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iKristy Morley
Explore the Watershed

Briar Hill Preserve

    Trail Head

    Prophecy Creek Park, 205 W Skippack Pike, Ambler, PA 19002

    Length

    0.75 Miles

    Difficulty

    Moderate

    Amenities

    Leashed dogs, Parking, Along Water, Equestrian Trail

Trail Overview

Visit Briar Hill Preserve and experience an incredible piece of preserved land in the Wissahickon watershed. Briar Hill Preserve--and the adjacent Cheston Family Preserve and Hughes Family Preserve--is located next to Whitpain Township's Prophecy Creek Park. 

 

Since 1981, Wissahickon Trails has been working with individuals and community partners to protect the area along Prophecy Creek. Thanks to these collective efforts, Prophecy Creek is the healthiest creek in the watershed. 

 

Before stepping onto the trail, visit the small, spring-fed ponds located where the Township’s park meets the preserve. These ponds are behind the Manor House at Prophecy Creek. The ponds are an important habitat for eastern painted turtles and common snapping turtles. Northern water snakes, muskrats, and green and blue herons have also been seen here. You may also see the northern red-bellied cooter, a threatened turtle species.

 

Continue your journey by walking northeast toward the green bridge. Cross the bridge and follow the signs. From there, cross the bridge installed in 2020 and you'll find yourself on the Turtle Trail (purple), a .8-mile loop that winds along the Prophecy Creek and one of its small tributaries. From the Turtle Trail, you can connect to the Wood Thrush Trail (yellow) for a shortcut through the forest. Follow either and you'll eventually meet up with the Hummingbird Trail (red), a .1-mile spur that passes through the meadow of the Cheston Family Preserve. 

 

As you explore, you’ll find an environment that is filled with early and late forest and meadow habitat. Along the bank of the creek you will see red maple, sycamore, and beech trees. Farther from the creek shore you will find tulip trees. Beneath the forest canopy, look for skunk-cabbage, mayapple, Virginia waterleaf, and sensitive fern. 

Download Trail Map
Trail Details
Detailed Accessibility Information about the Trails at Briar Hill Preserve Below

Download  a printer-friendly PDF with trail descriptions. 


Access Trail

  • Surface: Mown grass/lawn; after the Wildlife Observation Blind it can get muddy; hard-packed dirt; wooden boardwalk over a very muddy section.

  • Distance: 0.35 miles each way to the Briar Hill Preserve boundary.

  • Gradient: Flat and then sloping away from the parking lot at 8-10%. A 5% incline after the Wildlife Observation Blind.

  • Width: A massive lawn; wooden boardwalk is 30” wide and requires a 6” step up and then down.

  • Cross slope: Minimal, except for the final section before the Briar Hill Bridge, where it is moderate.

  • Benches: One, at the Wildlife Observation Blind.

  • Shade: Some in the warmer months.

  • Drainage issues: Muddy section near the preserve boundary.

  • Obstacles: Metal grated footbridge; muddy section with wooden boardwalk over it. 

Freya McGregori

Turtle Trail

  • Surface: Hard-packed dirt with some exposed roots.

  • Distance: On the right, 0.2 miles to the intersection with the Keystone Trail. On the left, 0.3 miles to the ‘x’ intersection with the Hummingbird Trail. 0.1 miles on the straight-line connector.

  • Gradient: Less than 2% to the right. To the left, a consistent 5-8% incline. Straight line connector: mostly flat with a 5% decline to the right (southeast).

  • Width: 10” well-trodden trail; up to 40” available.

  • Cross slope: Minimal.

  • Benches: None.

  • Shade: Almost complete in the warmer months.

  • Drainage issues: Two significant muddy patches. Some channeling 0.2 miles to the left.

  • Obstacles: Occasional exposed roots no higher than 2”. Short wet creek crossing to the left with small informal stepping stones available, followed immediately by a short, 15% incline over slick dirt with a significant cross slope. Boardwalk bridge at the intersection of the Hummingbird and Wood Thrush Trails which is made of wooden planks and is 53” wide, with 1 ½” high edges on both sides, and requires a 5” step up onto it and then 5” step down off it.

Freya McGregori

Hummingbird Trail

  • Surface: Hard-packed dirt with some exposed roots; trampled grass.

  • Distance: 0.16 miles each way.

  • Gradient: 15% incline from the boardwalk/three-way intersection to the left (northwest), continuing up beyond that section at about 5%.

  • Width: 10” well-trodden trail; up to 40” available.

  • Cross slope: Minimal.

  • Benches: None.

  • Shade: Some.

  • Drainage issues: None.

  • Obstacles: Boardwalk bridge at the intersection of the Turtle Trail which is made of wooden planks and is 53” wide, with 1 ½” high edges on both sides, and requires a 5” step up onto it and then 5” step down off it.

Freya McGregori

Wood Thrush Trail

  • Surface: Hard-packed dirt with some exposed rocks near the wooden boardwalk.

  • Distance: 0.16 miles. 0.04 miles to the intersection of Keystone Trail; 0.12 to the intersection of the Turtle Trail.

  • Gradient: Less than 2%.

  • Width: 12” well-trodden trail; up to 40” available.

  • Cross slope: Minimal.

  • Benches: None.

  • Shade: Complete in warmer months.

  • Drainage issues: None.

  • Obstacles: Short section full of exposed rocks; exposed rocks and roots; moderate to severe cross slope.

Freya McGregori

Keystone Trail

  • Surface: Hard-packed dirt with some bumps and exposed roots and rocks up to 4” high along the ‘stick’ of the lollipop. Mown grass around the loop.

  • Distance: 0.8 mile lollipop.

  • Gradient: 5-8% downslope on the segment between the Wood Thrush Trail and the Turtle Trail. Frequent sections of 12-15% incline in the ‘stick’ of the lollipop. Less than 5% around the loop.

  • Width: 26” on the ‘stick’ of the lollipop; 64” around the loop.

  • Cross slope: Moderate to severe in places.

  • Benches: None.

  • Shade: Complete in the warmer months along the ‘stick’ of the lollipop; little to none around the loop.

  • Drainage issues: Minor channeling after the Turtle Trail intersection; three significant ruts across the trail along the ‘stick’ of the lollipop.

  • Obstacles: Short section full of exposed rocks; exposed rocks and roots; moderate to severe cross slope.

Freya McGregori

Trail History

Prophecy Creek

City and county governments, local residents and landowners have worked together to preserve Prophecy Creek. Over the decades, the Haas family has donated many acres of land and conservation easements near Prophecy Creek to preserve its natural areas. In 2018, the family of James Cheston IV and several conservation-minded community members worked with Wissahickon Trails to protect additional land. In 2020, an additional 31 acres was preserved in partnership with Tim and Aurora Hughes, Saly Glassman, and Ira Berman. This additional land, called the Hughes Family Preserve at Briar Hill, brings the total amount of protected open space along the creek to 230.92 acres.

Margaret Rohdei