REGISTER EARLY! -In order to preserve the quality of the tour, all full-day tours have a firm limit of participants as shown. Additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list. Contact Philadelphia Parks Alliance at (215) 879-8159 or friends@philaparks.org

MEETING PLACES: if not shown, will be given with registration, and are generally accessible by public transportation.

FEES:
Evening and half-day tours: $15.00
All-day tours: $30.00

A $5.00 discount will be applied for members of Hostelling International and the following sponsor organizations:
American Institute of Architects; American Society of Landscape Architects; Appalachian Trail Conservancy; Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia; East Coast Greenway; Green Space Alliance; Pennsylvania Environmental Council; Philadelphia Parks Alliance; Preservation Alliance; REI; Schuylkill River Greenway Association; Sierra Club; University City Historical Society; Women's Transportation Seminar

These evening and daylong hikes, led by HI Life Member and Parks Alliance Board President Bob Thomas, an architect and historian, bring participants to magical and often unseen places in Philadelphia’s parks and in the countryside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.  Join an outdoor adventure and become inspired by the history, power, value and preciousness of our open spaces.

Upcoming Tours:

• Fall and Pretzels in Lancaster County
  Saturday, November 19th, 2011 (all day tour)
  
• Trails to the Historic Mansions and Vistas of Fairmount Park
  Saturday, December 10, 2011 (half-day tour)
  
• The Pine Barrens and the new Franklin Parker Preserve
  Saturday, January 7, 2012 (all day tour)
  
• An Historic Bridge Reborn in the Lehigh Gorge
  Saturday, January 28, 2012 (all-day tour)
  
• New Trails in the Schuylkill Highlands
  Saturday, February 18, 2012 (all day tour)
  
• The Beautiful Lower Susquehanna River – Urey Overlook and The Indian Steps Museum
  Saturday, March 17th, 2012 (all day tour)
  

Saturday, November 19th, 2011, 8.00am until dinner 

(Rain date will be in Spring 2012, watch for re-listing)

Fall and Pretzels in Lancaster County - All Day Tour
Join us for a colorful fall walk on quiet back roads of the Amish farm country to observe the fall harvest, and to visit a local pretzel bakery or two, where we’ll see the traditional hand-skills of pretzel making. We’ll have a picnic lunch out in the countryside, and conclude the day’s adventure over dinner with a discussion of land and park planning in Lancaster County.  Trip fee includes full hiker’s breakfast but not lunch nor dinner; transportation will be via car pools—participants are asked to share expenses.
   Meeting place: please confirm when registering.
   Terrain and Difficulty: Easy back paved roads.  Moderate difficulty
   Wear good walking shoes, dress warmly if need be, and bring a lunch to eat along the trail.
   Pre-registration required (limit of 12 participants).

Saturday, December 10, 2011,  9:40am until after lunch Half-Day Tour

(Rain date will be in Fall 2012, watch for re-listing)

Trails to the Historic Mansions and Vistas of Fairmount Park
Join us for a winter’s walk on little-known trails following the hills and cliffs of Fairmount Park, linking many of the historic estates which were purchased to create the park in the 1800’s. The bare trees will enhance the views we enjoy from far above the Schuylkill River. We’ll conclude the day’s adventure over lunch with a discussion of preservation and trail and park planning along the Schuylkill River. Trip fee does not include train fares nor meals.
   Meeting place: East Falls SEPTA Regional Rail Station, upon the 9.40am arrival of the 9.20am
   Manayunk/Norristown train from 30th Street Station for those traveling from Center City.
   Terrain and Difficulty: Moderate 5-6-mile walk on trails and park roads, with some hills.
   Wear good walking shoes, dress warmly if need be, and bring snacks to eat along the trail.
   Pre-registration required (limit of 15 participants).

Saturday, January 7, 2012,  8:00am until dinner 

All Day Tour

(Rain date will be in Fall 2012, watch for re-listing)

The Pine Barrens and the new Franklin Parker Preserve
Join us for an exploratory walk in the newest preserve in the Pine Barrens just north of the Wharton Forest. We’ll have a picnic lunch out in the forest, and finish our walk on a remote hill with magnificent views to watch the sunset. We’ll then conclude the day’s adventure over dinner with a discussion of land and park planning in the Pine Barrens. Trip fee includes full hiker’s breakfast but not lunch nor dinner; transportation will be via car pools—participants are asked to share expenses.
   Meeting place: please confirm when registering.
   Terrain and Difficulty: Moderate forest roads.  Moderate difficulty
   Wear good walking shoes, dress warmly if need be, and bring a lunch to eat along the trail.
   Pre-registration required (limit of 12 participants).

Saturday, January 28, 2012,  8:00am until dinner 

All Day Tour

(Rain date: will be in Fall 2012, watch for re-listing),

An Historic Bridge Reborn in the Lehigh Gorge
For many years the old Jersey Central bridge across the Lehigh River just above Jim Thorpe stood forlorn and abandoned. Through the vision of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and many partners it reopened in June of 2010 for rail traffic and a direct trail link into town from the Lehigh Gorge. We’ll take a loop walk from Jim Thorpe, using the new bridge, and stopping at historic Glen Onoko, site of the former Hotel Wanetah. We’ll picnic along the way, and end with a warm dinner in the Jim Thorpe Historic District, with a discussion of progress in the Heritage Corridor, which will eventually link to the East Coast Greenway and Philadelphia. Trip fee includes breakfast but not dinner; transportation will be via car pools—participants are asked to share expenses.
   Meeting place: please confirm when registering.
   Terrain and Difficulty: Moderate walking on canal towpaths, railbeds and village streets.
   Wear good walking shoes, bring a picnic lunch, and dress warmly.
   Pre-registration required. (limit of 12 participants)

Saturday, February 18, 2012 , 8.00am until dinner 

All Day Tour

(Rain date will be in Fall 2012, watch for re-listing)

New Trails in the Schuylkill Highlands

A new trail is under development linking the Schuylkill River Trail with the Horse-Shoe Trail in French Creek State Park. Join us for an exploratory walk in the recently acquired parkland linking these two key areas of open space and forest in the Schuylkill Highlands. Our walk will feature a climb up from the Schuylkill River Trail to a magnificent view all across the Schuylkill Valley. We’ll have a picnic lunch out on the trail, and conclude the day’s adventure over a warm dinner with a discussion of trails and conservation in the Schuylkill Highlands. Trip fee includes full hiker’s breakfast but not lunch nor dinner; transportation will be via car pools—participants are asked to share expenses.
   Meeting place: please confirm when registering.
   Terrain and Difficulty: Challenging walk on trails and back roads with some climbs.
   Wear good hiking shoes or boots, dress warmly if need be, and bring a lunch to eat along the trail.
   Pre-registration required (limit of 12 participants).

Saturday, March 17th, 2012, 8.00am until dinner 

All Day Tour

(Rain date will be in Fall 2012, watch for re-listing)

The Beautiful Lower Susquehanna River – Urey Overlook and The Indian Steps Museum

Join us for a walk in our Susquehanna River series. Our route follows the Mason-Dixon Trail along the River to the Urey Overlook, a scenic vista that offers a spectacular view of Lake Aldred, the lake formed by the Holtwood dam on the River, and the forest-covered hills along the Susquehanna River. If it’s open, we’ll also visit the Indian Steps Museum which is named for the “steps” carved into rocks (now submerged) in the nearby Susquehanna River. These “Indian steps” were actually footholds, used to reach the river to fish. We’ll have a picnic lunch out on the trail, and conclude the day’s adventure over dinner with a discussion of York County trails and historic preservation. Trip fee includes full hiker’s breakfast but not lunch nor dinner; transportation will be via car pools—participants are asked to share expenses.
   Meeting place: please confirm when registering.
   Terrain and Difficulty: Moderate walk on trails and back roads with some climbs.
   Wear good walking shoes, dress warmly if need be, and bring a lunch to eat along the trail.
   Pre-registration required (limit of 12 participants).

GENERAL INFORMATION

DIFFICULTY RATINGS

Easy: Good surface, short length, can be enjoyed by almost anyone in good health with good walking shoes.

Moderate: May contain some rough or wet surfaces, some steep paths. Length greater than a "short walk or ride". Can be enjoyed by almost anyone who walks or exercises regularly, and with sturdy shoes, unless otherwise noted.

Challenging: May contain rough surfaces, overgrown areas, and steep terrain. Length may require walking more than 10 miles or most of the day. Can be enjoyed by almost anyone whose stamina allows a full day of exercise, and with hiking boots unless otherwise noted.

RAIN: If raining or threatening, tours will be cancelled and rescheduled unless otherwise noted. Watch for future listings.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT: AIA members are eligible for CE Credits for some of these tours. Contact Pat Schwartz at AIA Philadelphia: pat@aiaphila.org

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