| Map: | Philadelphia#Pennsylvania |
| Relief: | 1 |
| Coordinates: | 40.05°N -75.215°W |
| Wissahickon Valley Park | |
| Location: | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Nearest City: | Philadelphia |
| Area Acre: | 2042 |
| Governing Body: | Philadelphia Parks & Recreation |
Wissahickon Valley Park is a large urban park that is located in Northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It protects 2042acres[1] of woodland surrounding the Wissahickon Creek between the Montgomery County border and the Schuylkill River. For several miles, the creek winds through a dramatic wooded gorge known as the Wissahickon Valley, a National Natural Landmark.
Forbidden Drive runs the length of the valley, a car-free gravel road popular for walking, running, cycling, and horseback riding.[2] [3] Side trails lead from Forbidden Drive up to rugged bridle paths suitable for hiking and trail riding.[2] The park contains about 50miles of trails in total.[3]
The area was considered part of Fairmount Park from 1867 until the merger of the Fairmount Park Commission and the Department of Recreation in 2010.[4] Today, Wissahickon Valley Park is a unit of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and remains the second-largest park in Philadelphia after Fairmount.[3]
While logging and industrialization occurred in some parts of the valley in the late 18th and early 19th century, the gorge itself was known for its natural environment, inspiring religious mystics like Johannes Kelpius,[5] writers like Edgar Allan Poe, John Greenleaf Whittier, George Lippard, and William Cobbett; and artists like Thomas Moran, James Peale, William Trost Richards, and Currier and Ives.[6]
In 1964, a 1250acres area of the park known as the Wissahickon Valley was designated a National Natural Landmark.[7]
Forbidden Drive, formerly known as the Wissahickon Turnpike, is a wide rocky trail running through the Wissahickon Valley from Ten Box to Cedars House at the upper end of the Park. It is called Forbidden Drive because of a successful protest against cars being allowed to drive in the park. In 1920, the Park Commission wanted to allow cars in the park, but 1,000 protesters on horseback and 12,000 spectators on foot fought against cars on the Wissahickon Turnpike. Every year, the Wissahickon Day Parade is held to celebrate the anniversary of this protest.