The Wissahickon Valley Park Pocket Map has gotten an Update!
by Claire Brennan, FOW Communications Coordinator
Your key to unlocking the magic of Wissahickon Valley Park’s expansive trail network and all the treasures along its course just got a major facelift.
This summer, Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) will release a new pocket map with updated trails and newly defined points of interest, free to new and upgrading members. If you’d like your own copy for purchase, visit FOW’s office on 40 W Evergreen Avenue, Suite 108, Philadelphia, PA, 19118, or become a member today, and we’ll ship one to your door!
This redesign, the largest since 2016, includes updates that reflect FOW’s work in the park, such as trail reroutes on the Yellow and Orange Trails, as well as additions to the map, including the trails around Harvey Street and new landmarks like the Lida Way Pedestrian Bridge.
A huge thank you to our partner and long-time friend, Brad Maule, Executive Director of The Friends of the Cresheim Trail (FOCT), for designing the map and providing all of its stunning photography.
What’s new?
What would you like to see on your visit? Use the back of the map to plan your route based on what you want to explore along the Wissahickon Valley Park’s 50+ miles of trail. Is it bodies of water, works of art, or meadows? Find the corresponding icon for each and turn the map over to see where you’ll find these park features.
Though the Wissahickon is a sojourn into nature for many, there is so much to explore even beyond its natural features, like WPA structures, bridges, and works of art, each denoted with its very own icon.
On this side, you’ll also find important information about the park and Friends of the Wissahickon, including Philadelphia Park’s & Recreation (PPR) park guidelines and curfews, numbers for reporting emergency and non-emergency situations, and how to get involved with FOW as a member or volunteer.
You’ll also notice newly added Leave No Trace (LNT) principles. Every park user can use a reminder that they have the power to make a positive impact in the Wissahickon by following the simple and effective LNT best practices.
Did you know that in 1964, Wissahickon Valley Park was recognized in the inaugural class as a National Natural Landmark?
Never go without your guide. Find the Free FOW Map App listed alongside these important park resources.
On the flip side, you’ll find a map of Wissahickon Valley Park that better situates the park in the context of Northwest Philadelphia than ever before. Beyond Wissahickon Valley Park, this updated map illuminates the many pocket parks and public pools in the area to enjoy. Likewise, it shows how the Wissahickon’s Forbidden Drive and Paved Wissahickon Trail are part of a regional network of trails, called the Circuit, which also includes the Schuylkill River Trail.
Pocket map users will also notice three new insets that give a closer look in the Andorra Natural Area, Valley Green Area, and Historic Rittenhouse Town (HRT). These areas offer a diversity of experiences for park users, including fantastic wildlife viewing in Andorra, a range of WPA and other historic structures at HRT, as well as dining options and wide trail access at both Valley Green and HRT.
To speak to the range of abilities and mobilities of our park-users, we’ve introduced the elevation change scale. Above the insets, use the Wissahickon Trail Profile section to find the trail that best suits your needs. Visitors of Forbidden Drive and Cresheim Trail will enjoy more gentle grades, while those on the White, Yellow, and Orange Trails will see greater hills and changes in elevation.
We can’t wait to share this new handy pocket map with you. We hope this updated and improved wayfinding tool will grow your confidence in navigating Wissahickon’s expansive trail system and inspire you to explore all the wonders the park has to offer.
Enjoy this new member benefit, among discount to local businesses and invitations to FOW events if you join or upgrade your existing membership by visiting our website here.