Welcome the arrival of spring by getting outside and contributing to the 10th annual City Nature Challenge! This friendly worldwide competition runs from Friday, April 25 – Monday, April 28. The challenge encourages community scientists of all ages and educational backgrounds to observe and submit pictures of wild plants, animals, and fungi using the free mobile app iNaturalist.
With miles of trails and open spaces, we encourage you to explore Fairmount Park’s diverse habitats during the Challenge and contribute to our 2025 iNaturalist Project Page. Any observations made in East or West Fairmount Park will automatically be added to our project page. The person who has the most observations on the project page will win some FREE Philly park swag!
Read on for more information on how you can participate and contribute to the City Nature Challenge.
What is the City Nature Challenge?
The City Nature Challenge is an international effort for people to find and document plants and wildlife in cities around the world. Cities compete and collaborate to see who can make the most nature observations, who can find the most species, and who can engage the most people. Check out how Philly stacked up against other cities in 2024!
Why should I participate?
There is nature all around us, even in the city! Knowing what species are in our city and where they are helps us study and protect them, and the only way to do that is by all of us – scientists, land managers, and the community – working together to find and document nature in Philadelphia. By participating in the City Nature Challenge, not only do you learn more about your local flora and fauna, but you can also make your city a better place – for you and other species!
PLUS: Free park swag! The person who has the most observations on our project page* will win some Philly park gear! (*Observations made in East or West Fairmount Park during the date range listed above will automatically be added to the project page.)
How do I participate?
- Download the iNaturalist app onto your smartphone.
- Find any wild thing. It can be any wild plant, animal, fungi, or any other evidence of life (fur, tracks, shells, scat, etc.) found in Philly – including your own backyard!
- Take pictures or video of what you find using the iNaturalist app.
- Learn more as your observations get identified.
- Contribute to Fairmount Park Conservancy’s Project Page.
- To contribute to our project page, all you have to do is snap a photo in East or West Fairmount Park during the timeframe listed above. It will automatically be added to our project!
Please note, it’s okay if you don’t know the species! All you have to do is snap a photo and upload it – a professional will help you identify your observation through the app.
Where can I attend a City Nature Challenge event?
Click here to see City Nature Challenge events happening throughout the city.
For Fairmount Park-specific events, check out our Guided Bird Walk with Troy Bynum of TB Wildlife Photography, LLC on April 27 (West Fairmount Park) or the Discovery Center’s City Nature Challenge event on April 26 (East Fairmount Park).
Where can I find wildlife in Fairmount Park?
There are so many spots to document wildlife in the city’s largest park. Our top four recommendations for where to go, along with what to spot there, are listed below.
West Fairmount Park
Belmont Plateau Cross Country Course: Park at the Belmont Plateau parking lot (never leave valuables in your car) and head to the bottom of the hill where you’ll find a gravel path. This path can be followed straight to the Fairmount Park Recycling Center, at which point you can turn back the way you came. There are also several offshoot gravel paths that loop back to the main path. Along the way, there are forested areas, streams, and open meadows.
Trolley Trail: Park near the cul de sac at Chamonix Mansion (never leave valuables in your car) and look for the trailhead opposite the mansion, near a bike rack. This four-mile loop trail through West Fairmount Park forestland is a unique opportunity to explore the park’s rich nature and history, as it follows the route of a 19th-century trolley line. While you look for plants and wildlife, also keep an eye out for the distinctive Skew Arch, which was originally built for the trolley line.
Concourse Lake: Concourse Lake is a 14-acre Philadelphia Native Plant Park that features 142 native trees of 24 various species and 503 shrubs of 24 different species. There is plenty of free parking around the lake (never leave valuables in your car) and a paved path that loops around it.
East Fairmount Park
Boxers’ Trail (wooded section): While the whole Boxers’ Trail hike is 3.8 miles and a mix of pavement and dirt paths, the wooded section of the hike, which is the best spot to see plants and wildlife, is roughly one mile in length. It winds through East Fairmount Park behind Mount Pleasant, Rockland, and Ormiston Mansions and offers views of Kelly Drive below. Randolph Creek also runs alongside a section of the trail, offering peaceful spots for reflection. Park at the intersection of Edgley and Reservoir Drive (never leave valuables in your car) and pick up the trail from there. The trail goes out to Mount Pleasant Mansion, at which point you can go back the way you came or loop back by walking along Reservoir Drive.
Discovery Center: The Discovery Center in East Fairmount Park sits on the Strawberry Mansion reservoir and is a great spot for seeing wildlife. The paved path up to the main entrance is surrounded by native plants and bird feeders, and once past the front gate, visitors can enjoy the path around part of the reservoir. (Please note, the Discovery Center is open Tuesday-Sunday.)
Consult our Fairmount Park Digital Guide for trail maps and more information on these locations.
What can I find on the trails this time of year?
Spring is a great time of year to get out on the trails – trees are budding, flowers are blooming, migratory birds are passing through, and many other animals are starting to either wake up or become more active after the cold winter season. See if you can find the following plants and animals on the trails. We’ve noted the trails where you’re most likely to find each.
Tulip poplars (Belmont Plateau, Boxers’ Trail): Tulip poplars are known for growing straight and tall, and their leaves are said to resemble the shape of a cat’s head. Their yellow flowers will start to bloom in late April.
May apples (Belmont Plateau, Boxers’ Trail): The leaves of the mayapple are just starting to unfurl and by May, its signature white flower and green “apple” will start to emerge underneath its leaves – hence its name.
Skunk cabbage (Belmont Plateau, Boxers’ Trail): Skunk cabbage grows in wet areas so look for it near streams. It is named for the strong smell that it produces and is one of the first plants to emerge after winter because it has the ability to produce heat, melting any snow that may be around it.
Pollinators (Discovery Center, Concourse Lake): Native plants line the walkway of the Discovery Center, and their blooms make it a popular spot for pollinators such as bees, birds, butterflies, and bats. Monarch butterflies (pictured above) can be seen in the Philadelphia area from late April–October.
Spicebush (Belmont Plateau, Boxers’ Trail, Concourse Lake): Spicebush blooms early and has bright yellow flowers. It’s named for the sweet, spicy fragrance it emits when the twigs, leaves, or fruit are crushed.
Spring migratory birds (Discovery Center, Concourse Lake, Trolley Trail): The Strawberry Mansion reservoir behind the Discovery Center is a birding hotspot. The red-winged blackbird is pictured above. It makes a loud ‘conk-a-lee’ sound, and the males have red shoulder patches. Check out the Discovery Center’s bird guide for other migratory birds you can find.
For more information, please visit Philly’s official City Nature Challenge website.
Be sure to follow along on social media:
#CityNatureChallenge
Instagram: @CityNaturePhilly
Facebook: @PhillyCNC
Twitter: @PhillyCNC
