What’s to love

Travel down lovely winding roads and under one-lane bridges to this gem of a park in Lower Merion. Rolling Hill’s main differentiator is its dog-friendliness; there are both on and off-leash trails and fenced play areas here. Dog park permit required!

The trails here take you through deep, established woods and open meadows. Hike the blue trail down to Mill Creek and investigate the ruins of several large stone buildings that housed millworkers before the turn of the century. The slope of this trail can be quite steep and the journey back to the parking lot counts as a great booty workout (again, that’s according to Yelp, but this time I can verify).

Tips and quirks

  • Some of the less populated trails here are actually maintained by a private group of donors. They’re collectively referred to as the Bridlewild Trail, and as near as I can figure, some sections are closed to public use and some are not. Read the signs carefully, and check out the review of the nearby Saunders Woods Preserve for more about Bridlewild.

Last updated: April 28, 2022

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.