Forbidden Drive

Forbidden Drive extends through most of the park rather than occupying one point. Choose a segment and trailhead on the FOW map; Valley Green, Bells Mill, Northwestern Avenue and the Ridge Avenue end create very different outing lengths.

There is no single Forbidden Drive lot. Park at a legal mapped trailhead and avoid Livezey Lane and Kitchen's Lane, which must remain clear for emergency access. Popular lots require a backup plan.

City trail regulations open trails dawn to dusk, seven days a week. Curfew, storm damage, restoration work or an entrance closure may shorten access independently.

Permanent restrooms are at Valley Green Inn, Kitchen's Lane at Forbidden Drive and the Wissahickon Environmental Center. Seasonal portable toilets appear at selected trailheads, but long sections of the route have no facility.

Walking and running are free. Bicycle and equestrian permit rules apply to Upper Wissahickon soft trails; nonresident riders age 16 or older pay the published annual permit fee.

FOW describes Forbidden Drive as gravel, 5.35 miles long, about 25 feet wide on average, with an average 3% grade and obstacles up to three inches. It is the park's most predictable route, but surface, drainage and trailhead transitions still vary.

Dogs are welcome on a leash no longer than six feet. Keep right, manage the leash around cyclists and horses, and pick up waste.

A short out-and-back from Valley Green or another mapped trailhead is easier than committing to the full route. Set a turnaround point, carry water and keep children out of the creek.

The route is shared by walkers, runners, bicycles and horses, with a seven-mile-per-hour trail speed limit and pedestrians holding right of way. Download the map before entering because cellular service is inconsistent.

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.