Airdrie Forest Preserve
140 Fennerton Road, Paoli
A wooded preserve with over 75 acres and 3.25 miles of trails.
Anson B. Nixon Park
405 N. Walnut Road, Kennett Square
This is a popular spot for families thanks to its picnic area, playground and dog park. It also hosts summer concerts and offers fishing.
Barnes Arboretum at Saint Joseph’s University
50 Lapsley Lane, Merion Station, (610) 660-2802
Home to over 2,500 species of plants, the grounds of this 12-acre arboretum serve as an educational resource for students and community members.
Binky Lee Preserve
1445 Pikeland Road, Chester Springs
Natural woodlands and meadows are home to over 10,000 native trees, various wildlife species and a robust trail system.
Black Rock Sanctuary
953 Black Rock Road, Phoenixville
Almost 120 acres of meadows, wetlands and woodlands, plus a .8-mile ADA-accessible interpretive trail.
Bondsville Mill Park
1647 Bondsville Road, Downingtown
This 47-acre park has mill ruins that date back to the 1800s. There’s also a .25-mile trail around the old mill and a .75-mile nature trail.
Brandywine Battlefield Park
1491 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, (610) 459-3342
The largest land battle during the Revolutionary War took place here, and the 50 acres now serve as a site for education and remembrance.
Bryn Coed Preserve
1869 Flint Road, Chester Springs
This 520-acre preserve has a Pennsylvania champion white oak, eagles’ nests, the ruins of a 19th-century farmhouse, trails and more.
Cedar Hollow Preserve
1635 Church Road, Malvern
A 67-acre natural flood plain with trails that lead through woods and meadows.
ChesLen Preserve
1199 Cannery Road, Coatesville
The largest privately owned nature preserve open to the public in Chester County is a 1,282-acre swath with miles of hiking trails, canoeing and kayaking, woodlands and more.
Chester Valley Trail
A 13-mile paved trail from Exton to King of Prussia, following an old railroad track.
Cool Valley Preserve
11 Cool Valley Road, Malvern
More than 33 acres of meadows and forest are accessible via trails that are also used for cross-country skiing in the winter.
Crow’s Nest Preserve
201 Piersol Road, Elverson
Located next to Hopewell Big Woods, French Creek State Park and Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, this 621-acre preserve has a playground, plenty of wildlife and four main trails.
Crum Woods
500 College Ave., Swarthmore
Part of Swarthmore College and open to the public, this 220-acre parcel has 3.5 miles of trails.
Diamond Rock Preserve
2050 Chautauqua Trail, Malvern
This 66-acre woodland preserve contains a wealth of trees, wildlife and several interconnecting and looping trails.
Evansburg State Park
851 Mayhall Road, Collegeville
Some of the area’s earliest settlers were farmers who used the nearby Skippack Creek as a source of hydropower. Today, visitors can see remains from some of the mills, hike, mountain bike, ride horses and more.
Exton Park
804 E. Swedesford Road, Exton
A 727-acre park with a pond, picnic tables, a two-mile walking trail and a multi-use field.
George Lorimer Preserve
1435 N. Valley Road, Malvern
An 88-acre preserve with 3.25 miles of trails that meander through meadows and woods.
Glen Providence Park
550 W. State St., Media
This 25-acre park offers 1.6 miles of trails.
Goose Creek Park
840 E. Street Road, West Chester
Try your hand at geocaching at this 12-acre park, which also has a half-mile walking trail, a playground and a pavilion.
Harmony Hill Nature Area
1200 Skelp Level Road, Downingtown
East Bradford Townships’ 240-acre park offers seven miles of hiking and biking trails, plus a picnic area. For a forested hike, try the 4.2-mile loop.
Haverford College Arboretum
370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, (610) 896-1000
The arboretum honors William Carvill’s 1834 landscape design, preserving its many trees. The 2.2-mile nature trail that runs through the campus is a peaceful route for runners and dog-walkers alike.
Hibernia County Park
1 Park Road, Coatesville
Visit the historic Hibernia Mansion or explore the 900-acre grounds, which offer camping, hiking, fishing and more.
Ithan Valley Park
642 S. Ithan Ave., Bryn Mawr
Remnants of an old mill can be found at this 19-acre park, which has a stream and 22 species of identified trees.
Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens
631 Berwyn Baptist Road, Devon, (610) 647-8870
Wander the woodland trails and see rare species of plants on this 48-acre property.
Kirkwood Preserve
855 Grubbs Mill Road, Newtown Square
Birders love this 83-acre preserve, which also has hiking and horseback-riding trails.
Longwood Gardens
1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, (610) 388-1000
With over 1,000 acres to explore, plus the conservatory and assorted eating and drinking options, this world-renowned garden is a great place to experience any season in all its glory.
Lower Perkiomen Valley Park
101 New Mill Road, Oaks
Situated along Perkiomen Creek, this 107-acre park has picnic pavilions, a playground, a basketball court, volleyball, fishing and more. It connects to the Perkiomen and Schuylkill River trails.
M. John Johnson Nature Center
810 Skelp Level Road, West Chester
A multi-use paved trail that connects to Sugar’s Bridge Nature Area. Bikes are permitted on the paved portion.
Marshall Mill House Preserve
932 Creek Road, Kennett Square
Situated on 40 acres and offering 1.5 miles of trails, the preserve is also home to the old Marshall Mill House.
McKaig Nature Education Center
889 Croton Road, Wayne
A 93-acre preserve with an array of outdoor and educational activities.
Newlin Grist Mill
219 Cheyney Road, Glen Mills
Home to a working grist mill built in 1704, this 160-acre park offers educational programs and a 2.9-mile walking loop. Trout fishing is popular in season.
Norristown Farm Park
2500 Upper Farm Road, Norristown
A working farm that’s been in use since colonial times. Hiking trails lead to forested areas and wetlands. Fifteen historic buildings date back to the 1700s, and there’s also a trout nursery.
Okehocking Preserve
5316 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square
Once part of land grant from William Penn to the Okehocking people of the Lenni Lenape Native Americans, this 180-acre preserve has seven miles of trails.
Paoli Battlefield Historical Park
Monument and Wayne avenues, Malvern
A 20-acre park with a parade ground and a memorial to Continental Army soldiers killed in the Revolutionary War battle.
Peacedale Preserve
126 Peacedale Road, Landenberg
Explore woodlands, hayfields and two streams via several connecting hiking loops on this 222-acre preserve.
Pocopson Township Trails
Various locations
A system of trails accessible through parks and green space.
Radnor Trail
520 Conestoga Road, Wayne
A 2.4-mile paved biking and walking trail extending from Radnor-Chester Road to Sugartown Road.
Ridley Creek State Park
1023 Sycamore Mills Road, Media
Wander more than 2,600 acres via a 13-mile trail system, with five miles of designated trails for biking and cross-country skiing. Horseback riding is available, and you can tour the historic Hunting Hill Mansion.
Rolling Hill Park
1301 Rose Glen Road, Gladwyne
A 103-acre park anchored by an 1896 caretaker’s cottage. It also has a native rain garden, meadows, woodlands, historic stone ruins and plenty of trails.
Sadsbury Woods Preserve
443 Old Wilmington Road, Coatesville
Part of the largest unfragmented woodlands in Chester County, this 508-acre preserve has two main trails.
Saunders Woods Preserve
1020 Waverly Road, Gladwyne
Explore the forest and an open meadow at this 25-acre preserve.
Saw Mill Park
666 Earles Lane, Newtown Square
Once home to the region’s earliest settlers, this 4.2-acre park has fishing, trails and access to the Willows and Skunk Hollow.
Schuylkill River Trail
This multiuse trail covers nearly 130 miles from Philadelphia to Pottsville.
The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College
500 College Ave., Swarthmore, (610) 328-8025
Educational and horticultural programs are plentiful at this 425-acre arboretum.
Sharp’s Woods Preserve
1415 Byrd Drive, Berwyn
Surrounded by development, this 27-acre preserve gives residents the space to escape into meadows and marshlands.
Shaw’s Bridge Park
274 S. Creek Road, West Chester
A 37-acre park with gravel trails.
Skunk Hollow Park
600 Darby Paoli Road, Villanova
More than 90 acres of conserved land is set aside for hiking and fishing. Three trails are available, and a popular community garden is a great resting spot.
Smedley Park
20 Papermill Road, Springfield
A 141-acre park with two ball fields, picnic tables and a 2.2-mile trail.
Springton Manor Farm
860 Springton Road, Glenmoore
A 300-acre park with a manor and carriage house, plus a barn and a variety of animals.
Squire Cheyney Park
Freedom Rider Trail, West Chester
Once used for crop farming, this park’s 52 acres now offer walking trails, a springhouse and interpretive signs.
Stateline Woods Preserve
814 Merrybell Lane, Kennett Square
An 82-acre preserve with four miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and winter cross-country skiing.
Stone Hills Preserve
124 Laver Road, Schwenksville
Part of the larger Unami Forest, this 13-acre preserve comes alive with wildflowers in spring.
Stoneleigh
1829 E. County Line Road, Villanova, (610) 353-5587, ext. 200
Once a family home, Stoneleigh is a public garden that celebrates the beauty of native plants and the importance of biodiversity.
Stroud Preserve
454 N. Creek Road, West Chester
This 571-acre preserve is a mix of grasslands woodlands and repurposed farmland. There are four main hiking trails, and horseback riding is available in select locations. It’s also used for scientific research by the Stroud Water Research Center.
Struble Trail
Dorlan Mill Road, Downingtown
Hike or bike on a 2.6-mile trail along the east branch of Brandywine Creek.
Timber Top Trails
832 Downingtown Pike, West Chester
More than two miles of walking and horseback-riding trails.
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road, Media, (610) 566-9134
This 650-acre arboretum boasts an impressive collection of heritage and champion trees, 17 miles of hiking trails, and fun kid-friendly structures.
Valley Creek Park
361 Morehall Road, Malvern
A 35-acre park with tennis courts, a pavilion, a playground, trails and an amphitheater for summer concerts.
Valley Creek Preserve
Hayfield Road, Malvern
A 46-acre parcel with trails, meadows and access to trout fishing.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
1400 N. Outer Line Drive, King of Prussia
The former site of the Continental Army’s 1777-78 winter encampment is now a history and nature lover’s paradise, with 28 miles of trails—some open to biking.
Wawa Preserve
127 Valley Road, Media
Part of this preserve’s 98 acres was once used for cattle grazing by the Wawa convenience store chain. Today, there are several trails.
White Clay Creek Preserve
405 Sharpless Road, Landenberg
Hike, bike and more on 2,072 acres.
Willisbrook Preserve
110 Township Line Road, Malvern
This 126-acre plot boasts a unique ecosystem known as the Sugartown Serpentine Barrens.
The Willows
490 Darby Paoli Road, Villanova
Aside from a wealth of willow trees, this park has a restored mansion built in the early 1900s, plus trails and picnic areas.
Wilson Farm Park
500 Lee Road, Chesterbrook
A popular gathering place in the Chesterbrook planned community, with an amphitheater, picnic areas, a playground and athletic facilities.
Wolf’s Hollow County Park
1399 Schoff Road, Atglen
The bluffs at this 569-acre park overlook Octoraro Creek. It has about 10 miles of trails.
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