Off the beaten path: Parks & Rec’s picks for fall hikes

You’ll soon see fine fall foliage at Parks & Rec sites across the city. Many people flock to Wissahickon Valley Park, Belmont Plateau, and other popular parks. But how about the path less taken?

We asked Parks & Rec’s Stewardship team for a list of their favorite, lesser-known parks in the city.

Check out these off-the-beaten-path locations for a:

Quiet getaway.
Quick peek at fall color.
Short stroll, or,
Longer hike or bike ride.

Be sure to bring along some water and wear good walking/hiking shoes!

1. Fisher Park

Natural beauty abounds in this 24.5-acre park features. This includes several gardens, woods with trails, and picnic areas. The park’s trees put on a great show each fall. This site was given to the City by industrialist Joseph Wharton in December 1908. The park is named in honor of Wharton’s mother, Deborah Fisher Wharton.

Access:

Entrance: Spencer Street near N. Fairhill Street, 19147.
SEPTA: Fern Rock Transportation Center is a 10-to-15 minute walk from Fisher Park.
Parking: there is small parking lot in the center of the park. Access from the driveway off Spencer Street. There’s also plenty of on-street parking along Spencer St.
Cycling: there are bike lanes on the main arteries leading to the park. Wherever you’re coming from, it’s nicely bike-able.

Fall foliage in Fisher Park.

2. FDR Park—wetland meadow.

FDR Park is known for its lakeside trails, tennis courts, and skate park. Once you’ve seen all that, be sure to check out the 150-acre former golf course. It’s a great place to birdwatch and view fall foliage across a wetland meadow. Look for the deer grazing near Bellaire Manor—only three blocks from the stadiums! The manor was built around 1720 when the entire area was marshland and farms. Be prepared to hear planes roaring overhead as they approach the airport.

Access:

Entrance: to see the former golf course site, use the park entrance at 20th Street and Pattison Avenue, 19145.
SEPTA: Broad Street Line to the Pattison Avenue Station or #4 bus to Pattison Avenue. Walk along Pattison Avenue to 20th Street.
Cycling: South 17th and South 21st Street are the best routes for cyclists.
Parking: park near the American Swedish Historical Museum. (Follow the brown and green signs). Visit the museum after your walk!

Bellaire Manor on the former FDR Park golf course.

3. Lardner’s Point—riverfront views with late-season grasses & wildflowers.

This 4.5-acre riverfront park is located directly south of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. It is connected to the K&T section of the Delaware River Trail. The site includes a river overlook and fishing pier, tidal wetlands, picnic areas, and meadow trails. The park’s varied habitats attract many birds, amphibians, insects, and fish. Visitors have spotted bald eagles, striped bass, peregrine falcons, fox, and more.

Access:

Entrance: the park entrance is located at 5202 Levick Street, 19135.
Parking: there is a parking lot at the end of Levick Street, at the park entrance.
Cycling: the multi-use Delaware River Trail passes through the site. From here you can connect to the city’s bicycle network.

Halloween Pennant dragonfly at Lardner’s Point Park.

4. Morris Park—old-growth forest, creekside trails.

This 117-acre park in Overbrook Park was established in 1911. It has miles of trails that wind through meadow, woods, and along the East and West Branches of Indian Creek. At the southern end is Papa Playground with playground equipment and sports fields. The site is named in honor of the Morris family who donated the largest piece of the park to the City. The section of woods near Sherwood Avenue contains many old trees that put on a colorful show in the fall.

Access:

Entrance: trails run north-south through the park. Enter behind Papa Playground, or near 66th Street and Sherwood Road, 19151.
Parking: there is a small parking lot at Papa Playground. On-street parking can be found in the 6600 block of Sherwood Road.
SEPTA: #105 bus. The park is a six-minute walk from the 68th Street & Malvern Avenue bus stop.

West branch of Indian Creek at Morris Park.

5, Poquessing Creek Park and Trail—beautiful wooded, creekside trail.

Poquessing Valley Park is a 32-acre park in Northeast Philadelphia. A 1.5-mile multi-use trail connects to the heart of the park—and to adjacent Benjamin Rush State Park. The hard surface trail begins at Jim Junod Playground. It connects to many dead-ended suburban streets including Mechanicsville and McNulty Roads. It threads north through the park until it meets the nature trails of Benjamin Rush State Park.

The trail is part of The Circuit, a network of multi-use trails in the greater Philadelphia Area. These trails connect the region and link to the East Coast Greenway.

Access:

Entrance: the trail begins near the Jim Junod Playground, 12770 Dunks Ferry Road, 19154.
Parking: there is a parking lot near the playground. Access the lot via Mechanicsville Road.

Informational sign in Poquessing Creek Park.

6. Roxborough Reservoir: a reservoir reclaimed by nature—with city views!

This reservoir-turned-park is an interesting juxtaposition of nature and man-made infrastructure. Over the last 60 years, the city let nature reclaim the former reservoir. This has created a unique landscape of beautiful trees and grasses. You’ll find spectacular fall foliage here. There’s also plenty of birds. They use the site for nesting and as a stopover during migration. A path rings the top of the reservoir and offers great views of the meadow, wetland, and city skyline!

Access:

Entrance: Enter the park at Port Royal Avenue & Lare Street, 19128.
SEPTA: #27 bus. The park is about an eight-minute walk from the Henry Avenue & Port Royal Avenue bus stop.
Parking: there is plenty of on-street parking near the entrance.