Green Ribbon Trail
200 acres — 12.6 miles of trails
What’s to love
The Green Ribbon Trail is a project of the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association, which helped connect 40 properties over 200 acres to give us this 12-mile hiking path. The trail winds from Upper Gwynedd Township nearly all the way south to the Wissahickon Valley Park. Along the way, you’ll pass by several protected natural areas—which can be used to extend your hike—including Parkside Place, Penllyn Woods, Four Mills Nature Reserve and Fort Washington State Park.
Expect to pass through natural meadows, wetlands, and deciduous forest with some nice old sycamore trees. I’ve only hiked half of the trail, but I found it to be peaceful and uncrowded.
Tips and quirks
- The trail has several sections of boardwalk (installed by Eagle Scouts!), and cement stepping-stones for crossing tributaries of the river. You’ll never need to get your feet wet.
- If you’re starting from the north end of the trail, there’s a park roughly 5 miles in with porta-potties.
- Again, if you’re starting at the top, parking is available at the Upper Gwynedd Township administration building.
- There are also some bridle paths in the area; you’ll notice them marked with actual horseshoes nailed to the trees along the way.
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Last updated: September 13, 2019
A small disclaimer: This website is not affilitated with the City of Philadelphia, its parks department, local non-profits, or any state or federal organization. Opinions reflected here are solely the author's: a regular person who happens to enjoy hiking. Like all outdoor activities, hiking carries some risks (including medical and personal safety risks) and requires preparation and supplies. Routes and conditions may have changed since this post was written. Make sure you follow all posted rules and local laws, as certain activities (like off-leash dogs or leaving marked trails) are frequently prohibitied.
