Running in Wissahickon Park in Philly

Wissahickon and Forbidden Drive is a great place to run. It's pretty popular and the trail is usually crowded but it's a wide trail so it's usually not an issue. I would avoid it at dark though since East Falls and Manayunk is sort of a dump. The Schuykill River Trail is also a great option but usually overloaded with fat lawyers and doctors on $10k carbon fiber bikes they love to roll out in the summer and fall and ride right at 6 min/mile.

Wissahickon Trail is fantastic. Especially closer to Fort Washington State Park.

Source: am a current East Falls resident and have been running in Philly for a few decades.

Forbidden Drive (or Valley Green in local-speak) at the Wissahickon is, in my opinion, the greatest urban trail in America. Crushed gravel, elevated slightly above the Wissahickon, surrounded by woods and "true" trails. All within the city limits. It is my favorite part of living in Philadelphia.

Running at night is dicey, less so for safety reasons and more for visibility. Last summer, I tried getting in some additional miles late night and it was near impossible. The trail has periodic overhead lights, but not often enough to make it work. I would stick to daylight hours. Your biggest fear running at VG will likely be stepping in horseshit.

Similarly, the Schuylkill loop is going to be your best friend. It is my 2nd favorite part of living in Philadelphia. 8.4 mile loop that will connect you (in East Falls) to the Wissahickon and to the SRT down in Center City. This will likely be your go-to trail, as it is steps from your front door.

Are you competitive or do you run for fun? Depending on your preferences, there are a few tight-knit clubs I can connect you to. Give me an email address and I'm happy to help off the boards. Cheers.

The Knower wrote:

I would avoid it at dark though since East Falls and Manayunk is sort of a dump.

This guy totally knows Philadelphia. Definitely also avoid Rittenhouse Square and Chestnut Hill, total cesspools.

Schuylkill wrote:

The Knower wrote:

I would avoid it at dark though since East Falls and Manayunk is sort of a dump.

This guy totally knows Philadelphia. Definitely also avoid Rittenhouse Square and Chestnut Hill, total cesspools.

The only people that like Manayunk are Delco trash from Springfield that think they're moving up in the world and college kids/young adults who still enjoy drinking themselves to death and paying $5000 a month with 4 roommates for a 5 bedroom/1 bathroom row home.

Cool, thanks all. Sounds like I'll have some good running options around.

Schuylkill wrote:

Are you competitive or do you run for fun? Depending on your preferences, there are a few tight-knit clubs I can connect you to. Give me an email address and I'm happy to help off the boards. Cheers.

Thanks for the offer! I'm just getting back into running after a few years off. Right now, I'm mostly just slogging through 2-3 mile jogs. Hoping to get back in shape over the next year or so, but I might hold off on group running until I'm in a bit better shape. I'll also be starting med school, so I'll have to see what kind of routine my schedule allows for. Just popping out for a solo run here and there when time allows may be all that's feasible for a while.

There have been attacks against women on the trails in Wissahickon Park and there is a Fairmont Park Rapist who is believed to still be at large. There have also been robberies in Fairmont Park. So, for women, it is probably best to run the trails with a buddy or in a group. For men, just be aware of your surroundings and don't wear headphones. But I wouldn't hesitate to use the trails during day light. There is no section of the park that is out of bounds because it is too close to a bad neighborhood. But that does not mean that the park is necessarily safer up around Chestnut Hill than it is closer to the Schuylkill River.

At night, stay on the Schuylkill River Trail. It is lighted and by the road. I would not want to be in the woods when it is dark.

East Falls/Mt. Airy are easily the best two neighborhoods to live in if you are into running in Philadelphia. I am currently a resident of Mt. Airy and can reach Forbidden Drive in less than a mile by foot.

As Schuylkill said, Valley Green is up there with the nicest running in the country. The Manayunk Towpath is also a nice alternative to Valley Green and the River Loop, but all are amazing options.

I feel very fortunate to live in Philadelphia as a runner.

I have put in 15,000 miles in Philadelphia, mostly on forbidden drive and the kelly drive loop and have less than 2-3 times that were sketchy.

I've had far more issues running in rural, non-populated areas running far fewer miles.

Philadelphia is great.

The Knower wrote:

The only people that like Manayunk are Delco trash from Springfield that think they're moving up in the world and college kids/young adults who still enjoy drinking themselves to death and paying $5000 a month with 4 roommates for a 5 bedroom/1 bathroom row home.

Yeah, look, I get it. Manayunk isn't my scene, but to call it a dump is a bit of a stretch... don't you think? Especially in the context of running and safety? I don't like West Chester for the same reasons, but I wouldn't call it a dump.

Actually, since moving to EF, I've started to like Manayunk a lot more now that I frequent during the day. The towpath is really nice, the newer pedestrian bridge over the river (connecting to the Cynwyd Trail) is one of the more underappreciated developments in the area, and Lucky's burgers are fantastic.

Which reminds me, OP, try this nice out and back: River Trail --> Manayunk Tow Path --> Manayunk Bridge --> Cynwyd Trail

(entrance to the bridge)

Check out Valley Forge National Park too. Lots of great trails there. Valley Green is great but mostly flat, you'll get in some good hill work at Valley Forge.

I lived in Philly for 5 years - 4 in Manayunk and 1 in Fairmount (and a few months in Center City too). Definitely want to echo everything people have said so far praising the Wissahickon trails. Unbelievable place to run. Forbidden Drive is fantastic - very wide and uncrowded, with good footing and pretty scenery. There are also endless side trails that are great for running as well. If you get tired of the Wissahickon you can also go on the Schuylkill river trail or to the trails on the west side of Fairmount Park near Belmont Plateau.

Btw, the guy criticizing Manayunk clearly doesn't know much about it. It's not the most upscale neighborhood, true, but it's safe (especially by Philly standards) and incredibly cheap.

While I agree that Valley Forge is great and has good hills, I think you're underestimating some of the hills around Valley Green. Sure, Forbidden Drive itself is pretty flat but if you venture into the side trails that branch off either side there are definitely some solid hills to train on and make some good loops out of.

bigtool05 wrote:

I lived in Philly for 5 years - 4 in Manayunk and 1 in Fairmount (and a few months in Center City too). Definitely want to echo everything people have said so far praising the Wissahickon trails. Unbelievable place to run. Forbidden Drive is fantastic - very wide and uncrowded, with good footing and pretty scenery. There are also endless side trails that are great for running as well. If you get tired of the Wissahickon you can also go on the Schuylkill river trail or to the trails on the west side of Fairmount Park near Belmont Plateau.

Btw, the guy criticizing Manayunk clearly doesn't know much about it. It's not the most upscale neighborhood, true, but it's safe (especially by Philly standards) and incredibly cheap.

Oh so it's safe compared to Temple and West Philly? Nice, you really got me there.

Manayunk is exactly as I described in my post above. You also probably think Fishtown is greatest place ever.

I didn't realize until just now that the Wissahickon continues north of Andorra (the end of Forbidden Drive so to speak)... are the trails runnable as you get up to Fort Washington, Ambler, Gwynedd, etc?