Top Bike Trails In Philadelphia

Getting out on your bike is both great for your health and the environment, plus you get to enjoy the environment you are helping. There are different parts of the Philadelphia area set aside for bike trails and bike tours. Here are the top five places to get out on your bike and enjoy your surroundings.

Valley Forge Park
1400 Outerline Drive
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 783-1099
www.nps.gov

Valley Forge is just a short drive outside the city and full of activities, fun and history for the whole family. It also has trails for you and your family to take in via bicycle. There are over 20 miles of trails with greenery and monuments to stop by. If you would prefer to rent a bike, there is a rental option on site.

Schuylkill River Park
2500 Lombard St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 978-0900
www.schuylkillrivertrail.com

The Schuylkill River Park is vast and full of numerous outdoor options for biking. There is an abundance of both scenery and paved areas for those who want to bike or roller blade. The park trail is over 60 miles long. When you're done biking, you can also enjoy other activities such as baseball, sunbathing and, for your kids, there is a leash free dog park and children's playgrounds.

Pennypack Park
Philadelphia, PA 19152
(215) 685-0470
www.phila.gov

This park has over nine miles of paved trails (and even a few more of unpaved for the very daring). This park is a good choice for seasoned riders with their own bikes who want to experience a variety of riding challenges. Besides the choice of paved and dirt roads, there are hills to conquer. The park itself is picturesque and full of foliage, greenery and even little waterfalls which most people find serene. The paved sections are fine for all levels, including families.

Related: Top Family Friendly Bike Trails

Fairmount Park
1 Boathouse Row
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 232-7778
www.wheelfunrentals.com

A self-guided option for someone who doesn't own a bike or the right type of bike is Wheel Fun Rentals located in Fairmount Park. You can see the many different sites and utilize the trails here. Bikes can be rented hourly, or for half-day or whole day. Wheel Fun offers Surreys, double surreys, tandem bikes, choppers, beach cruisers, city bikes, road bikes and bikes for kids. Hourly prices start at $6 for kid's bikes and go up to $35 for the double surrey. The Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, which is part of Fairmount Park, is a unique place to visit while touring the area. This eastern world was built in Japan in 1953 and was moved here in 1958.

Philly Bike Tours
2015 Fairmount Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(267) 521-2150
www.phillybiketours.com

If you're unsure of where to go on your own, or don't have your own bike, you can consider having a professional take you on a tour. All tours include a bicycle, which is a KHS Town & Country 21 speed hybrid, a helmet and water. Philly Bike Tours have about four tours to choose from and each begin and end at the tour center location. Your easiest tour is a two hour river loop tour which goes through a few trails by the river, as well as the South Street boardwalk and Grey's Ferry triangles; the tour is 44 dollars. Tours are generally for adults; children 14 and up are welcome if with a parent/guardian, though the river loop tour is fine for children nine and over. You can bring your own bike, but there is no discount for doing so, plus you are responsible for any issues with your bike. Booking can be done online.

Related: Top Bike Rentals In Philadelphia

Christina Dagnelli is a freelance writer in Philadelphia and the author of Little Squares with Colors: A Different way to look at autism. Her work on examiner can be found here Examiner.com.