Enjoy a run or walk along the scenic, cliff-top trails of East Fairmount Park–all for a good cause!

Sign-up to walk or run the Boxers’ Trail 5k on September 16, 2023. The run starts at 9:30 a.m. Proceeds from the event benefit East Fairmount Park and Mander Playground.  

Where is the trail?

The 3.8-mile Boxers’ Trail winds along a wooded hilltop in East Fairmount Park. It is located high above the Schuylkill River and Kelly Drive. The trail runs between Sedgley Woods Disc Golf Course and Historic Strawberry Mansion. Along the way, it passes through forests and meadows, up hills, and along a shaded creek.

The trail connects the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood to East Fairmount Park. It allows residents to access the park’s historic, cultural, and athletic resources. Some of the sites connected by the trail include:

• Joseph E. Mander Playground 
• Historic Houses of Fairmount Park (Mount Pleasant, Ormiston, Laurel Hill Mansion, and Woodford, and Historic Strawberry Mansion). 
• Smith Memorial Playground  
• The Discovery Center 
• Sedgley Woods Disc Golf Course

What kind of trail is it?

The trail is 3.8 miles long. Sections of the trail are covered with crushed stone. Other parts are paved with asphalt.

How did the trail get its name? 

In the late 1800s, people rode horses along the clifftop paths. Later, the trails became part of a network of walking paths. In the mid-1900s it became famous for the boxing champions who trained there. These included “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier. According to legend, Muhammad Ali looked for Frazier on the trail to challenge him. The trail name honors all the boxers who used the trail. Young boxers still use the trail to train today

Who made improvements to the trail? 

In the early 2000s, the Fairmount Park Commission (now Parks & Rec) and Fairmount Park Conservancy partnered to improve the trail. Before the restoration, the Boxers’ Trail was a narrow, unpaved, underused path.  

In 2020, Fairmount Park Conservancy made updates to Boxers’ Trail Gateway. The new gateway features a “shadow boxer” silhouette and a map of Boxers’ Trail. It also includes panels that highlight the boxing careers of famed Philly boxers. These include Bennie Briscoe, Joe Frazier, Bernard Hopkins, and Matthew Saad Muhammad.

How does the event help the community?

Proceeds from the Walk/Run benefit Mander Playground. Located at N. 33rd St and Diamond St., Mander Playground offers a wide variety of youth programming. These include soccer, flag football, cheerleading, salsa, movie nights, summer camps, after-school programs, and walking clubs.

The annual event is hosted by:  

• Philadelphia Parks and Recreation
• Fairmount Park Conservancy  
• Strawberry Mansion community with support from Philly Runs

Need help preparing for the 5K?

We Walk PHL is hosting a series of Prep Walks now until August 31, 2023. The walks can help you:

• Build endurance.
• Become familiar with the Boxers’ Trail.