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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 6-mile hike will travel downstream, exploring the area between the Evans-Mumbower Mill and Penllyn Woods. Beginning and ending at the Evans-Mumbower Mill, we will hike 3 miles along the Green Ribbon Trail to Penllyn Woods. After a short break at the Penllyn Woods' community center, the hike will travel the same 3 miles back to the Evans-Mumbower Mill.
Detailed Description:
The hike will begin by walking down Swedesford Rd. to the entrance of the Green Ribbon Trail. The trail travels up a very short rise then descends gradually again into the woods. There are stretches of gravel as well as dips and rises. Some areas have lots of roots and erosion to navigate, along with a few new wooden bridges/boardwalks and one new, 66-foot composite boardwalk just beyond the 2.5 mile marker. At roughly 3 miles, the trail comes out into an open meadow areas before going under Route 202 along a concrete “sidewalk” beside the Wissahickon Creek. Cars passing over the bridge overhead can be loud here. The trail then crosses over a small ditch with no bridge, then dips down and across a small stream with 4 steps down and a gradual soil slope on the other side.
From here, the trail goes through a heavily wooded section that can be muddy at times and gradually rises before leveling out. The trail dips down a gully/culvert lined with concrete and then passes an old chimney before going uphill with a small set of wooden steps without a handrail. The trail surface becomes very irregular here and can be challenging to navigate, with 25% inclines and a significant cross slope with roots right next to a sudden drop off towards the creek. There are no handrails or safety barriers. After that, the trail bed is full of medium to large rocks, and a short scramble over large, rough boulders underneath a railroad bridge is required. The trail continues briefly on packed dirt and then merges with an asphalt road before crossing Plymouth Road.
After crossing Plymouth Road, the trail descends slightly toward the Wissahickon creek with a surface of large gravel that can shift underfoot. It then crosses the creek just before the 4-mile marker via 17 stepping stones, with 2-3 large boulders to get you to the stepping stones on both ends. From here, the trail follows a sewer line cut and then descends briefly over some large rocks and a concrete sidewalk under another railroad bridge. One the other side of the railroad overpass, the surface continues to be packed earth with some muddy areas with embedded gravel, roots, and larger rocks, and then a stretch of gravel used as an access road, before coming out at Penllyn Woods. We will rest at the Penllyn Woods Community Center before making the return trip to the Mill.
Access Info
Elevation change: less than 200ft
Trail surface(s): Asphalt; hard-packed dirt with sections of embedded rocks (some up to 6” tall); gravel; exposed roots and rocks; wooden bridges/boardwalks; mowed grass; one very steep section with exposed roots and no guardrails above creek; short stretches of concrete; two areas with medium to large boulders that must be navigated. Note the wooden bridges/boardwalks can become very slippery if wet.
Pace: Moderate – roughly 30 minutes per mile
Features: Stepping stone crossings across the creek; multiple wooden bridges and boardwalks of varying lengths, some with steps up and some with wooden or earthen ramps; wooden steps.
Amenities: Port-a-potty at Evans-Mumbower Mill and restrooms available at Penllyn Woods.
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
