Explore the Outdoors at These State Parks Near Philadelphia

Ridley Creek State Park

Beautiful Ridley Creek State Park sits on 2600 acres in Delaware County that are ideal for outdoor recreation like fly fishing, biking, and hiking. In the winter, it’s even possible to cross-country ski if there is enough snow.

There is a range of hikes like the 4.3-mile Sycamore Mills Road that takes you through woodlands and along the creek or the pleasant 1-mile loop through the gardens of historic Hunting Hill Mansion, an English country manor from 1915. Check out one of the guided nature hikes led by park naturalists on second Sundays to learn more about local wildlife, trees, wildflowers, and park history. On any hike, keep a look out for some of the 250-year-old homes across the park–they’re still inhabited and are often nicely decorated for holidays. In the fall, the colors of the foliage can be outstanding.

One of Ridley Park’s most interesting features is the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation where interpreters in period dress go about the activities of daily life in 1700s Pennsylvania. They cook, tend animals, make candles, and grow vegetables and grains in the kitchen garden. There are even blacksmiths and woodworkers to make what is needed. The plantation is open on weekends from late March through early December.

There are multiple parking areas, so keep looking if the first lot you find is full. The lot near the mansion is often a good option.

Nockamixon State Park

Water lovers flock to Nockamixon State Park near Quakertown thanks to its 1450-acre lake that is a waterfowl migration rest stop and an excellent boating and angling spot. Among the most popular parks in southeastern Pennsylvania, Nockamixon also offers a pool, hiking, biking, and hunting. There are so many activities here that it can get very busy on summer weekends, so it’s best to plan ahead or schedule your visit for an alternate time, if it all possible.

The five public launching sites at the park are good for sailboats, windsurfers, kayaks, and motorboats, all of which you’ll see regularly at Lake Nockamixon. The lake is also a warmwater fishery filled with smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, carp, catfish, and other species. It’s not uncommon to finding fishing derbies hosted here throughout the season.

One of the coolest things about the park is all the programming offered by the naturalists and local specialty groups. There is organized stargazing, wildlife education for children as young as 6, and sunset paddleboat tours, among numerous other options. Many activities are free, so it’s definitely worth checking the event calendar.

French Creek State Park

The forests and lakes of French Creek State Park provide lots of recreational opportunities for visitors in search of boating, fishing, hiking, camping, and hunting.

At Hopewell and Scotts Run lakes you can fish for trout, bass, and more in the warmer months and brave the cold for ice fishing in the winter. Motorboats are allowed only at slow speeds to ensure that nothing too loud disturbs the relative tranquility of the space. If you don’t have your own watercraft, everything from stand-up paddle boards to kayaks are available to rent. While swimming is prohibited in the lakes, the Hopewell pool (beside Hopewell Lake) welcomes visitors daily during the summer.

If walking among the towering oaks and maples is more your speed, there are 35 miles of trails to traverse. The park has lots of resident and migratory birds and wildlife, so it’s always a good idea to watch out for everything from deer and foxes to songbirds.

French Creek is a popular camping location with modern cabins, cottages, and even yurts complete with refrigerators and stoves. While we don’t personally have experience staying overnight here, many visitors report that the rangers can be strict about a 9pm quiet time and the prohibition on alcohol in the park, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to visit.

Marsh Creek State Park

Visitors who enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and water-based activities are right at home in Marsh Creek State Park. In addition to exploring the forests and wetlands in the park, swimming, fishing, and boating are all popular here.

Much of the activity centers around the lake, which is a regular resting stop for migrating waterfowl and the perfect spot for fishing and boating. Sailboats, kayaks, motorboats, and other watercraft are available for rent, and you can even take sailing and windsurfing private lessons. While swimming is not allowed in the lake, we enjoy the pool, and there is a sprayground for kids.

Marsh Creek State Park is often very busy on summer weekends, and the park may temporarily close to vehicles when parking is full. It’s a good idea to come early or find an alternate time, if you can.

Tyler State Park

Newtown’s Tyler State Park just 45 minutes from Philadelphia is set on former farmland and woodlands cut by the meandering Neshaminy Creek. The area offers water recreation and miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Multiple picnic and play areas–including a ball field, volleyball court, playground, and maze–make it a great place for almost any activity. If you have never played disc golf, the park’s outstanding 36-hole course is fun to try.

For fun on the water, you can rent canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards in the summer. If the ice is thick enough, the area near the boat house can be suitable for ice skating in the winter. For land-based winter fun, there are several good sledding areas in the park.

Two cultural institutions on the south side of the park offer something completely different. The Langhorne Players–a community theater company–put on productions from April through November in their theater set in a converted feed mill. Not far away, the Tyler Park Center for the Arts occupies a converted barn and its out buildings. Its members host workshops, exhibitions, and special events throughout the year.

Neshaminy State Park

Downstream from Tyler State Park, Neshaminy State Park is in lower Bucks County. Located where Neshaminy Creek and the Delaware River meet, the park has hiking trails, a pool, fishing, boating, and areas for watching wildlife.

Over six miles of hiking and walking trails snake among the picnic areas and near the pool and spray park. The River Walk, Locust Lane, and Oak Lane trails run along the Tidal Marsh Natural Area, a 71-acre area that has unique plants and wetlands. Between the creek, the river, and the ocean not far away, the park is a good place to see species that frequent both freshwater and saltwater. Over 75 species of birds from the Baltimore oriole to herons and great cormorants have been noted here.

If you have your own boat, head to the marina for access to the Delaware River. You’ll also find the fishing pier here–there are lots of warmwater species like bass, catfish, and panfish. Although the list of things to do is a bit shorter here than at some of the other parks, it’s still lovely to visit–we love walking along the river and taking in the views. The Philly skyline is visible in the distance.

Evansburg State Park

Whether you’re looking for a place to mountain bike, hike, fish, or ride horses, Montgomery County’s Evansburg State Park is the place. Between Norristown and Collegeville, the expansive park offers a peaceful environment in a relatively metropolitan area. We’ve never seen it crowded on any of our visits. For something less rustic (and with more people), the Skippack Golf Club is on park grounds and is open to the public.

Evansburg’s meadows and woodlands offer 6 miles of hiking trails, 5 miles of mountain bike trails, and even more room for equestrian activities. We like to simply walk along Skippack Creek and get lost in nature. Some of the area’s first settlers used the creek to power their industries so there are remnants of early mills and buildings, including the Indenhofen House, a farmstead from around 1713 that now houses the Skippack Historical Society.

If you walk through the woods or meadows, be aware of the “leaves of three”–poison ivy isn’t uncommon here and is to be avoided.

Fort Washington State Park

One of the smaller state parks in the area, Fort Washington State Park has a little bit of everything and is only about 20 minutes from northwest Philadelphia. There are areas for hiking, picnicking, fishing, and more.

Across the Flourtown and Militia Hill Day Use Areas within the park, there are more than 300 picnic tables, which are helpful if you’ve come to play on the softball field, on the volleyball court, or to enjoy the 9-hole disc golf course. The park has 3.5 miles of hiking trails, so you can pair a little outdoor exploration with a lunch stop.

Bird enthusiasts have the privilege of watching the seasonal raptor migration from the park’s observation deck, making this one of the best places for birding near Philadelphia. For visitors who prefer fishing, Wissahickon Creek, which runs through the park, is the fishing spot for carp, catfish, and panfish. We make a beeline here on the rare occasion that there is enough snow to go sledding– in the Militia Hill Day Use Area, there is a 400-foot slope where you can really pick up some speed.