Explore 50 Miles of Wooded Trails During the Wissahickon All Trails Challenge

A view of Wissahickon Creek that the Wissahickon All Trails Challenge participants will likely spot during their travels. Photo by Bailey King.

If you took a brief sabbatical from exploring one of Philly’s best green spaces, Wissahickon Valley Park, this summer due to the extreme heat and unpleasant humidity, we get it. This fall, however, we’ve got a good reason for you to get back out there: the 2018 Wissahickon All Trails Challenge.

Now in its third consecutive year, the All Trails Challenge encourages folks to traverse — by running, hiking, biking or on horseback — the 50-plus-miles of gorgeous, leaf-laden trails of Wissahickon Valley Park. Don’t worry  — you don’t have to get it done all in one go. Rather, the challenge runs now through November 27. It’s also not a race to the end — the Wissahickon All Trails Challenge welcomes participants of all levels to explore the park’s glorious offerings.

While appreciating the beauty of the Wissahickon is a big chunk of this challenge, there’s a fundraising component as well. All participants are required to raise a minimum of $50 to benefit Friends of the Wissahickon conservation efforts in order to compete for prizes based on miles completed. Because, oh yes, there will be prizes and giveaways galore, including a five-day stay at an all-inclusive, four-star island resort and a weekend getaway at Skytop Lodge Resort in Pennsylvania.

Aside from the $50 fundraising minimum, you’ll also want to track your miles via fitness apps like Strava or Fitbit and sync your app with your All Trails Challenge fundraising page so your miles count. On social media, you can include #FOWAllTrails for any posts you may do along the way. If the Wissahickon All Trails Challenge happens to be the fall fitness challenge of your dreams, you’ll want to register here to get the ball rolling.

After you’re all signed up and ready to start clocking miles, you can join the competition at and the Friends of the Wissahickon for the All Trails Challenge launch party on Thursday, September 6, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Wissahickon Brewing Company (3705 West School House Lane, East Falls). The first 50 registered attendees at the launch party will receive a complimentary brew.

Aside from mingling with your cohorts, refreshing beer, and ample food truck options, the launch party will also serve to hand out the All Trails Challenge packets to participants. Register for the launch party here.

Happy exploring!

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