Join Fairmount Park Conservancy and a rotating set of local run clubs (see schedule below) for a 4.5-mile trail run along West Fairmount Park’s historic Trolley Trail. Whether you’re training for an upcoming race, looking to connect with other runners, or just want to get to know the trail system better, this run series provides the perfect opportunity.

Trail runs will be led by a Fairmount Park Conservancy staff person, in partnership with a local run club leaders (see schedule below). At a few points along the run, we’ll stop and talk about the past and present of the Trolley Trail, which roughly follows the route of the old Fairmount Park Trolley that operated from 1896-1946. We’ll even run through some of the physical remains of what is now a hidden trolley network.

Each run will have multiple pace groups; however, in order to finish before sunset, runners should be able to consistently run for 4.5 miles on trails. While this run series is in partnership with local run clubs, you do not need to be part of the run club to attend. Each event will be a mix of runners from that club and runners from the general public. Join for one run or for all four!

ABOUT THE TROLLEY TRAIL: Fairmount Park Conservancy, along with partners at Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Belmont Plateau Trails Alliance, have been working to develop the Trolley Trail – a scenic multi-purpose trail that loosely follows the path of the former Fairmount Park Trolley. New gateways, trail signage, and bike racks were recently added and a ribbon-cutting was held in November 2023. Read more here.

TICKETS: Free, registration required**

**We are proud to be able to offer these events for free; however, there is limited capacity. Last-minute cancellations and no-shows can take away tickets from others. We ask that you be mindful of this and please only register if you plan to attend.

RUN CLUB SCHEDULE

• Wednesday, March 11: Chasing Trail PHL
• Wednesday, April 1: Run club partner TBD
• Wednesday, May 6: Run club partner TBD
• Wednesday, June 3 (Global Running Day!): Run club partner TBD

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• This run is 4.5 miles over mainly hilly, singletrack trails.
• In order to finish the route before sunset, all runners should be able to run continuously for 4.5 miles on trails.
• Please dress according to weather conditions. We suggest wearing running shoes with good grip if possible (trails can get slippery after recent rain).
• We will have water available after the run. If you want water during the run, we suggest bringing a running bottle or hydration vest.
• Unfortunately, there are no bathrooms available nearby so please plan accordingly.
• We will leave a few minutes after the scheduled start time. Please try to arrive at the departure location at least five minutes early.
• Due to the large group and single-track nature of the trails we’ll be running, we suggest not bringing dogs along.
• Space is limited, and registration is required. If you cannot attend an event, please show courtesy to fellow parkgoers and cancel your registration with advance notice so that someone else can participate.
• Important pre-event information and any event updates are sent out via email. Please make sure the email address entered is correct and that you check it before coming out to the event.

PARKING/GETTING THERE: We’ll meet at the Belmont Plateau parking lot across from Belmont Mansion, overlooking the city skyline. There is plenty of free parking available in the lot. As always, never leave valuables in your car! If traveling by public transit, the nearest stop is at Belmont Ave and Belmont Mansion/Fairmount Park Drive – a half-mile walk from the start. The closest Indego bike station is at Parkside and Belmont Ave – also a half-mile walk from the start.

QUESTIONS? Please reach out to programs@myphillypark.org

Enjoy our programs? Play it forward for Philly parks! Fairmount Park Conservancy’s Fair Play Campaign is creating healthy park infrastructure, expanding people-centered programs, and preparing our organization for the future. Learn more and get involved at fairplayphilly.org