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
17
Wissahickon Rittenhousetown Walk
Chestnut Hill West Station, 9 West Evergreen Ave, Philadelphia, PA, USPlease register for FREE to attend.
Walk the Wissahickon and find the hidden treasures of Fairmount Park.
Start: Chestnut Hill West Station, Philadelphia
Finish: 30th Street Station, Philadelphia
Distance: 15mi
Optional endpoints: Tulpehocken Station (6mi)
Mini: Tulpehocken Station (6mi)
Terrain: gravel, paved, wooded hiking trails
Transit: At 30th St Station or Center City, take the Chestnut Hill West Line.
Parking: $2 parking in Chestnut Hill.
Difficulty: Average
Category: nature, urban, scenic
Coordinator: Charles Updike
A beautiful walk through nature. Scenic loop exploring the Wissahickon, with a visit to Rittenhousetown and a sweeping view of the Wissahickon Valley atop the Walnut Lane Bridge. Attend the Philly 250 Firstival event at Rittenhousetown
Highlights:
- Mill Covered Bridge
- Magarge Dam
- Valley Green
- Walnut Lane Bridge
- Rittenhouse Town
- Chestnut Hill
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 walksSuggest description
3 attendees
America's Birthday Walking Tours (USA250)
Love Park, 16th and JFK Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, USPlease register for FREE to attend.
Enjoy the holiday weekend events and walk with the FreeWalkers. Walk schedule for both days to be determined, based on event schedule. Details to come!
Start: Love Park (subject to adjustment)
Distance: TBD
Where to find us: 16th and JFK
Mini: all walks
Terrain: paved
Transit: Septa, PATCO
Parking: many options
Difficulty: Beginner
Category: history, urban
Coordinator: Charles UpdikeSome little history tours and fun to fill in the weekend's gaps. Details to come.
Highlights:
- Independence Hall
- Liberty Bell
- Betsy Ross House
- Carpenters Hall
- ... and much more
More about FreeWalkers:
Our calendar of walks and hikes | About FreeWalkers | Walker stories | Walking tips
New Jersey walks | Pennsylvania walks | New York City walks2 attendees
Delaware River Heritage Trail Loop Walk
Franklin Square, 7th and Race Sts, Philadelphia, PA, USPlease register for FREE to attend.
New territory for FreeWalkers to explore along the Delaware!
Start: Franklin Square
Finish: Franklin Square
Distance: 26mi
Where to find us: South end of the square, near Race Street
Optional endpoints: Pennsauken, Tacony
Terrain: paved
Transit: Septa rail or Patco
Parking:
Difficulty: Average
Category: urban, scenic
Coordinator: Charles Updike
Join us for a trip around the lower loop of the Delaware River Heritage Trail, a great exploration, with river views, parks and trail segments.
Highlights:- Ben Franklin Bridge
- Cooper's Poynt Park
- Cramer Hill Park
- Pennsauken
- Tacony Palmyra Bridge
- K&T Trail
- Fishtown
- Penn Treaty Park
- Race Street Pier
This walk is part of the 2026 celebration of the Delaware River Heritage Trail. Join us as we walk the trail on these dates:
May 2: Turnpike Gap Challenge, Bristol to Burlington
Aug 15: Delaware River Heritage Trail Loop Walk
(Philadelphia, Camden, Pennsauken, Palmyra, Tacony, Port Richmond)
Aug 29: Lower Bucks Loop Walk, Levittown to Bristol, Fairless Hills
Sep 5: Roebling Ramble, Roebling to Trenton
Sep 26: Burlington Heritage Trail Walk, Burlington to Palmyra
Oct 3: 17.76 mile Heritage Trail Freedom Walk, Philly and Camden
Oct 17: Bristol Stomp, Bristol to TrentonPartners:
The Delaware River Heritage Trail is a scenic multi-use pathway loop highlighting the cultural and natural resources along the upper portion of the scenic Delaware River estuary, linking dozens of communities from Trenton and Morrisville to Philadephia and Camden, connecting active travellers to parks, canals, waterfront views, and colonial and industrial history.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 walks1 attendee
Battle of Long Island 250th Anniversary: Brooklyn
Oculus World Trade Center, 185 Greenwich Street #LL3110, New York, NY, USPlease register for FREE to attend.
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, visit historic sites and witness the reenactment of one of the Revolution's early formative battles.
Start: Oculus World Trade Center
Finish: Brooklyn
Distance: ~12mi
Where to find us: Near the PATH station at the west side within the Oculus
Terrain: paved
Transit: NJTransit, MTA, PATH
Return: subway
Difficulty: Average
Category: nature, history, urban
Coordinator: Charles UpdikeEnjoy a spectacular walk into and through Brooklyn and imagine the old town in the 18th century bearing witness to history.
Highlights:
- World Trade Center
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Brooklyn waterfront
- Greenwood Cemetery
Partners:
The 9/11 National Memorial Trail is a network of over 1,300 miles of trails connecting New York City, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in tribute to the heroes who perished on September 11, 2001, and the heroes who, in response, answered the call for their country.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
Past events
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