20s/30s Labor Day Weekend: 4.5-Mile Phoenixville 3-Ravine Hike

The town of Phoenixville was just voted #1 Small Town in America by Travel/Leisure magazine because of its charming combination of restaurants, breweries, shops and nearby hiking/biking trails. It is located about 25 miles NW of Philadelphia.

***To learn the trip meeting location and register for this event, go to the AMC activities site: https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UUN000001ZuoL/act00015517. ***

Our 4.5-mile hike starts just outside of Phoenixville, in Mont Clare, PA. We will walk a short distance onto the Neil Thorpe trail, the first of 3 ravine trails that intersect the Schuylkill River trail. We will exit the Neil Thorpe trail via the Ravine #2 trail. Both trails are shady dirt paths that include short, steep elevations, a few small stream crossings and a ridge overlook of the Schuylkill River.

We will leave the ravine to visit the Schuylkill Valley Nature Center, a small, local animal sanctuary that contains wild and domesticated animals. There, we can relax at a picnic table and enjoy snacks and conversation. From the nature center, we will take another dirt path that leads to the paved, Ravine 3 trail that returns us to the Schuylkill River trail for our return to the parking lot. The hike has a total elevation of 400ft.

After the hike, there is an optional lunch (with parking) at Lock 29 restaurant, which is at the entrance to Tow Path Rd.

The trails may be muddy after a rain, so wear sturdy walking shoes or boots (sandals are not recommended). Depending on the time of day, it can be buggy. Consider wearing pants because we will hit patches of low overgrowth on the trails. Bring a hiking pole if you want additional support. Layer clothing according to the temperatures and be prepared with water and a snack. Poor weather conditions may cancel the hike, so check the trip posting before departing.

Please note: In order to comply with Pennsylvania Youth Protection Laws, all children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or a legal guardian. This policy applies for all events offered by the Delaware Valley Chapter as well as any other Chapter events within the state of Pennsylvania.

This is intended to be a 20s/30s affinity trip, but everyone is welcome. If you do not identify with that group, we trust that you have reviewed our allyship criteria, have done your due diligence to educate yourself, and have committed to abide by our Code of Conduct. If you have questions, please contact the trip leader(s) by emailing them for more information.