Weekly Hike - Boxer's Trail, East Fairmount Park, Museum of Art, Colonial Ruins

WEEKLY HIKE
BOXER'S TRAIL + EAST FAIRMOUNT PARK + MUSEUM OF ART + COLONIAL RUINS
(7 Miles +/- | 400 Feet of Elevation)

Join us for our weekly, weekday evening hike! This is my second favorite hike in the city limits!

Joe Frazier. Joe Frazier. Everyone talking about Joe Frazier. That's right - if you're not in the know, there's more to Philadelphia's boxing history than the "Rocky" franchise. The city has been a mecca for boxing talent of all ages and levels for a century or more. On this hike we will traverse the famed Boxer's Trail for a mile or two of its overall route. We will then kick out to some railroad tracks, relax - it's a freight only line. We will climb to the top of the Kelly Drive Bouldering Wall to catch a unique view of the city, before hiking along the underused Lemon Hill Trail that runs along Kelly Drive which gives you one of the top two views of the skyline (see event photo). Looping around the world famous Philadelphia Museum of Art we will get amazing views and photo opportunities from both the front and back. We will then head back north on Poplar drive and dive back into East Fairmount Park. If the weather cooperates and people are okay with a little light, easy bushwhacking (nothing dangerous), there's a chance to explore the burned, hallowed out remains of one of the colonial mansions that used to call the area that's now the park home. After that, we'll stick to the park and head back to our starting/end point passing by a few more of the iconic and famous mansions and other attractions that call the park home.

DISTANCE | ELEVATION | PACE

• Distance - 7 Miles +/- (7 is target)
• Elevation - 400 Feet +/- (400 is target)
• Pace - about 3.0 mph average throughout the evening. That means parts will be faster

OBSTACLES | SPECIAL NOTES

• This is a mix of a "woodsy" and "urban" hike with the typical obstacles/challenges of both - traffic, bicycles, pedestrians and broken or uneven sidewalks for parts and then rocky, tree root infested trails that roll up and down. Definitely a unique "John special"
• Please note this hike involves a short 3 foot jump off of a stone wall (I'll be there to help or you can just plop on your ass and stretch down) as well as about 10 minutes of walking on active railroad tracks. Relax, we do it all the time - it's a freight line with Conrail trains going 2-3 mph.
• As noted, there's a cool chance with some short, easy bushwhacking to explore the ruins of a mansion in the park. Done it many times in the past and it's not hard, that dirty, etc. Most of it just requires walking through the disc golf course in the park.

BASIC INFO

• DAY & DATE: Tuesday June 10th, 2025
• START TIME: 7:00PM (AND WE START ON TIME!)
• STARTING LOCATION: Laurel Hill Mansion
• ADDRESS: 3487 Edgley Dr Phila 19121
• LENGTH: 7 Miles +/- (7 is target)
• ELEVATION: 400 Feet +/- (400 is target)
• PACE/SPEED: 3.0 MPH average
• END TIME: Target is 9:30pm.

GEAR:

• Hiking boots/shoes (sneakers not recommended for this)
• Water
• Appropriate clothing - warm layers, hats, rain jackets, etc. as needed
• A change of clothes for after (at your discretion)
• Headlamps might be needed for this, but only for the bushwhacking if we get there when it's dark already. I STRONGLY ADVISE and request you purchase a headlamp, Boruit is the brand I use, that has at least 1,500 to 2,000 lumen NON-WHITE color options on the headlamp. Email me or message me on meetup for idea.
• I also advise people bring hiking bags - you need to be hands free on a hike like this
• Snacks (as you see fit)
• Beer or other drink for before the hike.

PARKING

• Free parking in the park - just obey all posted traffic/parking signs
• DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES or anything visible in your car.

MEETING SPOT

• We will meet just south of the mansion. That means to the left when looking at it. I'll post a comment and upload a map with pin to the event photos when I arrive. Generally, sit in the back of my SUV with the hatch open before the hike.

BATHROOMS/BREAKS

• Bathrooms NOT available at the starting/end point. But the area has plenty of trees!
• No bathrooms on the hike - nature is your restroom tonight!
• We'll stop a few times for great photo opportunities/vistas...otherwise we'll keep it trucking!

AFTERWARDS

• Afterwards we will head to a place in nearby Fairmount or Brewerytown for some food & drinks. Everyone is welcome to join us.

CANCELLATIONS

• I do not cancel hikes for inclement weather. It must be pouring down rain, enough snow/ice to make getting to/from a hike dangerous, etc. If I ever do need to cancel or postpone a hike I try to do so as early as possible.
• You may cancel at any time up to and including the start time of the hike. Cancellations without contacting me after the start of an event counts as a no-show. More than 3 no-shows will get you removed from the group. If something happens, I get it, reach out and just tell me after. I've been there - hungover, busy, etc. Just be polite, and brief, if you miss and forget to cancel.