610-687-9660
Take a Hike! 5 Local Recommendations
Hiking is a great cardio workout that has many health benefits. It strengthens your muscles and bones, and improves your heart and respiratory health. In addition, hiking can significantly relieve stress and calm anxiety, according to the National Park Service.
By Ian Rogers
Staff Writer
Many Woodlynde students and teachers love to get out and explore nature. Students like junior Kyle Shieh, and faculty and administration like Mr. Prontnicki, have traveled far and wide to experience nature on foot.
Hiking is a great cardio workout that has many health benefits. It strengthens your muscles and bones, and improves your heart and respiratory health. In addition, hiking can significantly relieve stress and calm anxiety, according to the National Park Service.
While hiking afar can be an amazing experience, even veteran hikers have tried and true paths closer to home. Those who hike as a hobby or are just looking for something healthy to do over the weekend should definitely consider visiting these five locales. Spring is just around the corner, after all.
THE WISSAHICKON
Let’s look at one of the closest places to Woodlynde: Wissahickon Valley Park.
The Wissahickon is a great location about 20 minutes away from the school, in Philadelphia. Notably, this makes it the largest park system in any major city, according to Mr. Prontnicki, Director of Student Support for Lower School, who frequents the park to hike or run. With 57 miles of trails, there is plenty to explore. The Wissahickon runs through a large gorge, giving the landscape a secluded atmosphere.
RIDLEY CREEK
Another great location that is also 20 minutes away from Woodlynde is Ridley Creek State Park, which has the beautiful Ridley Creek passing through it. Nature thrives there, with deer, songbirds, and even blue herons on the park grounds. It is also notable for its variety of trees, with Oak, Beech, Walnut, Maple, Sycamore, Hickory, and Tulip dispersed around the park. This creates a colorful and appealing tree canopy, especially in the fall.
MARSH CREEK
Marsh Creek State Park is home to stunning wooded forests and fields, and a beautiful, picturesque lake. Marsh Creek is mostly fields, as opposed to the woodland that takes up most of Ridley Creek. If you are looking for some sunshine, go here. It is only about 30 minutes away from the school in Upper Uwchlan and Wallace Townships.
FRENCH CREEK
Next, we have French Creek State Park. French Creek is located in North Coventry and Warwick Townships, making it a longer drive at 37 minutes. However, you will thank yourself for going.
French Creek boasts the largest block of contiguous forest between Washington D.C. and New York City, with 7,730 acres, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It has 35 miles of well-marked trails and extensive wetlands.
One of the more unique areas of the park is the 90-acre Pine Swamp area that supports rare bog species like special moss and other vegetation. You could go here all summer and still have more to explore.
NOCKAMIXON
Finally, we have Nockamixon State Park, which is mostly made up of the 1,450-acre lake Nockamixon. Most of the trails circle around the lake, providing a wonderful view of the active sailors, kayakers, and paddleboarders on the water. The large lake helps sustain aquatic birds, including herons, egrets, kingfishers, and osprey. Birdwatchers and amphibious types alike will feel at home here. It is an hour away, but well worth it.
With thousands of acres of land to explore, you’ll never run out of trails to trek. So what would you rather do with your free time? Lie around inside watching TV? Or go explore some of these fascinating locations?
-
-
FooterAccreditation
-
Woodlynde School is a private, co-ed college prep day school located in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that serves intelligent, talented students with learning differences in grades K - 12. Woodlynde provides a comprehensive, evidence-based Kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school program in a challenging yet nurturing environment for students with average to above average cognitive abilities (IQ) who have language- or math-based learning differences (such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia or Dyscalculia), Executive Function Challenges, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or Auditory Processing Disorder. Even for those students without a diagnosed learning disability (LD), Woodlynde offers expert and caring teachers in small classroom settings that support academic success. Woodlynde School also offers a post-graduate (PG) program in partnership with Rosemont College as well as a regional Summer Camp for students who learn differently.
©2023 Woodlynde School All Rights Reserved
Comments