Park Directory

Wissahickon Valley Park, designated a National Natural Landmark in 1964, includes the Wissahickon Creek gorge, carved through Wissahickon Schist bedrock, with steep wooded hillsides and a rich history reflected in sculptures and historic structures, including Philadelphia's only remaining covered bridge. Its trail system offers over 50 miles of biking, hiking, and equestrian trails and is designated a National Recreational Trail. Nearby attractions include the covered bridge, originally built in 1737 and restored in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration and again in 1999 with city funds from the Fairmount Park Commission; the Tedyuscung Statue, a kneeling warrior commissioned by Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Henry and carved in 1902 by John Massey Rhind on Council Rock, where the Lenape Tribe are believed to have held gatherings; Devil's Pool at the confluence of Cresheim and Wissahickon creeks, overlooked by Shakespeare Rock with a carved quotation from Two Gentlemen of Verona; Livezey House, also called Glen Fern, dating to about 1700, purchased by Thomas Livezey in 1747, beside his gristmill, one of the largest along Wissahickon Creek and within the Colonies, with an adjacent dam reconstructed during the Depression by Works Progress Administration stonemasons; and Fingerspan Bridge, a finger-shaped sculpture commissioned in 1987 by the Fairmount Park Art Association, created by Jody Pinto from an old ship's staircase and installed by helicopter as a pedestrian bridge. The Valley Green Inn, built in 1850 and the last remaining inn that once lined Forbidden Drive, has undergone cosmetic, structural, and interior improvements by the Friends of the Wissahickon, including a snack bar, outdoor pavilion, and bar in 2002 and renovations completed in 2014 to preserve its Victorian-era character while serving contemporary visitors.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · United States