Fall is my favorite season. When the leaves start turning colors and the daily temperatures become cooler and more comfortable, I tend to reflect on how grateful I am to live in an area with such abundant, beautiful and accessible outdoor recreational areas. Before the days grow short and very cold, you might want to consider digging out your hiking shoes and spending a few glorious hours admiring the foliage in one of our spectacular local parks. Whether taking some time for yourself to reflect while enjoying nature or grabbing the kids for a fun and active family outing, you have plenty of choices within a short driving distance to choose from. Here are 5 best parks for fall fitness in Bucks County. Take a hike and enjoy the scenery!
5 Best Parks for Hiking
Covered Bridge at Tyler State Park
Tyler State Park – 101 Swamp Road, Newtown, PA
Comprised of 1711 acres, Tyler State Park is centrally located in Bucks County. With 25 miles of trails running through areas rich in historic and scenic interest, you can take a short walk or a long hike while enjoying the beautiful views of the park and surrounding countryside. Open sunrise to sunset.
Sailboats on Lake Nockamixon
Lake Nockamixon State Park – 1542 Mountain View Drive, Quakertown, PA 18951
At 5,286-acres, Nockamixon State Park is the largest in the area. Open from 8 a.m. to sunset, the park features Lake Nockamixon, a rest stop for migrating waterfowl that’s fed by the Tochickon, Three Mile Run and Haycock Run creeks. The Nockamixon State Park Loop Trail is an 8.4 mile trail (rated as moderate in difficulty) that is popular with local hikers. Open daily from 8am until dusk.
Lake Galena at Peace Valley Park
Peace Valley Park – 230 Creek Road, New Britain, PA 18901
Peace Valley features 14 miles of nature trails through woods and meadows at the eastern end of Lake Galena. Hiking trails vary from groomed foot paths near the Nature Center Building to more remote trails in the woods. Foot paths are usually mowed or graveled. The Hike and Bike Path is a blacktop trail which passes around the lake on Creek Road and New Galena Road. Rich with wildlife, Peace Valley Park includes more than 250 species of birds and some magnificent trees and plants. Open year round from 8:00am until sunset.
The Towpath at Delaware Valley Canal Park
Delaware Canal State Park – 11 Lodi Hill Road, Upper Black Eddy, PA
Running parallel to the Delaware River between Easton and Bristol, the canal towpath is a 60-mile-long walk through American History. A variety of routes can be followed using any of the 5 bridges that cross into New Jersey and connect to the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park on the Jersey side of the river. (See these loop trails for hikers and bikers.) Trail users can easily access both sides of the river and explore quaint towns like New Hope and Lumberville in Pennsylvania and Stockton and Lambertville in new Jersey. Hikers can also explore the many inland trails and enjoy scenic views of the river.
Tohickon Creek at Tohickon State Park
Ralph Stover Park – (6011 State Park Road, Pipersville, PA 18947) and Tohickon Valley Park (Cafferty Road,Point Pleasant, PA 18947)
These two parks are adjacent and feature dramatic vistas and pretty forested areas along their trails. High Rocks is a scenic overlook located on Tory Road. Two-hundred foot cliffs of red Brunswick shale rise above Tohickon Creek providing a spectacular vista. Trails on either side lead you to Tohickon Valley Park or Ralph Stover State Park and are excellent for hiking as previously mentioned. Open sunrise to sunset.
For more ideas for fall fitness in Bucks County, contact Cornerstone about personal training and membership options.