Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust

Pennypack 

10 miles of woods, meadows and trails, all naturally preserved.

Pennypack is about a 30-minute drive from Drexel University.  The park itself has over ten miles of woodland and meadows with a large number of trails to pick from.  Before making the trip to Pennypack I researched the park and learned the trails are divided into two categories: multiple use and hiking only.  The multiple use categories consist of three trails ranging from .5 miles to 1.6 miles.  Pets (on leashes) are only allowed on these three trails.  The second category of hiking only tails consisted of many more options ranging from a .2 mile muddy hike to a 1.3-mile meadow hike.  Due to the strict pet rules I decided to leave my dog Walter at home for my first trip to Pennypack.

Which trail to choose?

Good thing I printed out the trail lists before hand.

It was a bit overwhelming arriving to Pennypack and deciding which trail to chose from.  Although their list of various trails on their website were very helpful.  I highly suggest referencing their list before getting to the park.  The list includes specific details about the trails including the distance as well as the terrain you will be hiking through.  Although the trails offered beautiful scenery the hikes themselves were not much of a workout.  The Papermill Woods trail was especially beautiful because you are walking along a crystal clear stream for majority of the walk.  The Papermill Road trail brings you across the second oldest bridge in Montgomery County (it was built in 1817).

Wonderful Sights, but not really hiking.

No trails over two miles long??

Like a mentioned before Pennypack has a large number of trails to chose from, but none of the trails are very long or strenuous for that matter.  The longest trail Raytharn Trail is only 1.3 miles long and you spend majority of the hike walking through meadows.  Most of the hikes at Pennypack are on level dirt footpaths or are too short to feel like you are truly on a hike.  Pennypack is a great way to spend the day leisurely walking through beautiful scenery but not a place I would recommend coming to if you are looking to go on a true hike.