Join Fairmount Park Conservancy and Appalachian Mountain Club for a two-mile Hiking 101 workshop in West Fairmount Park.

Hiking is an activity that anyone can enjoy and benefit from! Spending time in nature can boost your mood, reduce stress, build a stronger physical body, and connect you to others looking to enjoy time outdoors. Do you want to take your neighborhood or park walk to the next level but not sure where to start? This two-hour session will consist of a hike in the woods during which we will enjoy nature, explore the trails, and stop periodically to discuss hiking tips, tricks, tools, and planning.

This hike is part of our Second Saturday Guided Hike Series. These hikes occur from 10 AM–12 PM on the second Saturday of every month (May–November). All of these hikes depart from Belmont Plateau in West Fairmount Park. Please see below for the full schedule.

ABOUT THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB: The mission of the Appalachian Mountain Club is to foster the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors. AMC is the nation’s oldest outdoor recreation and conservation organization. We live to understand and celebrate the outdoors. The organization is built on the pillars of conservation, outdoor education, and outdoor activities. We are a community of more than 90,000 adventurers, advocates, and nature nerds whose passion for the outdoors knows no bounds. We strive to connect people with nature—and with each other.
Whether you’re just getting started on your outdoor journey or you’re an experienced adventurer, there’s a place for you at AMC!

For a list of upcoming activities for the Delaware Valley Chapter, including another ‘Hiking 101’ program in the Wissahickon on April 19, please click here.

TICKETS: Free**, donations appreciated and will go towards Fairmount Park Conservancy’s work. Registration is required.

**We are proud to be able to offer these events for free. However, there is limited capacity for all of our hikes. 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.

2025 SECOND SATURDAY GUIDED HIKE SERIES SCHEDULE
Please continue to check back as fall topics will be added soon.

May 10: Hiking 101 with the Appalachian Mountain Club

June 14: Birdwatching Walk with Troy Bynum

July 12: Tree Tour with Andrew Kirkpatrick

August 9: Guided Hike + Meditation with Krista Nelson

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• This hike is roughly two miles over a combination of hilly dirt trails and flat gravel paths (moderate exertion).
• Hikes are appropriate for adults and mature adolescents. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
• Please dress according to weather conditions and wear good hiking shoes (boots/sneakers).
• Bring water (drinking water is not available in the park) and a snack.
• Unfortunately, there are no bathrooms along the hike route so please plan accordingly.
• Appalachian Mountain Club will be hosting ‘Intro to Hiking’ programs at multiple locations. While this session is in partnership with Fairmount Park Conservancy, other sessions will be held in partnership with other environmental organizations. More info can be found (link). Come for one session or all of them! The only equipment you need is a sturdy pair of closed toe/closed back shoes, and a bottle of water!
• This event is part of our Second Saturday Guided Hike Series. The hikes are not dependent on one another so feel free to sign up for one or for more than one!
• We will leave a few minutes after the scheduled start time. Please arrive at the departure location at least five minutes early. We cannot guarantee that latecomers can join after the group has departed.
• Space is limited in this hike and registration is required. If you cannot attend an event, please show courtesy to fellow parkgoers and try to cancel your registration with advance notice so that someone else can participate. Repeat no-shows may not be able to register for future free hikes.

PARKING/GETTING THERE: We’ll meet at the 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 (half on sidewalk and half on a grass next to the road). The closest Indego bike station is at Parkside and Belmont Ave – also a half-mile walk from the start.

QUESTIONS?: Feel free to reach out to programs@myphillypark.org.

Enjoy our programs? Become a Supporter of Fairmount Park Conservancy to help ensure that Philadelphia’s parks are enhanced for generations to come!