Jump to a sectionCity routes, suburban paths and starting again
You don’t need a race on the calendar to find a good place to walk or run around Philadelphia. Sometimes the useful question is simpler: where can you go for a little time outside without turning it into a whole production?
I ran track in high school, but I haven’t been running as much lately. That’s the perspective behind this guide. It’s for people starting out, getting back into it, or looking for a different place to take their usual walk.
There’s no need to cover an entire trail. A short stretch you can comfortably return from is a perfectly good outing.
Choose a route that fits today
Start with the setting and surface, then decide how far to go. The lengths mentioned below describe trails or loops, not a suggested first workout.
- City riverfront paths: Schuylkill Banks and the Delaware River Trail.
- Woods without choosing a steep upper trail: Forbidden Drive.
- Suburban paths: Pennypack, Peace Valley, Valley Forge, Chester Valley and Chester Creek.
- Getting back into running: keep the first outing separate from your old pace or race goals.
A loop brings you back to where you started only after you complete it. An out-and-back lets you choose a turnaround point. If you’re unsure about distance, that difference matters more than a trail’s headline mileage.
Walking and running routes in Philadelphia
Schuylkill Banks: a flexible riverfront outing
Surface and setting: developed riverfront trail, shared with other users. The official map identifies access points including the South Street ramp and entrances around Center City.
Choose an entrance near your starting point, walk or run in one direction, and turn back before the outing becomes longer than you intended. You don’t have to commit to a full river loop or a trip to another neighborhood.
The trail manager’s walking and running guidance covers shared-path etiquette. Leave room for passing, move aside when stopping and stay aware of bikes. Check the current map and notices before assuming every section connects the way an older route description suggests.
Delaware River Trail: waterfront stops on the east side
Surface and setting: developed waterfront walking and running areas, with different arrangements along the corridor. Cherry Street Pier is one landmark you can use to orient yourself on the waterfront’s official trail map.
In the developed central section, the pedestrian sidewalk is separate from the bike path. Use the space intended for walking and running rather than treating both lanes as interchangeable.
There are also interim trail segments and construction notices. This isn’t a promise of an uninterrupted, traffic-free run from one end of the waterfront to the other. Choose a specific segment, check pedestrian detours and crossings, and make that your outing.
Forbidden Drive: gravel beside the Wissahickon
Surface and setting: a wide gravel corridor through Wissahickon Valley Park. Friends of the Wissahickon describes Forbidden Drive as a generally flat, five-mile route beside the creek, distinct from the steeper and rockier upper trails.
Use FOW’s maps and directions to choose an entrance, such as the Valley Green area, and plan a shorter out-and-back. The way down from a neighborhood entrance may be very different from the main creekside path.
Expect cyclists and horses as well as people on foot. Gravel, mud and uneven spots can change how an outing feels. Check park conditions before leaving, especially after storms. A wooded route doesn’t need to become a technical trail run just because side paths look interesting.
Paths outside the city
Pennypack Trail: a Montgomery County rail-trail option
Surface and setting: crushed stone along a former rail corridor. The county’s dedicated trail page describes 6.2 miles from Rockledge Park to County Line Road, with a map for choosing access points.
Rockledge Park is one starting option. Pick a segment and return the same way; the complete trail length is not the distance you need to cover. This entry concerns the Montgomery County rail trail, not every path in Philadelphia’s Pennypack Park.
There are road crossings and an active rail crossing. Follow signals and gates. The county page also flags access restrictions around the Fetters Mill Road bridge, so check current instructions rather than assuming every approach is available.
Peace Valley Park: lake views in Bucks County
Surface and setting: the county map marks an asphalt six-mile loop around Lake Galena, plus separate natural-surface trails. Peace Valley’s map shows access areas including Sailor’s Point at 759 New Galena Road.
Six miles may be more than you want. Instead of committing to the lake circuit, choose a direction from your access point and retrace a shorter section. Look at the map before starting so you know which path you’re taking.
The paved loop and the nature paths aren’t the same outing. Check park notices and the weather, and don’t assume the route or facilities will suit every stroller or mobility need simply because part of the park is paved.
Valley Forge: a paved route with real hills
Surface and setting: the Joseph Plumb Martin Trail’s main loop is five miles and paved. The National Park Service notes variable grades, including steep sections. Its trail map also identifies limited shade.
The visitor center is a useful orientation point for planning which section to use. Decide on a shorter return route if the full loop isn’t what you want. Paved doesn’t mean flat, and a hill you barely notice going down still needs to be considered on the way back.
Use the park’s current operating hours and alerts when planning. Don’t treat the loop as an all-hours training track.
Chester Valley Trail: choose a convenient trailhead
Surface and setting: an asphalt multi-use trail through Chester and Montgomery counties. The Chester County trail page lists walking and jogging among permitted uses, along with trailheads such as Exton Park at 132 Church Farm Lane and Battle of the Clouds Park at 125 North Phoenixville Pike.
For a routine walk or run, convenient access may matter more than covering a famous section. Pick an entrance, check the map for crossings and decide where you’ll turn around. This long corridor is not a single loop.
Check posted hours and weather restrictions. Snow clearing does not guarantee an ice-free path, and sections still under construction aren’t an invitation to explore beyond the signs.
Chester Creek Trail: a Delaware County alternative
Surface and setting: a paved rail trail through Middletown and Aston townships. The trail organization’s website provides location, parking and project updates.
Use the Knowlton Road trailhead as a starting point to investigate on the current map, rather than assuming you can park anywhere beside the trail. The site’s July 2026 news reports completion of a parking expansion, while older text lower on the page still describes construction restrictions. Use the newest notice and check again before travelling.
A short out-and-back keeps the outing adjustable. Trail extensions and access projects mean an older mileage description may not describe every currently available section.
Starting again doesn’t mean starting at your old pace
Having run in high school doesn’t make an old training routine the right place to restart. Nor does buying running shoes create an obligation to run the whole route.
If you want a structured introduction, the NHS Couch to 5K program combines walking and running and includes rest days. Read its guidance about starting safely, and get medical advice if you’re unsure whether running is appropriate for you. This local guide isn’t an individual training plan.
For a first visit, choose somewhere you can leave easily if the weather changes or you decide you’ve had enough. Walking the route first is also a useful way to learn the entrances and crossings. You can enjoy a path without measuring the outing against a previous version of yourself.
A few checks before you leave
Look at the trail manager’s current notices, the forecast and available daylight. Choose a turnaround point, carry what you need for the conditions and keep enough awareness to hear other trail users. Don’t assume fountains or restrooms will be open year-round.
If you’d rather go with other people, FOW’s guided-hike listings offer another way to explore. Read the specific walk’s terrain, pace and registration details; a guided hike is not automatically a flat beginner route.
For a date to work toward, see Philadelphia Running Events: Late 2026 Races and the 2027 Calendar. If someone in your group would rather ride, the companion Bike Riding in Philly and the Suburbs: 8 Places to Start looks at cycling options instead.
Independently researched local information, not a firsthand review of every route, medical advice or a guarantee of current access or conditions. Sources checked October 19, 2026. Follow current maps, signs and trail-manager notices.
Photo credits and image details
These photographs were resized and converted to WebP for this website, with no crop or content changes. Source and license links are below. Dates describe the source photos, not current conditions or future events.
- SidewalkMD · CC BY-SA 4.0The Schuylkill River Trail and Center City, looking north from the South Street Bridge in October 2022. A location reference, not a current conditions report.
- Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0Valley Green Inn beside Forbidden Drive in October 2025. Check current park notices before choosing an entrance or route.
- Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0The Montgomery County Pennypack Trail at the former Huntingdon Valley station in June 2026.
- Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 3.0Lake Galena seen from the dam at Peace Valley Park in October 2017. This landscape reference does not show every section of the lake loop.
- Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0The Joseph Plumb Martin Trail in Valley Forge National Historical Park in August 2025. A route reference, not a Revolutionary Run event photo.
- Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0The Chester Valley Trail north of US 202 and Saulin Boulevard in King of Prussia, October 2026. Other sections have different surroundings and crossings.