A Bark In The Park: The 10 Best Places To Hike With Your Dog Around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1. French Creek State Park.Approximately 40 miles ofstroll. The Woodlawn trails serve up as fine a mix of
trails visit every corner of French Creek's 7,339 acres.open meadow and mature woodlands hiking as you're
There are nine featured hikes on wide dirt paths oflikely to find in greater Philadelphia.7. Green Lane
between one and four hours' duration. The marqueeParkDogs are not allowed on the Hemlock Point Trail
walk is the Boone Trail, a six-mile loop connecting allbut there is plenty of rich canine hiking on the park's
the major attractions of the park. Two large lakesother four trails to set tails to wagging. The Red
make first rate canine swimming holes.2. AndorraTrail, designed as an equestrian trail but not chewed
Natural Area/Fairmount ParkAmerica's first public parkup like so many other such surfaces, winds through
is the largest contiguous landscaped municipal park inopen fields and stands of trees for 10 miles, although
the world, sprawling across nearly 9,000 acres. It isthe entire length can be aborted in several places.
the bucolic home to an estimated 2,500,000 treesThe premier trail at Green Lane Park is the heavily
and on weekend mornings it can seem as if there iswooded Blue Trail on the western edge of the
a dog for every one. If the communal dog walkingreservoir where you pick your way across steep
on Forbidden Drive isn't for you, take to the hills andravines and narrow ridges for 6 miles.8. Ridley Creek
try the extensive trail system up the slopes ofState ParkThe park chains water bowls around its
Wissahickon Gorge.3. Valley Forge NHPThese arebenches along the Multi-Use Trail and your dog will
some of the most historic walks in America andwelcome the cool drink after tackling the 12 miles of
some of the most beautiful in greater Philadelphia -hilly Ridley Creek State Park trails. features 12 miles
panoramic vistas from rolling hills, long waterside hikesof hiking on four main trails. If the park's four main
and climbs up wooded mountainsides. If you're not upblazed trails don't tire her out try an unmarked
to mingling with the tourists, cross the Schuylkill Rivertrailhead just east of Ridley Creek on Gradyville Road
and try the 3-mile linear Schuylkill River Trail thatoffers one of the longest creekside walks in
connects the Pawling's Parking Area and theDelaware County.9. Fair Hill Natural AreaLocated just
Betzwood Picnic Area. The flat dirt trail hugs the riveracross the Delaware state line in Maryland, this is the
the entire way. Dogs are welcome throughout theGodzilla of area hiking. Traversing its 5,613 acres are
historic park.4. White Clay Creek State Parkover 75 miles of multi-use trails. Fair Hill was formerly
PreserveThe Lenni Lenape recognized the greatowned by sportsman William du Pont, Jr. and was
beauty of the White Clay Creek and made theirone of the largest private land holdings on the East
most important "Indian Town" along its banks. ThereCoast. The trails through the fields are typically
are eight marked trails at White Clay Creek, a statedouble-track (old dirt vehicle roads), although
park in Delaware and a state preserve insingletrack trails dominate in the forested areas. Many
Pennsylvania. State Park; the Penndel Trail, connectsroll through golden hayfields as befits Fair Hill's stature
the two as it traces the meanderings of the stream.as a leading equine training center.10. Wharton State
If you can't get enough of the great hiking with yourForestThe Wharton State Forest lies at the heart of
dog here, two new tracts of land have recentlyNew Jersey's mysterious Pine Barrens, a tapestry of
opened nearby under the administration of Whiteimpenetrable scrub pine, swamps and bogs. The main
Clay Creek State Park.5. Scott ArboretumSeveralpathway is the Batona Trail, a 49-mile pink-blazed
area colleges welcome responsible dog owners -wilderness trail that begins at Ongs Hat in the north
Swarthmore's Scott Arboretum is the best walk. Theand ends at Lake Absegami in Bass River State
collections are integrated with the stone buildings ofForest to the south. The hard-packed sand trail,
the college which dates to 1864. Leaving thewhich sports some gentle undulations to break up a
cultivated plantings of the campus, a variety of hillsidemostly flat walk, is a joy under paw and boot. The
trails lead through the 200-acre Crum Woods downBatsto River through the forest is stained the color
to Crum Creek. Dogs are not only welcomed atof tea by cedar sap, adding to the region's mystique.
Swarthmore, but there are water bowls chained toIt makes an excellent canine swimming pool.I am the
some of the drinking fountains. In the Crum Woodsauthor of over 20 books, including 8 on hiking with
your dog need only be under voice control, notyour dog, including the
leashed.6. Woodlawn TrusteesAdjacent to thewidely praised The Canine Hiker's Bible. As publisher
popular Brandywine Creek State Park (with 8 trailsof Cruden Bay Books, we
and 14 miles of hiking of its own) are more thanproduce the innovative A Bark In The Park series of
2,000 acres open to the public for hiking and riding.canine hiking books found at
Miles of informal trails can be combined to create anyDuring the warm months I lead canine hikes as
kind of day out with your dog. Athletic dogs willtour leader for tours, leading packs of dogs and
enjoy romping across the grassy hills above thehumans on
Brandywine Creek. Walking back and forth on theday and overnight trips.
Fire Trail along the water provides an easy 45-minute