10 Must-Do Fall Hikes Near Philadelphia

As much as I enjoy hiking year-round, nothing tops a hike in autumn with the crisp, cool air and all of the incredible colors of the trees surrounding you.

Luckily, there are several fall hikes near Philadelphia (some inside the city limits and others up to 90 minutes away), so you can get out on an autumn day and enjoy the changing colors.

The guide below shares 10 of the best in the region – so let’s start planning your fall hikes today!

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When is the Best Time to See Fall Colors Near Philadelphia?

To see the best fall colors, you must plan your fall foliage hikes at the right time. In Philadelphia, you’ll usually experience the best color towards the end of October, usually the last week of the month. The further you go north from the city, the earlier you’ll see the best colors in October.

Although there is no perfect prediction for the best fall colors, in general:

• The Poconos will have great color in mid-October
• Berks County, Upper Montgomery County, and Upper Bucks County will typically show the best color in the third week of October.
• Delaware County, Chester County, and Philly will be closer to the end of the month.

I’ll also add that even after “best color,” it’s so beautiful to hike in the region. There is something magical about hiking through the forest as the leaves fall around you.

1. Trolley Trail at Fairmount Park

The Trolley Trail in West Fairmount Park is a 4-mile loop that follows the path of the scenic trolley that ran through the woods in the 20th century.

It’s a relatively easy trail with little elevation gain, though there are rocks and roots to navigate. Some of the highlights along the trail are crossing the W Ford Road overpass and walking through the Skew Arch Bridge. The trail is multi-use, so you may encounter horseback riders and mountain bikers on your hike.

With several species of trees along the trail, you’ll experience a lot of gold and yellow and pops of red.

2. Orange Trail at Wissahickon Valley Park

You honestly can’t go wrong with any of the trails at Wissahickon Valley Park, but we love the Orange Trail the most. The Orange Trail is moderate, 5.6 miles long, and follows the Wissahickon Creek.

If you’d like to try a short loop, take the Orange Trail from the Bells Mill Road parking lot to Rex Avenue. From there, you can either cross the bridge over to Forbidden Drive for a leisurely walk back to Bells Mill, or you can take the White Trail. If you choose the White Trail, you’ll pass by the Tedyuscung Statue, which is a fun find.

There are even more beautiful places to explore in Wissahickon! It’s one of those parks you can return to over and over again and try a different trail each time.

3. Overlook Trail at Evansburg State Park

Evansburg State Park isn’t the most popular state park near Philadelphia, but it still offers a lot of beauty. One of the most popular trails is the Skippack Creek Trail, a pretty creek trail in the area.

However, for fall foliage and pretty views, try the Overlook Trail, a short, 1-mile loop on the southern end of the park. The trail follows the Skippack Creek for a bit before turning away. This is a perfect fall hike since it is usually quiet and you can enjoy the sound of the leaves falling around you.

4. Multiple Trails at Ridley Creek State Park

Like Wissahickon Valley Park, you can’t go wrong with any of the trails at Ridley Creek State Park.

Most of the trails are moderate, with some steeper sections and rocks and roots to navigate. The Orange and White Trails will bring you close to Ridley Creek, while the Blue Trail has some cool ruins along the way.

While you’re in the park, stop by the Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead. They often host events on the weekends in the fall.

5. Loop/Waterfall Trail at Ringing Rocks County Park

Fall is one of the best times to visit Ringing Rocks County Park! Of course, you have the gorgeous colors of the changing leaves. But also, the waterfall typically is running a little fuller (especially compared to hot, dry summer months).

The loop at Ringing Rocks is about one mile long and moderate in difficulty. Many people don’t complete the whole loop, opting to hike to the waterfall and then back again. Whichever way you choose to do the trail, you won’t be disappointed in the fall. And don’t forget to bring your hammer. You’ll want to take some time to bang on the musical rocks!

6. High Rocks at Ralph Stover State Park

High Rocks offers one of the best fall hikes near Philadelphia! Between the views of the gorge at the top and then the views along the Tohickon Creek, you get the best of both worlds along this trail.

The full loop is about four miles long and crosses from Ralph Stover State Park into Tohickon Valley Park. However, you can get to the view almost immediately by parking at the lot on Tory Road. We like to hike down to Tohickon Creek and then back again, which is about two miles in length.

This is a very popular trail, and even more so in the fall with the incredible colors, so try to visit during the week or early in the morning.

7. Lower Trail at Monocacy Hill Recreation Area

Monocacy Hill Recreation Area is one of my favorite hiking spots in Berks County (second only to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary). The trails are so well-maintained and clearly marked. And it’s not super crowded (so keep this hidden gem to yourself! 🤫)

This is the perfect spot to enjoy a fun fall hike and the beautiful foliage. You can also take in a scenic view by taking the Monocacy Hill Trail, but that is more challenging than the Lower Trail loop.

8. Orange & Yellow Trails at Sourland Mountain Preserve

The first time I hiked at Sourland Mountain Preserve was in the fall, and I was immediately enamored with the park! It has since become one of my favorite places to hike year-round. But you’ll definitely want to make a point to visit while the leaves are falling! It’s almost magical to stand there in the forest as they flutter down like snowflakes.

There are several fun trails at Sourland, including one that leads you to a view of the Lower Manhattan skyline! But our go-to loop is the Orange and Yellow Trails loop that takes you past the Devil’s Half-Acre. It’s challenging (lots of rocks!) but still a lot of fun.

9. Bears Rocks on the AT at Germansville, PA

There are several incredible places to hike along the Appalachian Trail that will offer gorgeous views in the fall. However, for this list, I had to choose one, so I decided to share a less popular vista (compared to the Pinnacle or Pulpit, for example).

The hike to Bears Rocks is about three miles out-and-back, and is pretty flat at the start of the trail. It gets rockier as you approach the rocky outcropping that is Bears Rocks. You’ll have to scramble up the rocks to get the view, but it’s worth it!

If you’d rather see a pretty view without the scrambling, continue south along the trail to P’s Peak Vista, about 2/10 mile. There is a pretty overlook towards the southeast, and it doesn’t require four points of contact!

10. Lookout Trail at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is one of my favorite places to hike! We enjoy the trails year-round, but visiting in the fall is magical.

Although all of the trails at Hawk Mountain are worthy of your time, the Lookout Trail leads you to an incredible rocky outcropping with 200° views of the surrounding area. Perfect for enjoying all of the fall colors!

Hawk Mountain can be busy in the fall, since it’s migration season, so you might find it to be crowded at the top. But even during that time, I haven’t found the trails to be extremely busy, so it’s still a great time to visit!

Fall Hikes Near Philadelphia Wrap-Up

Honestly, there are so many incredible places to hike near Philadelphia that would be amazing to see in the fall! I always love hiking Mount Misery at Valley Forge. And even hiking to the highest point in Montgomery County provides some beautiful fall foliage. Not to mention some of the gorgeous trails in the Delaware Water Gap, like Mount Minsi and Mount Tammany. There are so many hikes to choose from!