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This fall, Wissahickon Trails will host eight guided hikes along the Green Ribbon Trail. The hikes will vary in length and explore different sections of the 10.5 miles managed by Wissahickon Trails. Participants can join one hike, choose the sections that interest them most, or take part in the full series!
This section will travel upstream, exploring the area betweenFour Mills Nature Reserve and Fort Washington State Park. Beginning and ending at the Four Mills Barn, we will hike 2.5 miles along the Green Ribbon Trail, into Fort Washington State Park, and up to the Hawk Observation Deck. After a short break at the Hawk Observation Deck, the hike will travel the same 2.5 miles back to Four Mills.
Detailed Hike Description
The hike will begin at the Four Mills Barn where hikers will go up and across two large, metal bridges with 10-14 steps on either end of each. There are 42” high safety barriers on both sides and handrails on both sets of steps. The wooden decking can be slippery when wet. After the second bridge, we will turn downstream on the Green Ribbon Trail. This is a very root-heavy section, flat and relatively narrow, with several more wooden bridges/boardwalks with 3’5” steps up and off. The trail dips down and crosses a small stream via four concrete slabs that serve as stepping stones before going back up a few feet. The trail surface on either side of this small crossing can be slick when wet and has a roughly 20% incline.
After this crossing the trail continues with sections of roots and rocks, and at times very muddy areas before reaching the Wissahickon, where the trail descends to the creek via 3 large, gravel-filled steps (roughly 5-8” high) and crosses at the Rose-Rubenstein stepping stone crossing. This crossing has 20 concrete stones embedded in the creek, some of which are dislodged and tilted, but which do not move underfoot. At the end of the crossing, there is an incline of stone steps that bring you from the banks back to the trail. The trail continues as packed dirt, with areas of fairly embedded gravel, roots and rocks, muddy spots, and wooden bridges/boardwalks, with some short ascents of roughly 20% slope before meeting Morris Road.
The trail crosses Morris Road and enters Germantown Academy’s Carey Stadium parking area. It crosses through the parking lot and connects briefly with a section of a brick path beside a wetland before returning to an asphalt path that crosses over the Wissahickon via a bridge. The trail then turns back into the woods and becomes a dirt trail again. From here, the trail continues along the creek and through potentially muddy areas, with one boardwalk, before crossing Lafeyette Avenue. This crossing can be difficult given the speed of the roadway and the sightlines.
After crossing Lafeyette, the trail briefly down a paved asphalt access road, then becomes packed dirt once more. The trail descends to the creek down 10, (approximately 4-12” high) wooden steps. The trail then continues across the creek via 17 concrete stepping stones. The other side of the crossing consists of a gradual, dirt rise of just a few feet and the trail continues as before, with areas of potential mud, roots, rocks, and wooden structures. The trail runs underneath the Turnpike overpass where there are medium-large rocks that must be navigated and which can shift underfoot. The trail is somewhat sandier beyond this point from flooding deposits before becoming dirt again. It remains flat until a brief 25-30% slope up to Skippack Pike. Crossing Skippack Pike (Rt. 73)can be difficult due to the volume of traffic and speed of the roadway. After crossing Skippack Pike, the trail turns to the right and you must go over a guardrail to enter Fort Washington State Park. We will follow the trail int Ft. Washington State park, and up the hill toward the Hawk Observation Deck. We will rest at the Hawk Observation Deck before making the return trip to Four Mills.
Access Info
Elevation change: less than 200ft
Trail surface(s): hard-packed dirt with sections of loose and embedded rocks (some up to 6” tall); gravel/crushed stone; exposed roots and rocks; wooden bridges/boardwalks; mowed grass; asphalt; brick path. Note the wooden bridges/boardwalks can become very slippery if wet
Pace: Moderate – roughly 30 minutes per mile
Features: 2 long and 1 short stepping stone crossings across the creek; multiple wooden bridges and boardwalks of varying lengths, some with steps up and some with wooden ramps; 2 sets of wooden stairs down to creek crossings – one with short steps roughly 5” high, one with high steps roughly 12” high; 2 large, metal bridges with wooden decking and 10-14 steps. Stone steps leading to creek crossings.
Amenities: Restrooms and water bottle filling available at Four Mills Barn. Restrooms available at the Ft. Washington State Park Hawk Observation Deck.
Shade: Many sections of the route are shaded, but we will also be walking through areas with no shade.
Habitat: Paved parking lots, forest, fields
What to bring: water, sun protection, durable shoes
