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- Walk the City: Van Cortlandt Park to Tarrytown and Untemyer Gardens!Needs location
Meetup friends:
This is a very special 15-mile walk through city streets and beautiful parks ending in Tarrytown, NY - a lovely small town.
All details and registration here: Eventbrite link where you will find all the details for the day.This may seem unusual, but it's going to be a big group and we'd like to keep the roster all in once place.
- Roebling Ramble - walking history tourRoebling Light Rail Station, Florence, NJ
Visit the Roebling factory town, museum, gravesite and wireworks, and the newly completed rail trail segment.
Please register for FREE to attend.
Start: Roebling Light Rail Station
Finish: Trenton Transit Center
Distance: 14mi
Return: RiverLine light rail
Coordinator: Charles Updike
Transit: Transfer from NJTransit or Septa at Trenton to RiverLine light rail across the street.
**Optional endpoints:**Bordentown light rail, Cass St light rail## A Trail That Bridges History
### 12 mile walk from Roebling Station to Trenton Transit Center along the Delaware River Heritage Trail
Arrive by 11am to visit the museum.
Walk begins at noon.
Explore the legacy of a man who came to New Jersey with a passion for a peculiar idea that transformed American transportation. Enjoy a rapidly advancing trail through South Jersey. Walk through what remains of Roebling's original plant and through one of its buildings. Attend the largest art show turned block party around and view the work of nearly 2,000 artists. Tap into Trenton's live music scene and food truck cuisine. Be a part of our only FreeWalk of the year in South Jersey and what may be our most vigorously thematic event.
John Augustus Roebling came to Trenton from western Pennsylvania in 1848 as a canal engineer with an idea to replace hemp rope with wire rope in public infrastructure, and gave birth to the age of the modern suspension bridge. He died of injuries suffered during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, but his family carried on the business expertly, ultimately requiring expansion beyond their Trenton facility to satellite locations including Roebling, NJ.
Our journey begins at the light rail station in Roebling, where you may take a tour at the Roebling Museum across the street from 11am until noon. At noon, we will exit the museum and begin our walk through the factory housing of Roebling and proceed along the Heritage Trail through Crystal Lake Park and historic Bordentown. A wooded trail through Roebling Park takes us past the burial site of John Roebling and into Trenton. There, a walk through Trenton history spelled out at our feet delivers us north to Chambersburg. In Chambersburg, we will visit several of the original Roebling buildings before reaching the train station a few blocks away.
Those travelling south via rail into Trenton will likely have a half-hour layover during which breakfast can be had within the station at Dunkin, McDonalds or Pizza Grill. Exit the south end of the station and cross the street to board the light rail.
Roebling bridges we have walked:- Brooklyn Bridge
- George Washington Bridge
- Lumberville–Raven Rock Bridge
Highlights
- Roebling Museum tour
- Roebling factory town
- Roebling Carnival
- Crystal Lake Park
- Delaware River Heritage Trail
- Historic Bordentown
- John A Roebling Park
- John A Roebling gravesite
- South River Walk
- Upper Chambersburg
- Roebling's Trenton plant
### Schedule:
FOR THOSE ATTENDING MUSEUM
9:46 Southbound train arrives in Trenton
10:14 Depart on light rail to Roebling
10:30 Train arrives in Roebling
10:45 Orientation
11:00 Museum video and tour
FOR THOSE JUST WALKING
10:46 Southbound train arrives in Trenton
11:14 Depart on light rail to Roebling
11:30 Train arrives in Roebling
12:00 Walk to museum, assemble group and depart
2:00 Lunch break option in Bordentown
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
- Old Philly Trolley Walk: Fishtown to ManayunkLove Park, Philadelphia, PA
Explore two of the most colorful neighborhoods in Philadelphia on foot and take a ride back in time on the 1940's trolley with us.
Please register for FREE to attend.
Start: Love Park at 16th and JFK
Finish: Manayunk Station
Distance: 12mi
Where to find us: Near 16th and JFK
Optional endpoints: Broad and Girard(6mi), with a short walk back to the start
Mini: to Broad and Girard(6mi)
Terrain: paved
Transit: Septa to Suburban Station
Return: Septa Regional Rail
Parking: Love Park, Family Court Building, or nearby garages
Difficulty: Beginner
Category: urban, scenic
Coordinator: Charles UpdikeToday we're going to party like it's 1949. Take a walking tour of Fishtown and Manayunk, two of the city's most popular and revived neighborhoods, with a stop for food at each. In between, experience a scenic twenty-five minute trolley ride on a restored Philly trolley from the 1940's. Hang out afterwards in Manayunk with us for eats and libation as we wait for the train back to town.
Highlights:
- Reading Viaduct Rail Park
- Fishtown
- Restored 1947 Philadelphia trolley
- Fairmount Park
- Cynwyd Trail
- Manayunk
Partners:
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 - Grounds For Sculpture Walk - Princeton Junction to Hamilton NJPrinceton Jct., Princeton Junction, NJ
Local history, a walk in the park, tour of a mansion, and the most amazing sculptural garden around.
Please register for FREE to attend.
Start: Princeton Junction Station
Finish: Hamilton Station
Distance: 16mi
Return: rail
Coordinator: Charles Updike
Transit: NJTransit train to Princeton Jct
A fun journey! Princeton Junction to Hamilton station, with trip through the trails of Mercer County Park, a visit to an historic mansion, and dozens of public sculptural works and the option of joining us in a visit to Grounds for Sculpture at the end. Registrants will be given instructions about ticket reservation for Grounds For Sculpture.
Highlights:
- Nash Park
- Dutch Neck
- Mercer County Park
- Kuser Farm Park and Mansion
- Grounds for SculptureMore about FreeWalkers:
Our calendar of walks and hikes | About FreeWalkers | Walker stories | Walking tips
New Jersey walks | Pennsylvania walks | New York City walks
