Wissahickon Valley Park
| Wissahickon Valley Park | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Nearest city | Philadelphia |
| Coordinates | 40°03′00″N 75°12′54″W / 40.050°N 75.215°W |
| Area | 2,042 acres (8.26 km2) |
| Established | 2010 |
| Governing body | Philadelphia Parks & Recreation |
| Designated | 1964 |
.jpg){kind=link}
Wissahickon Valley Park is a large urban park that is located in Northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It protects 2,042 acres (8.26 km2) of woodland surrounding the Wissahickon Creek between the Montgomery County border and the Schuylkill River. For several miles, the creek winds through a dramatic wooded gorge known as the Wissahickon Valley, a National Natural Landmark.
Forbidden Drive runs the length of the valley, a car-free gravel road popular for walking, running, cycling, and horseback riding. Side trails lead from Forbidden Drive up to rugged bridle paths suitable for hiking and trail riding. The park contains about 50 miles (80 km) of trails in total.
The area was considered part of Fairmount Park from 1867 until the merger of the Fairmount Park Commission and the Department of Recreation in 2010. Today, Wissahickon Valley Park is a unit of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and remains the second-largest park in Philadelphia after Fairmount.