Hermits Cave, Lost Gold Mine, Blow Out & More at Wissahickon Gorge

3.5 hours, 7-9 miles, brisk pace, hilly, Hermits Cave, The Hermitage, 7 cliffs with views of gorge, lost gold mine, Toleration Statue, The Monastery and Stables, path near where Blow Out with John Travolta was filmed.

HISTORY OF GORGE
The Wissahickon Gorge was formed 15,000 years ago by a glacier ripping through the area at maybe one inch a year. The views along the gorge are spectacular. Better in cooler weather when the beautiful foliage fades.

THE LOST GOLD MINE
The lost gold mine was drilled out by 2 German brothers who organized the Roxborough Mining Company in 1763. This makes it one of the oldest mines in the country. There are several shafts. One walk-able. One craw-able. No gold that I know of. The mine was abandoned in 1764, then rediscovered in 1854.

HERMIT'S CAVE
Johannes Kelpius, a brilliant Transylvanian scholar, led his followers, monks, to the Wissahickon wilderness in 1694 to await the end of the world. He may have used the area known as Hermits Cave to live or prey. The enhanced cave that we see today may be an old spring house or root cellar that was restored around 1920.

These are just some of the cool places that you find on the 55 miles of trails in the Wissahickon area. I've explored this area for about 40 years and I am happy to share it's history and beauty.

GENERAL RULES : ••Hike at my pace. ••Hike lengths are approx: allow 30min -1hr extra. ••Donation requested. All monies donated to recreational charities like Natural Lands and the Friends of Wissahickon. •• For ~360 events each year donate $20 (2025), $30 for 2 or family or donate $5 for each event. ••Pay in person or at Zelle (215 247-4459) or at mrbasketball.net/HIKEpay.html . Thanks. Yearly donation goes down to $15 July-Aug; $10 Sept-Nov; Dec new year.