Grab a picnic blanket and head to the Plateau in West Fairmount Park. This spot offers one of the best views of the Philly skyline and a line of big, mature trees that make for a picture-perfect photo opp.
Photo courtesy of Visit Philadelphia

Explore the remains of the former Fairmount Park Trolley line that made its way through West Fairmount Park, all while surrounded by the forested canopy. Need a guide? Join us for a hike along the Trolley Trail through the fall. Register here.

Artist Martin Puryear’s Pavilion in the Trees was inspired by his childhood longing for a treehouse of his own – so what more perfect place to get up close and personal to fall foliage in the park? You can join us on Saturday, October 19 for a Guided Hike + Meditation at Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, which is where Pavilion in the Trees is located. Register here.

Make your way to 41st and Parkside Avenue and enjoy beautiful fall foliage and architecture of Parkside neighborhood on one of the swing benches at Parkside Edge. Fancy a walk? Take a stroll down to Belmont Avenue and enjoy the Smith Memorial Arch and Please Touch Museum along the way. Once you’ve crossed Belmont Avenue, you’ll find yourself at Concourse Lake, a lovely hidden oasis that offers more fall foliage and wildlife to enjoy.

Sure, Shofuso is the place to be during Cherry Blossom season in the spring, but it’s a treat during the fall, too. For a rare experience, join us for Glow in the Park on October 17th – your ticket includes a special moonlit stroll to Shofuso to experience the garden at night.

With plenty of picnic tables, wide open spaces, and views of the Philly skyline, Lemon Hill makes for a great leaf-peeping spot in the park. While you’re there, take a tour of that lovely yellow house on the hill. It’s open Thursday-Sunday from 10-4pm. Details here.

A historic ruin, wildlife, a meadow, and trees – Cliffs Meadow in East Fairmount Park has it all. The meadow is accessible from Sedgley Woods Disc Golf Course – take the grass path back through the course and into the meadow.

This 37-acre reservoir-turned-habitat at the Discovery Center is surrounded by trees and teeming with wildlife. Take it all in while walking on the new boardwalk on the reservoir or take a walk along the trail. The Discovery Center is home to Audubon Pennsylvania and Outward Bound Philadelphia. Click here for visiting hours.

For a birds-eye view of Fairmount Park in the fall, make your way up the Cliff Paths at Fairmount Water Works and take a seat in the Mercury Pavilion. Here you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the Schuylkill River and Boathouse Row, with a backdrop of fall foliage.

This walking path offers a wooded escape and meanders high above the Schuylkill River in East Fairmount Park. Start at the Mount Pleasant Meadow and make your way through the woods, past the historic Mount Pleasant Mansion. Parts of the path are paved, too.