Directory of Biking
in and around Philadelphia, PA
Local Rides
The Penny Pack Park trail …… Start at Lorimer Park parking lot for an extra mile. The dirt and gravel trail along the stream will take you to Penny Pack Park in the Northeast, at the Pine Rd. entrance. Then, macadam trail goes all the way to the Delaware River where there is a grassy “park” on the rivers edge. Some hills along the way, but nothing really challenging. Beautiful stream beside you the whole ride. Slacks Hoagie Shack at the end !!! 35 m.
Manyunk to Valley Forge Park ………. Start in one of the large open parking lots, ie: next to Restoration Hardware. The trail goes down along the Schuylkill River. Nice path mostly flat. Cinders or gravel for about 3-4 miles and then opens into a wide macadem path. Beautiful ride right into Valley Forge Park. Not much along the way unless you go into the city off the path. 32 miles there and back.
Valley Green (also called Forbidden Drive?) Start at the lot on Northwestern Ave in Chestnut Hill near the Phila Police Horse Stables . Ride the trail along the Wissahickon Drive ( about 2 mi in you’ll be near the Valley Green Inn – ) all the way down to the Lincoln Drive (or Kelly Drive?) and then can continue to the Art Museum. On weekends the West River Drive is closed to traffic so when you get to the Falls Bridge, proceed across to the West River Drive . Gravel and dirt for a good part of trail – then macadam. 37 miles there and back.Short loop : Start in Chestnut Hill – cross Bells Mills go to the bridge at Lincoln Drive – 5 mi
Abington – Alverthorpe Park to Rockledge……. (Rita’s Water Ice is in Rockledge). Ride all through Alverthorpe Park too! Good trip to pick when you’re short on time & can’t drive a long way first. 10-15 miles.
IDEAS FOR TREKS TO TAKE :
USPRO Championship Course (USPRO Cycling Championship & Liberty Classic races used this course June 9, 2002 ) 14 miles. Start in front of the Art Museum on the Kelly Drive side. Head down the Ben Franklin Parkway around Logan Circle and back to the start area , then out along Kelly Drive to Manayunk, up the Manayunk Wall and back down to Kelly Drive through Strawberry Meadows and Lemon Hill, then return to the start area.
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Northeast Philadelphia to Delaware River 30-40 miles, all west of the Delaware River. Leave from the Burger King, north of Oxford Circle on Castor Ave
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Other ideas: Washington Crossing area – Bowman’s tower area – Lambertville bike trail along the river – Tanners – Peace Valley Park – Nockamixon .
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For biking info in Central & Upper Bucks County, there is a booklet available for $5.95 called “A Dozen Scenic Bike Rides in Central & Upper Bucks County, PA. by Margaretta Stone. Featured in this booklet are DOYLESTOWN- NEW HOPE AREA : Fonthill & Doylestown / Carversville / Buckingham Mountain / Solebury
DUBLIN-TINICUM AREA : Plumsteadville & Bedminster / Bedminster & Covered Bridges/ Dublin & the Pearl Buck House / Tinicum
NOCKAMIXON & NORTH AREA : Haycock Mountain/ Weisel & Richlandtown/ Springtown/ Trumbauersville
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Further out :
Lititz near Lancaster ( beautiful Amish area – flat roads – lots of things to see)
Mt Gretna or New Gretna ??? Hansel & Gretel Like New Jersey Town
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or try www.phillybikeclub.org for lots of great ideas
