What we're about
Hiking Around Philly is different from most hiking groups because we hike off the beaten path. We hike in the woods and the city. We go places that won't be found on any hiker's map. The events are usually within a 1.5 hour drive from Philly, though we sometimes visit NYC or the Jersey shore.
And, we do a lot more than hike, we explore. Whether it be a trail in a park or a back alley in the city, we always look for neat things, and we find them. Did you notice the 25 foot dinosaur made from pink suntan lotion bottles? The thousand year old church in North Philly? I take time to appreciate a beautiful tree, a low flying eagle, or a hickory horned devil (look it up). We sometimes visit museums, historic houses, bakeries, battleships, and other neat places. I appreciate architecture, sculptures (Philly has more than any other US city, yea!), or whatever we find near our path. After a hike we often eat at a special place, I'm a real foodie. And, we rarely repeat ourselves.
My travel experience probably adds up to 2 years on the road. Many of my trips were summer long bicycle tours though the Rockies, down the West Coast from Vancouver to San Francisco, through Europe from London to Amsterdam via France, Switzerland, Austria, & Germany. My on-foot trips took me to major cities of the world like London, Edinburgh, Paris, Rome, Munich, Salzburg, Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Boston, NYC, Montreal, Ottawa, Victoria, Seattle, Portland, San Diego, etc. Up to about 12 years ago there was one nearby city that I never explored: my hometown Philadelphia. And, it's a great city and great area for hiking. Maybe better than all the other ones mentioned.
We hike at a brisk pace. These hikes are what I used to consider as days off from half marathon training. No races for me now. The hiking is great fun. Most hikes started as explorations of an interesting area, looking for cool routes. We found dead ends as well as cool places. Though we nailed down fun routes at 50 different places, we're still exploring, looking for interesting, better, hidden and different.
Rather than event fees, there usually is a calendar year fee of around $20 for 300 plus hikes. See details for each event.
I started the Hiking Around Philly Meetup group to have fun hiking and socializing with people. At my own discretion, members who habitually interfere with these objectives and no-shows will be removed.
GENERAL RULES : ••Hike at my pace and stay with the group. ••Hike lengths are approx: allow 30min -1hr extra on your schedule. PLEASE be considerate, the following is frowned upon: ••Going at a faster or slower pace. ••Changing rsvp within 24 hours of an event. ••Not showing up & not paying. ••Leaving the hike early. ••Providing unsolicited advice. ••Being argumentative, authoritative, or unpleasant.
Upcoming events (4+)
2-3 hours walking, 8-12 miles, usually we walk to restaurant, eat, then walk for 2 more hours. Limit is pandemic precaution and we usually eat at small restaurants. We walk at a brisk pace.
I've been leading hikes in Center City for over 10 years and have gone almost everywhere. From the alleyways in Old City and the Historic area to The Navy Yard, Bridesburg, Ben Franklin Bridge, UPenn, Fairmount Park, Girard College, Girard Estates, Eastern State Pen, or Graffiti Pier, St Johns The Less, Laurel Hill East and West Cemeteries, Forgotten Bottom, Devil's Pocket, Swampoodle, etc. If we go to far, sometimes we take public transportation back. Each walk is a different adventure.
PARKING
Usually I park on Sedgely St across Kelly Drive from Lloyd Hall then walk to meetup spot. 1.3 miles from Logan Hotel. It's always possible to find paid parking closer. Sometimes I take the train to Suburban Station which is only 1 block from Logan Hotel.
GENERAL RULES : ••Hike at my pace. ••Hike lengths are approx: allow 30min -1hr extra. PLEASE be considerate, the following is frowned upon: ••Leaving early.••Providing unsolicited advice. ••Being unpleasant.••Newbies can attend a few of the free hikes, then pay the calendar year fee of $20 for ~300 hikes, $30 couple ••Option to pay $5/hike. ••Pay in person or at mrbasketball.net/HIKEpay.html . Thanks.
- Sidney G
- Michael C
- Paul T.
- 3 attendees
1.5-2 hours walk, brisk pace, Wissahickon and Chestnut Hill,
Chestnut Hill with it's mansions and gardens and the Wissahickon with 55 miles of trails are the gem of the city. After exciting trips abroad or out West, I can take a fresh look around when I arrive home. Probably not so uncommon. I always think: this is a great place to live and explore. Join me for different explorations in an area I have lived for 40 years, still adore, and find new stuff every day.
There are zillions of places to see like: the Historic French Village, reminiscent of architecture in the Normandy region of France,George Washington's Ancestral Home; the Buttercup Farm Barn Ruins, Historic Glen Fern, Druim Moir, The Ghotto, Fingerspan, Tedyeskium, Andorra Natural Area, Valley Green, Devil's Pool, The Wissahickon Inn, Louis Kahn Esherick House, The Philadelphia Cricket Club, dozens of palatial mansions with beautiful gardens, hidden foundations of houses and mills, Fingerspan helicopter bridge, Ten Pan, Rittenhouse Mill and house, Cedar House, Woodward Horse Farm, etc, etc, etc. History and beauty in every direction. Sometimes we have been invited in for tours.
Each hike is different.
Besides the beautiful and varied architecture of houses and arboretum type landscaping, we can experience an unobstructed sunset over the Wissahickon gorge.
GENERAL RULES : ••Hike at my pace. ••Hike lengths are approx: allow 30min -1hr extra. PLEASE be considerate, the following is frowned upon: ••Leaving early.••Providing unsolicited advice. ••Being unpleasant.••Newbies can attend a few of the free hikes, then pay the calendar year fee of $20 for ~300 hikes, $30 couple ••Option to pay $5/hike. ••Pay in person or at mrbasketball.net/HIKEpay.html . Thanks.
- Sidney G
- Jennifer O.
- Valentin P.
- 3 attendees
Upper Gwynedd Township Administration
3.5-4 hours, 9-12 miles, brisk pace, small hills, beautiful trails along Wissahickon
The Green Ribbon Trail running along the Wissahickon has many spots with world class views that are breathtaking. I love the views from high on the banks of water bubbling over the rocks as it flows towards the Schuylkill. I love the snaking of the trail around bridges, houses, and other streams. Breathtaking, cool, and right here in the Philly area. No need to spend lots of money to travel elsewhere to see something "out of sight."
And we've come across a wide variety of wildlife including deer and birds including red tailed hawks. One hawk looked like a golden eagle but that could not be. Maybe just a large red tail. Another looked like an osprey. An expert might give a better answer.
Along our route there are about 5 other parks with trails that we sometimes explore including Gwynedd Preserve, Penllyn Woods, Penllyn Preserve, and the Crossway Trails. We sometimes visit the Evans-Mumbower Mill.
Carpooling
To carpool from Hill House (201 W Evergreen Ave, Phila) meet 45 minutes before the event. Carpool time changes if hike time changes. Text me [masked]) 3-4 days in advance.
GENERAL RULES : ••Hike at my pace. ••Hike lengths are approx: allow 30min -1hr extra. PLEASE be considerate, the following is frowned upon: ••Leaving early.••Providing unsolicited advice. ••Being unpleasant.••Newbies can attend a few of the free hikes, then pay the calendar year fee of $20 for ~300 hikes, $30 couple ••Option to pay $5/hike. ••Pay in person or at mrbasketball.net/HIKEpay.html . Thanks.
- Sidney G
- Judith G.
- Christine S.
- 4 attendees
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
4 hours, 9-11 miles, beautiful area, mostly trails in park, Hopewell Furness historic site visit possible, lunch halfway at St Peters Bakery, vintage pinball parlor down the street.
We meet next to the National Park Visitors Center in Historic Hopewell Furnace Village which has a large parking area. Nice bathrooms. The historic village itself is worth exploring. We usually skip this. Structures include a restored blast furnace, 20 foot long bellows to heat the furness (powered by the the mill), workers cottages, a farm with animals, barn, and the estate mansion. All are open. Sometimes they have historic reenactments and demonstrations. You could easily visit for 1-2 hours. There is also an historic cemetery on our route where Furness workers are interred.
The Pinball Bakery Hike takes us south through Crows Nest Preserve, which is one of the nicest areas I've hiked to St Peters Village. Besides the super St Peters Bakery which has great sandwiches and baked goods, there is a vintage Pinball Parlor. There are over 30 pinball machines and other vintage arcade games which cost about 25 cents for 2 game.
Carpooling
Carpooling To carpool from Hill House (201 W Evergreen Ave, Phila) meet 1 hour 15 minutes before the event. Carpool time changes if hike time changes. Text me [masked]) 3-4 days in advance.
GENERAL RULES : ••Hike at my pace. ••Hike lengths are approx: allow 30min -1hr extra. PLEASE be considerate, the following is frowned upon: ••Leaving early.••Providing unsolicited advice. ••Being unpleasant.••Newbies can attend a few of the free hikes, then pay the calendar year fee of $20 for ~300 hikes, $30 couple ••Option to pay $5/hike. ••Pay in person or at mrbasketball.net/HIKEpay.html . Thanks.
- Sidney G
- mel
- Nina I.
- 4 attendees
Past events (3,351)
- Sidney G
- Dinesh K.
- Marie D.
- 4 attendees
