Explore the Watershed

Green Ribbon Trail & Preserve

    Trail Head

    Parkside Place, Upper Gwynedd Township, PA 19454

    Length

    12.6 Miles

    Difficulty

    Moderate

    Amenities

    Along Water, Historic Site, Picnic Area or Benches, Leashed dogs, Public Transportation (within 1 mile), Restrooms, Parking, Equestrian Trail

Trail Overview

Trail Updates:

 

  • A boardwalk and bridge were washed away by Hurricane Ida just south of the trail entrance at Germantown Academy's athletic fields (near the Morris Road crossing). This section of trail is closed, but trail users can bypass it by continuing through GA's parking lot and following the paved and brick trails through GA's restored wetlands. See the Google map for more details.  
  • The trail is undergoing repairs at the stepping stone crossing just south of Lafeyette Avenue (near mile marker 9.5). This area sustained significant flooding damage during summer 2020. Trail users should exercise caution when descending to the stepping stones and use at their own risk.

 

Step onto the Green Ribbon Trail, our longest and most popular trail, to enjoy diverse wetlands, woodlands, and meadows. Beginning at Parkside Place in Upper Gwynedd Township and ending at Stenton Avenue in Whitemarsh Township, this 12.6 mile trail shadows the Wissahickon Creek the entire way. The Green Ribbon Trail and Preserve was designated by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association as one of the 2022 Great Places in Pennsylvania in the category of Great Greenways and Trails!

 

The trail offers access points through several towns and boroughs including North Wales, Gwynedd Valley, Penllyn, Ambler, and Fort Washington. You’ll pass through several other preserves, including Timoney Preserve, Penllyn Woods, Four Mills Nature Reserve and Fort Washington State Park. If you explore the Fox Loop trail, you'll be able to connect with Natural Lands' Gwynedd Preserve. Please note, the section of creek at the Runners' Crossing has changed and there is now a gap between one bank and the first stepping stone. We are working on a solution. 

 

Along the way, you will find historic sites that offer a glimpse of life in the Wissahickon Valley many years ago. Around mile 2.5, you'll encounter the Evans-Mumbower Mill, a fully operational gristmill built in 1745 where we hold monthly Open Houses. At mile 3.5, you will see the old fireplace at King's Woods that ice skaters used as a warming hut. And at mile 8, you will find our headquarters located in the historic  Four Mills Barn. The barn was designed by Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer and built in 1891 as part of an estate called "Abendruh."

 

For more than 50 years, Wissahickon Trails has worked with individuals and community organizations to gain permission to hundreds of acres to complete the Green Ribbon Trail. By visiting the trail, you can become part of a community tradition. 

 

Early on along its northern portion, the trail intersects a power line right-of-way. Here, Wissahickon Trails worked with PECO Energy Company to restore a meadow of native grasses and wildflowers. You can stop to see a variety of pollinators, including butterflies and birds.

 

Along this section of the trail you’ll hike through a diverse mosaic of environments. The area is made up of meadows and distinct kinds of forests. The different kinds of plants found here allow for many kinds of insects and wildlife, from monarch and red-banded hairstreak butterflies, to pickerel and green frogs.

 

As you walk the trail, you may also spot birds, including great blue herons wading in the creek, and bluebirds, yellow warblers, red-winged blackbirds, goldfinches and song sparrows winging through the air. You can use the eBird app to document the birds you see and share your findings with other trail hikers. 

 

From the trailhead to mile 10, the trail is natural, unpaved and managed by Wissahickon Trails.  When you enter Fort Washington State Park, near mile 10, it becomes a paved and multi-use trail managed by Montgomery County.  Click here to learn more about Fort Washington State Park.

 

Remember, our trails are for foot traffic only. Our trails are not designed for bicycles, so they are not allowed. All dogs must be leashed, as unleashed dogs are a safety concern for trail users, birds and wildlife. Please pick up after your pet.  For a complete list of trail rules and other information, click here.

Download Trail Map
Trail Details
  • Parking

    Multiple locations: Parkside Place, Evans-Mumbower Mill, Gwynedd Preserve, Plymouth Rd/Station Lane, Penllyn Woods, Four Mills Nature Reserve, Fort Washington State Park

  • Public Transit

    Multiple SEPTA Regional Rail Lansdale-Doylestown Line stations have access to the Green Ribbon Trail, including: North Wales, Penllyn, Gwynedd Valley, and Ambler

  • Google Maps

    Directions
  • Before You Go

    General Trail Rules & Information
  • Other Info

    Restrooms available in the park at the Parkside Place trailhead. Portable toilet access at Evans-Mumbower Mill. Full restroom facilities at Four Mills Nature Reserve when office is open.

Trail History

Timoney Preserve

The Green Ribbon Trail is made possible in part by Thomas J. Timoney, who gave his time and expertise to Wissahickon Trails for nearly 50 years as a director on our board. In 2006, Roger and Dee Hillas worked with us to create the Timoney Preserve to remember his legacy. The preserve expands the reach of the trail and protects native flora and fauna. 

Patrick Oelschlageri