Montgomery: Trails, Parks and History

Montgomery combines extensive waterfront trails, expansive parklands and impressive reminders of Pennsylvania’s history. When planning your trip, you can choose between active days on a trail, nature experiences in spacious parks and visits to historic properties. A vacation apartment or vacation home can be selected according to the desired focus of your trip: hiking trails, cultural history or a varied combination of both can take center stage.

Waterfront Trails and Landscapes for Active Days

The Perkiomen Trail runs for 20 miles along Perkiomen Creek from Oaks to the Borough of Green Lane and is connected to the Schuylkill River Trail. Central Perkiomen Valley Park encompasses 800 acres along Perkiomen Creek and provides access to more than 19 miles of the Perkiomen Trail. At Lower Perkiomen Valley Park, you can enjoy views of Perkiomen Creek across 107 acres; the park also serves as a starting point for the Perkiomen Trail. Its trail system is also connected to the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove and Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Additional options include the Wissahickon Trail, an existing hiking trail along Wissahickon Creek from Stenton Avenue to a point near the Borough of Lansdale, and the Schuylkill East Trail. The latter runs mainly on natural surfaces and connects Lock 60 with Upper Schuylkill Valley Park along the Schuylkill River. The Cross County Trail provides access to several public transportation services in Conshohocken and Plymouth Meeting. A three-mile section from Conshohocken to Germantown Pike in Plymouth Township is currently complete.

The parks also offer different experiences. Green Lane Park is a 3,400-acre county-operated open-space area with more than 20 miles of multi-use trails for walking, running and cycling. Audubon Pennsylvania recognized the park as a Pennsylvania Important Bird Area in 1996. The 230-acre Lorimer Park consists of forests and meadows and offers year-round opportunities for hiking, picnicking, birdwatching and wildlife observation, as well as riding your own horse. In winter, sledding and cross-country skiing are also possible there.

At Lock 60 at the Schuylkill Canal Park, a public boat launch and a five-mile water loop are part of the experience. The functioning lock was built in the 1820s. Norristown Farm Park has more than eight miles of paved trails and additional rustic nature trails. A trout-stocked stream and buildings dating from the mid-18th to the early 20th century complement a visit to the park. The historic buildings once belonged to mills, a tannery, farms and Norristown State Hospital.

Historic Sites and Cultural Discoveries

Those who want to explore the region’s history in greater depth will find a restored historic site and working 18th-century farm at Peter Wentz Farmstead. Peter and Rosanna Wentz settled the site in 1744; the house was built in 1758 and is considered a remarkably unique example of Pennsylvania German colonial architecture. A 30- to 45-minute audio tour can be self-guided with a smartphone and accompany you around the grounds.

Pottsgrove Manor was built for the Potts family in 1752 and showcases the elegance of early Georgian architecture. It presents John and Ruth Potts, their 13 children, as well as the paid, indentured and enslaved people who lived and worked there. Special programs, workshops and exhibitions explore 18th-century history. Pennypacker Mills offers tours, exhibitions, nature walks, workshops and special events throughout the year. The collection reflects, among other things, the interests of Samuel W. Pennypacker (1843–1916), his term as governor of Pennsylvania (1903–1907), the construction of the State Capitol, Pennsylvania history, family history and the culture of the Pennsylvania Germans. George Washington and his army encamped at Pennypacker Mills and on the surrounding grounds from September 26 to 29 and from October 5 to 8, 1777.

The John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove is a National Historic Landmark. Mill Grove was built in 1762 and was the first American home of the artist and naturalist John James Audubon. The Center has more than seven miles of trails and offers views of Perkiomen Creek. At the Historic House at Mill Grove, docent-led tours take place Wednesdays through Sundays at 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Valley Forge National Historical Park takes you especially far back in history. It preserves the site of the winter encampment of the Continental Army led by General George Washington from 1777 to 1778 during the American Revolutionary War. The park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, forests, historic landscapes and monuments. A 90-minute trolley tour departs from the visitor center. When planning your accommodation, the desired mix of nature trails, historic sites and guided offerings is therefore a particularly useful point of reference.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

For further orientation, you can also refer to the pages for Fort Washington, Horsham, King Of Prussia, Lansdale, Plymouth Meeting, Willow Grove, Royersford, Pottstown, West Conshohocken, Collegeville, North Wales, Conshohocken, Norristown, Montgomeryville, Eagleville, Bala Cynwyd, Gilbertsville, Hatfield, East Greenville, Oaks and Blue Bell.

For the higher-level trip overview: Pennsylvania.