. You must be at the Cape May terminal by 10 am at the latest (or earlier) and bring your ID (driver's license or other government issued ID with your photo). You can park your car in Cape May and board as a foot passenger, or you can bring your car on the ferry. If you choose to bring your car you must reserve it ahead of time. Find more details here-https://www.cmlf.com
Saturday: Meet us at 12:15 PM in the ferry terminal lobby.
Walk 6-10 miles with us (or on your own). Explore the shops and eateries downtown, visit the Canal front park and Marina area. Walk the trails through Cape Henlopen State Park. Visit Fort Miles and stroll along the shore. If you're staying in Lewes, time to check in to your hotel. Dinner with the group or on your own. TBD.Sunday: Meet us at 8 AM in the ferry terminal lobby.
Walk a 17-mile loop from the ferry terminal in Lewes to Rehoboth on the Gordons Pond Trail through Cape Henlopen State Park and Junction Breakwater Trail.Where to stay: There are a few charming small hotels and several BnB's in the area. It's off season so hopefully prices are somewhat reasaonble.
There are camping options as well. For more information: http://destateparks.com, or call - 302 645 8983. If you're interested in camping out, make your reservations here: https://destateparks.com/Reservations/Cabins.Group Dinner Sat. Night: Depending on how many join us we might be able to plan a group dinner (your own tab) on Sat night. We will survey the group a week or so prior to the event to determine if this is doable. If not, there are amazing restaurants in the area to choose from - something for everyone.
Return Trip: If you choose to return on Sunday, there is a later ferry at 7:45 pm and sometimes one at 6:15 as well...TBD.
Terrain: Sidewalk, flat trails, beach.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate depending on how far you choose to walk.
Pace: 3-3.5 MPH.
Category: Seashore, state park trail, historic area and scenic.
Coordinators: Ed Purcell (elandedpur@gmail.com) and Ilene Silver (rudy99_1999@yahoo.com.
Questions? Email info@freewalkers.org or once you've registered you can email via Eventbrite as well.
FreeWalkers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization led by volunteers and supported by your donations. Thank you.
2 attendees
FreeWalkers Marathon -- Philadelphia (Fairmount Park)
The Porch at 30th Street Station, 2955 Market Street, SE corner of 30th and Market Streets, Philadelphia , PA, USOur most diverse and scenic walk of the year. A FreeWalkers favorite!
Please register for FREE to attend.
Start: Porch at 30th St Station
Finish: Chestnut Hill West Station
Distance: 13-26mi
Where to find us: Outside south side of station
Optional endpoints:- East Falls Station, Highland Station and numerous other mass transit options
Terrain: paved, gravel, grass
Transit: Amtrak, Megabus, NJTransit AC and NJTransit/Septa connections to 30th Street Station
Return: SEPTA train
Parking: Many nearby garages and lots. Try 3101 Market St or Cira South Garage
Difficulty: Average / Advanced
Category: nature, history, urban, scenic
Coordinator: Charles Updike, 916-225-0569## An Autumn Walk in the Park
### 26.2 miles (or 13.1 miles) from 30th St Station to Chestnut Hill through Fairmount Park and the Wissahickon Valley.
Walk the entire breadth of the city through the largest landscaped city park in the world, Fairmount Park, with the autumn colors at their peak along the Schuylkill River Trail and Forbidden Drive along the Wissahickon Creek.
In the early 19th century, the Wissahickon was a hub for small industry, due to its steady water flow for powering mills. When industry moved downtown, the area was preserved to protect the water supply for the region, producing an environment that became world renowned for its beauty and inspired the works of Walt Whitman, John Greenleaf Whittier, Edgar Allen Poe, Christopher Morley, and Currier and Ives. Forbidden Drive is so named for its prohibition of all motor vehicles. The Wissahickon Valley has a stillness untouched by time, strange for one of the world's larger cities, and is surely Philadelphia's best kept secret, offering as appealing a walking route as is available for a hundred miles around.
"The Wissahickon is of so remarkable a loveliness that, were it flowing in England, it would be the theme of every bard." -- Poe"Some of my happiest hours have been spent there, some of my freest hours." -- Whitman
Our journey begins at 30th Street Station, with convenient connections to Septa, NJ Transit, Amtrak and Megabus. The walk ends in the tony main-street neighborhood of Chestnut Hill, where we shall meet for eats and libations, with two train stations available to carry us back to 30th Street. Easy gravel and paved terrain, with very few road crossings after one leaves Center City. Two snack bars with nearby bathrooms assist along the way.The half-marathon route is a shortest-distance trek along the Schuylkill and Wissahickon. The full route provides a broad and meandering treatment of all of the many highlights of sprawling Fairmount Park, along with visits to the places of debate and worship of our founding fathers, the site of the 1876 Centennial Exposition, the world's tallest masonry building, dozens of works of public art, and the nation's most pioneering and pedestrian-friendly cemetery, replete with graves of countless war heroes, inventors, tycoons and even local icons like Harry Kalas and Rocky's Adrian Balboa.
### MARATHON WALK Highlights
- University of Pennsylvania
- Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk
- Rittenhouse Square
- Washington Square
- Independence Hall
- Carpenters Hall
- Spruce Street Harbor Park
- Penns Landing
- Christ Church
- City Hall
- Logan Circle
- Ben Franklin Parkway
- Art Museum steps
- Fairmount Waterworks
- Boathouse Row
- Kelly Drive
- Memorial Hall
- Japanese House and Garden
- Belmont Plateau
- Strawberry Mansion Bridge
- Laurel Hill Cemetery
- Falls Bridge
- Wissahickon Creek
- Battle of Germantown
- Forbidden Drive
- Valley Green Inn
- Magarge Dam
- Covered bridge
- Chestnut Hill
### HALF-MARATHON Highlights
- Fairmount Waterworks
- Boathouse Row
- Kelly Drive
- Falls Bridge
- Wissahickon Creek
- Battle of Germantown
- Forbidden Drive
- Valley Green Inn
- Magarge Dam
- Covered bridge
- Chestnut Hill
Partners:
The East Coast Greenway Alliance is a non-profit organization developing a public multi-use 3,000 mile trail from Canada to Key West through New Jersey and New York. Donations and memberships help make this dream trail a reality.
Circuit Trails is 800 miles of interconnected trails in Greater Philadelphia in the making, already one of America's largest trail networks. Once connected, the Circuit Trails will be one of the nation's premier urban trail networks and it will provide multiple benefits to neighborhoods, communities and the region as a whole.
More about FreeWalkers:
Our calendar of walks and hikes | About FreeWalkers | Walker stories | Walking tips
New Jersey walks | Pennsylvania walks | New York City walks
1 attendee
Robert F Kennedy 100th Birthday 50-mile Walking Challenge (Washington DC)
Farragut Square, 17th and K St NW, Washington, DC, USJoin FreeWalkers in celebrating the birthday of a man who walked 50 miles for his country, and inspired the FreeWalkers movement. Visit his grave, workplace, neighborhood and much of greater DC.
Please register for FREE to attend.
Start: Farragut Square
Finish: Farragut Square
Distance: 50mi: 30 miles on Saturday and 20 on Sunday
Where to find us: Near 17th and K Sts
Optional endpoints: Many metro and transit stops; walk one or both days
Mini: 10K tour
Terrain: paved and gravel
Transit: Metro to Farragut Square from Union Staion
Return: each day's loop starts and finishes at Farragut Square
Parking: Many options including Colonial Parking on K Street between 17th and 18th
Difficulty: Advanced
Category: history, urban, nature
Coordinator: Charles UpdikeRFK 100th Birthday Walking Challenge with FreeWalkers
Lace up your walking shoes and prepare for an unforgettable weekend that blends historical tribute, physical challenge, and the sheer joy of putting one foot in front of the other! This November, as we celebrate the 100th birthday of Robert F. Kennedy, FreeWalkers invites you to honor his legendary spirit of determination and public service through an extraordinary walking adventure right through the heart of our nation's capital.In February 1963, with the snow falling steadily on the nation's capital, the Cold War is at its peak, and President John F. Kennedy has just challenged the Marines to prove their fitness by completing a 50-mile march in one day, upgrading Theodore Roosevelt's original 1908 order that required the same distance over three days. When JFK jokingly suggested his staff might want to take on the challenge too, his brother Robert didn't see it as a joke at all.
What happened next became the stuff of legend. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, wearing nothing but Oxford loafers on his feet and armed with zero preparation or training, set out on a 50-mile trek from just outside Washington, DC, all the way to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. Accompanied by his massive Newfoundland dog Brumis and a handful of brave colleagues, Bobby trudged through snow and slush in temperatures well below freezing. When his companions dropped out one by one, the last leaving him around mile 35, Kennedy reportedly told him, "You're lucky your brother isn't president of the United States."
This incredible feat of determination sparked a nationwide obsession with extreme walking and hiking, inspiring ordinary Americans across the country to take on their own challenges. And among those inspired was a teenager named Paul Kiczek, who attempted his own 50-mile walk that very year from Roselle to Netcong, New Jersey, with a few friends. Though they only made it 38 miles before giving up after 12 hours, the experience left an indelible mark.
Fast-forward to 2010, and Kiczek decided to take another shot at that elusive 50-mile goal. But this time, he had a bigger vision. Working with the East Coast Greenway Alliance, he organized the first Big Walk 2010, and magic happened. Over seventy participants showed up for what would become the inaugural FreeWalkers event, and everyone who participated absolutely loved it. It turned out to be the perfect blend of tough yet accessible physical and mental challenge.
From that single event, FreeWalkers was born: an organization that has grown from Paul's personal walking obsession into a thriving community of thousands of members participating in dozens of free walking events each year. Now celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2025, FreeWalkers continues to ask the same question that drove that first adventure: "Can we do more than we think we can? What exactly are our limits?"
Your RFK Centennial Challenge Awaits
Walk up to fifty miles with us over two days, with each day's walk constituting a loop starting and ending at Farragut Square in Washington, not far from the White House. We will walk thirty miles on Saturday, beginning with a 10K tour of DC and Arlington in honor of RFK, and including some great towpath and trail walking, along with a walk past Bobby's home and a late lunch stop in McLean. Sunday's walk of twenty miles will take us through Georgetown and Rock Creek Park, with a lunch stop in Bethesda.Plan for hotel, dining and parking near Farragut Square
Farragut Square, designed by Pierre L'Enfant himself in 1791, is a downtown hub sitting at the center of a bustling daytime district filled with the energy. On the weekends, it affords plenty of breathing room and a wide range of dining and lodging options nearby, along with Metro connections serving the region.FreeWalks are completely free and open to the public. Whether you're a seasoned ultra-distance walker or someone who just enjoys a good weekend stroll, there's a perfect challenge waiting for you. All you need to bring is water, comfortable walking shoes, and the same spirit of adventure that drove a determined Attorney General to walk 50 miles in loafers through a February snowstorm.
Come discover what you're capable of. Come honor a legacy of public service. Come walk with us into history, one step at a time. Register now and prepare for a weekend that will remind you why sometimes the most extraordinary journeys begin with the simple decision to start walking and are fulfilled by a determination to challenge yourself.
As Bobby Kennedy proved in 1963, and as FreeWalkers has been proving since 2010, we really can do more than we think we can.Highlights:
Department of Justice
White House
Capitol
Washington Monument
Lincoln Memorial
MLK Memorial
Tidal Basin
Arlington Cemetery
Marine Corps War Memorial
Francis Scott Key Bridge
Georgetown
Washington Old Dominion Trail
C&O Canal
Rock Creek Park
American University
Capital Crescent Trail
Bethesda
and more...Partners:
The East Coast Greenway Alliance is a non-profit organization developing a public multi-use 3,000 mile trail from Canada to Key West through New Jersey and New York. Donations and memberships help make this dream trail a reality.More about FreeWalkers:
Our calendar of walks and hikes | About FreeWalkers | Walker stories | Walking tips
New Jersey walks | Pennsylvania walks | New York City walks1 attendee
Robert F Kennedy 100th Birthday 10K Walking Tour (Washington DC)
Farragut Square, 17th and K St NW, Washington, DC, USJoin FreeWalkers in celebrating the birthday of a man who walked 50 miles for his country. Visit his grave, workplace and all of the highlights of central DC.
Please register for FREE to attend.
Start: Farragut Square
Finish: Arlington Cemetery
Distance: 6.2mi
Where to find us: Near 17th and K Sts
Optional endpoints: You may continue to walk with the group beyond the 10K
Mini: 10K tour
Terrain: paved
Transit: Metro to Farragut Square from Union Station
Return: Metro from Arlington to Farragut or elsewhere
Parking: Many options including Colonial Parking on K Street between 17th and 18th
Difficulty: Beginner
Category: history, urban
Coordinator: Charles UpdikeRemember and celebrate the legacy of Bobby Kennedy with an event that is perfect for walking enthusiasts ready to dip their toes into the FreeWalkers experience! Start at bustling Farragut Square—conveniently located near multiple Metro stops with Farragut North on the Red Line and Farragut West on the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines—and embark on a guided historical tour through the heart of Washington. This approximately 6-mile journey concludes at Arlington National Cemetery, where you can pay respects to Robert Kennedy himself and countless other American heroes. When you're ready to return, simply hop on the Metro for an easy ride back to Farragut Square or your destination of choice.
Highlights:
Department of Justice
White House
Capitol
Washington Monument
Lincoln Memorial
MLK Memorial
Tidal Basin
Arlington CemeteryPartners:
The East Coast Greenway Alliance is a non-profit organization developing a public multi-use 3,000 mile trail from Canada to Key West through New Jersey and New York. Donations and memberships help make this dream trail a reality.More about FreeWalkers:
Our calendar of walks and hikes | About FreeWalkers | Walker stories | Walking tips
New Jersey walks | Pennsylvania walks | New York City walks1 attendee
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