Are there parts of Fairmount Park that are particularly beautiful during the winter months and are worth taking a walk through? What "natural" areas in Philly, not necessarily limited to Fairmount, are most worth visiting during the winter months?

Please be as detailed as possible for those of us who don't live near the park and/or don't get there very often, if at all.

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Maybe you should look at strange and wonderful places ...

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Forbidden Drive at the trails in the Wissahickon Valley. Penneypack is nice as well. So too is west Fairmount park, near Belmont.

I second that the forbidden trail is so NICE, especially when it is in your back yard.

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A couple of months ago a friend and I discovered Wissahickon Park/Forbidden drive and we were completely blown away. We took our bikes out on a little single track for maybe 10 minutes and we could not hear any traffic, see any power wires, or see any other people for that matter. Very serene. It's hard to imagine that you're in the middle of one of the largest cities in America while you're there.

Yep Forbidden drive is spectacular. The huge sculpture, up on the cliff, of the Indian Chief looking West is my favorite and a must see for all Philadelphians.

Forbidden Drive also is home to the only covered bridge in any major city in the USA. This place is one of Philadelphia's treasures.

Hiking through the Wissahickon gorge is certainly one of the prettiest,
but I think the view from the foot trails above Forbidden Drive is even more spectacular, especially if you get a sunny day after the snow...
Those trails can be slippery, but they give you a great view.

Directions-
- By train, take the R6 to Wissahickon Station, cross under the tracks and walk down the hill, go to the Wissahickon Transfer Center (but stop) at Ridge Avenue & Wissahickon Creek
- By bus, take the 9, or 27 or 124 or 125 to Wissahickon Transfer Center
(they all go past the bus stop at the NorthEast Corner of 15th and JFK, near the Frank Rizzo statute ..)

Once you're at the Wissahickon Creek, you want to be on the same side of the road as Tommy Gunn's, but head south away from Manayunk
coss over the creek with the waterfall to your left.
Cross under the Lincoln Drive Bridge, bear left and head under the stone arch train bridge.

The hiking trail starts on the other side of the train bridge, and zig-zags up the hill following above Lincon Drive. You'll eventually come out at Rittenhousetown at Lincoln Drive & Rittenhouse Drive - cross the road (Rittenhouse) at the Y intersection, then cross Lincoln Drive to the sidewalk, turn right across the stone bridge, dont' turn left to follow the small creek, go straight and follow the gravel road up the hill and follow the upper hiking trail - follow it out to Kitchen's Lane, then you can return along Forbidden Drive -
It's about a 5 or 6 mile hike.

Other great "nature in winter" views are down at FDR park, at the very southern end of the Broad Street Subway, out at Tinicum Marsh/John Heinz Preserve, and don't forget the area of Pennypack Park near Holmesburg circle.



Hal

Ah, just the reply I was waiting for. Thanks, Hal, I'll check out the foot trails.

*** EDIT

and thanks to everyone who replied. All good suggestions.

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The Indian is Chief Tedyuscung (Spelling??) A gift from the Henry family at the turn of the 20th century. Ever see the Quaker statue near Park Line Drive in Mt Airy? Some say it's Billy Penn. And the bridge is beautiful. Then there's the cave near Hermit Lane in East Falls.

I mountainbike these trails all year long. Very quiet, you forget you're in the city.