Meet Your Hike Leaders: Harm Scherpbier, Wissahickon Trails Board Member and Upper Dublin Township Commissioner, and Erin McCool, Wissahickon Trails Engagement Director
Harm Scherpbier is a board member of Wissahickon Trails who spends as much time as possible out on the trails, running, hiking, guiding hikes, or volunteering with the conservation crew. Harm is a true local leader, also serving on the Board of Comissioners for Upper Dublin Township, he is always looking for ways to connect people and communities for good.
About this Hike:
This 10-mile hike is a unique opportunity to experience the full power of connection in the Wissahickon watershed. Starting and ending at Wissahickon Trails headquarters in Ambler, this moderately paced hike will take participants onto the Green Ribbon Trail and through all five preserves connected by the 5 Preserves, 1 Trail initiative.
Along the way, hikers will experience the remarkable diversity of landscapes that make the Wissahickon watershed so special, from wooded hillsides and stream corridors to open meadows and quiet forest trails.
What makes this hike especially exciting is the chance to explore the new trail connections that now allow trail users to move continuously through these preserves, creating a long-distance hiking experience entirely on protected land. This route showcases how years of conservation work, trail building, and partnerships have created a landscape where you can travel for miles through nature without leaving preserved open space.
Participants will encounter a variety of terrain and habitats as the trail winds through Armentrout Preserve, Camp Woods, Briar Hill Preserve, Willow Lake Preserve, and Prophecy Creek Park. Expect a true trail adventure, this route includes stepping-stone crossings, a ladder, uneven and rocky terrain, and a few road crossings.
This hike is designed for experienced hikers who are comfortable covering longer distances at a steady pace and navigating natural trail conditions. Come ready for a challenge—and a rewarding journey through
Accessibility Info
Elevation Change: Less than 500 ft.
Trail surface(s): Dirt with roots, rocks, and dips; mowed grass; stepping stone creek crossings; wooden and metal bridges and boardwalks; vertical ladder; short segments of pavement; potential for mud.
Pace: Moderate
Amenities: Restrooms available at the start and end of the hike at Four Mills
Habitat: Old growth and successional forests, meadow, scrub, pasture (with horses), residential
What to bring: water, snacks, sun protection
