About us
**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
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Underground Railroad FreeWalk: Philadelphia Firstival
Love Park, 16th and JFK Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, USWalking history tour of Underground Railroad and related sites in the city of Philadelphia
Start: Love Park, 16th and JFK, near Suburban Station
Finish: Love Park
**Distance:**7mi
Where to find us: near 16th and JFK
Optional endpoints: Many
Mini: 10K (6mi) loop back to Love Park
Terrain: paved
Transit: Septa to Suburban Station
Return: Septa Regional Rail
Parking: Love Park, Family Court Building, nearby garages
Difficulty: Beginner
Category: history, urban, theme
Coordinator: Charles Updike
Please register for free.
Travel on foot as many Underground passengers did, learn about the history of the abolitionist movement in Philadelphia that helped to spawn the Underground Railroad, and the local routes moving people through the Philadelphia region, and finish with a visit to the African American Museum, admission not included, with special Philly250 events taking place, perhaps a late lunch stop for those interested, and return to the start.
Further details to come.
Highlights:
- Octavio Catto memorial
- Paschall Alley
- St Georges Church
- Arch Street Wharf
- Front and Market
- Anthony Benezet Home
- Lucretia Mott home
- Pennsylvania Hall
- Liberty Bell
- President's house
- Washington Square
- Mother Bethel AME Church
- James Forten House
- William Still house
- W E B DuBois mural
- Frances Ellen Watkins Harper House
- African American Museum
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
1 attendee
Past events
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