Wissahickon Valley Park

Park curfew is 1 a.m.-6 a.m. from April through November and 8 p.m.-6 a.m. from December through March. City trail regulations separately say trails are open dawn to dusk, so plan trail travel for daylight and obey any shorter posted closure.

Choose a named trailhead before driving and keep a backup lot. Popular Valley Green spaces fill, and parking or drop-off is prohibited on Livezey Lane and Kitchen's Lane because they are emergency-access routes. Lock the vehicle and leave no valuables visible.

Use the Friends of the Wissahickon map to select the trailhead nearest your actual destination. Valley Green, Bells Mill, Northwestern Avenue, Ridge Avenue and neighborhood trailheads reach different parts of the gorge; there is no single practical park entrance.

The three permanent public restroom locations are the Wissahickon Environmental Center, the outdoor restroom at Valley Green Inn, and Kitchen's Lane at Forbidden Drive. Seasonal portable toilets may appear at Northwestern Avenue, Bells Mill, Kitchen's Lane lot and Blue Bell Park; confirm before relying on one.

General park, trail and landmark access is free. Non-Philadelphia residents age 16 or older need a paid annual permit to bicycle or ride a horse on Upper Wissahickon soft trails; food, events and separately operated services may charge.

Forbidden Drive is the most predictable broad route: 5.35 miles of gravel, about 25 feet wide on average, with an average 3% grade and obstacles up to three inches. Trailhead transitions, washouts and side trails vary, and Devil's Pool, Fingerspan and many upper trails require rocky grades and stairs.

Dogs are allowed but must stay on a leash no longer than six feet. Carry waste out or use a receptacle, keep dogs on designated trails, and yield space at narrow bridges, busy trailheads and equestrian encounters.

Forbidden Drive and a short Valley Green outing are the easiest family introductions. The gorge has no conventional destination playground or authorized water play; choose a distance children can return, keep them out of the creek, and identify a restroom before starting.

SEPTA buses and regional rail serve several park edges. The Wissahickon Transportation Center is across Ridge Avenue from the southern trail entrance, while other bus and rail stops require a walk to a specific trailhead; route to the selected entrance, not the park center.

Download the map before entering because cell service can be limited. Check the live trail-conditions section, weather and daylight, tell someone your route, stay on marked trails, and do not swim or wade. Livezey Lane is emergency access, not Devil's Pool parking or drop-off.

Check heat, thunderstorms, creek flooding, wind, snow and ice before entering the gorge. Water can rise quickly, wet rock and leaves become slick, and trees or trail sections may close after storms; turn around rather than crossing floodwater or a closure.

It is the park's most straightforward long route: a 5.35-mile, broad gravel path averaging about 25 feet wide and a 3% grade. It is still an outdoor trail with drainage, loose gravel, crowds and changing conditions, while the color-blazed side trails are substantially narrower and rougher.

No. Swimming and wading are prohibited throughout Philadelphia park waterways. Devil's Pool also has currents, submerged objects, poor water quality, wet rock and limited emergency access; enjoy it from the trail and do not jump from rocks.

Do not drive, park or request drop-off on Livezey Lane; it must remain open for emergency vehicles. Friends of the Wissahickon recommends choosing a legal mapped trailhead such as Mt. Airy Avenue or a Henry Avenue trailhead, then hiking more than half a mile to the pool.

Friends of the Wissahickon directs picnickers away from Devil's Pool and identifies Pachella Field, Blue Bell Field and Harper's Meadow as designated alternatives. Carry out trash, do not bring alcohol and check permit rules for a large gathering.

Forbidden Drive and designated cycling trails allow bicycles, with pedestrians holding the right of way and a seven-mile-per-hour trail speed limit. Riders age 16 or older need an Upper Wissahickon soft-trail permit; Philadelphia residents may register free, while nonresidents pay the published annual fee.

Use the Trail Conditions and Closures section on the Friends of the Wissahickon visitor-information page before a time-sensitive trip. Storm damage, fallen trees, erosion, restoration and road work can close one trail or entrance while the rest of the park remains open.