Safety of Pennypack trail?

**drala** · 10-20-2012, 11:54 AM

Hello Northeast Philly folks,
I'm getting tired of my old running routes and looking for something new. I came across the "Pennypack Trail" online. Wondering how safe it is? I seem to remember something about a rabid beaver a while back, but I'm wondering more about rabid people...
Thanks.

**Hal Schirmer** · 10-20-2012, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by drala

Hello Northeast Philly folks,

I'm getting tired of my old running routes and looking for something new.

I came across the "Pennypack Trail" online. Wondering how safe it is?
I seem to remember something about a rabid beaver a while back, but I'm wondering more about rabid people...
Thanks.

The trail is generally well used, you should have plenty of eyes on the trail.
Scenery is rather like forbidden drive along Wissahickon,

The main pennypack trail is paved, rather like the portion of Wissahickon from the end of Forbidden Drive to Ridge Avenue,
with several dirt loop trails and side trails.

There's a major trailhead off of Pine Road, by Fox Chase Farm.

Hal

**NJbound** · 10-20-2012, 09:12 PM

Its pretty safe but you still have to be careful. I know that some local high schools who were practicing cross country in the park had to stop due to weirdos exposing themselves to the girls running..

**Captain Awesome** · 10-22-2012, 02:40 PM

I've never had any problems running the Pennypack trail. Just adhere to some basic tenents of common sense: don't keep your music up so loud that you can't hear anything, be aware of your surroundings, and be mindful of what time you go out.

**drtfis** · 10-22-2012, 04:23 PM

And it don't hurt to carry a cell phone mace or if you have a gun permit better to be safe then sorry

**phoenix** · 10-23-2012, 08:06 AM

My BF and I have ridden our bikes on the trail, and it's very pretty, sans the trash some people are tossing around. Rather sad.
We rode on the weekend, and it was busy....even saw a keg party of sorts...o.O, but no one bothered us. Once, we stayed for a concert in the park, and that was really cool.

As other said up thread, I would just make sure to have my wits about me. When I jog alone, I carry mace...and that's in Center City/Queen's Village/Pennsport....so...

**PhillyTurboSix** · 10-23-2012, 08:22 PM

From Torresdale to Welsh is spotty. Homeless folks might be walking around with some ghetto rats. After Welsh smooth sailing. I've been riding my bike in there for sometime now and not one issue other then the freaks that like to swim in the park from Frankford Ave going west getting in my way. But other then that it's a smooth peaceful ride. It's hard to find a path with good hills and beautiful views like Pennypack. One of the good things left in the NE for sure.

**phillygoilgone** · 10-27-2012, 08:42 PM

Rule of thumb of Pennypack Park The further east you go, the more you have to watch out. Trail head in Fox Chase, off Pine Rd. also connections over to Lorimar Park on the other side of the road, down by the bride, you can go alongside of Fox Chase Farm then hang a left to a lovely path that goes behind it and then circles around through the woods. 10 years ago I rode my bike back there, but I don't know if you still can. There are other trails in Lorimar too. Back to Pennypack - There are nice side trails on both sides of the creek from Pine to Vereee Rd, where the boyscouts have a nice campfire area on the north side of the creek, that side is also a little more rigorous for walking and riding. Never once ran into anything distasteful on either side of the creek, on either the wooded dirt paths or the paved bike trail. Now, the section from Vereee to Bustleton is much, much larger, and you will sometimes run into some creepy things there, as well as the deepest part of the park naturewise, so you will see some of the most beautiful scenery there too. The worst things I saw were off of Veree going south towards Tustin ( CORA services is on the other side of Veree there), and they were of the animal sacrifice nature - they were pretty damn disgusting, but I was in no danger. Took the best nature shot of my photographic life back in the same area . lso saw a few cars trashed and abandoned off the trail back there. Moving down the line, you will cross under the Krewstown bridge, on the bike path. THe other side of the creek footpath takes you through a kind of schluppy waste dump area the park uses to get rid of fallen branches and what not, and you will have to cross over on the bridge itself, which is not the most pleasant thing with traffic and all, as the north side path ends here ( if Im remembering right, it's been 7 years) The bike path is still pleasant and safe till you get to where it goes under the Boulevard, from that point down I used to start to feel squicky: I'd often stop where the path runs right along the road at Winchester Ave.. but would go a little further now and then.

Again, this was over 7 years ago, your mileage may vary. Pennypack and Wissahickon Parks were my favorite places, and I was in them every second I could be when I lived in town.

**Jtom** · 10-28-2012, 01:39 AM

phillygoilgone is right. The farther east you go, the more you have to watch out. However, I wouldn't call any section of the park particularly dangerous. I sometimes hear people saying that there is a lot of drug activity around the old bridge by Frankford and Solly, but I've been around there quite a few times, and I've never seen a thing. It does get noticeably more trashy east of Frankford Ave., but still not to the point where I'd avoid that part of the park altogether.

**drtfis** · 10-28-2012, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Jtom

phillygoilgone is right. The farther east you go, the more you have to watch out. However, I wouldn't call any section of the park particularly dangerous. I sometimes hear people saying that there is a lot of drug activity around the old bridge by Frankford and Solly, but I've been around there quite a few times, and I've never seen a thing. It does get noticeably more trashy east of Frankford Ave., but still not to the point where I'd avoid that part of the park altogether.

Trust me it's going on I drive bye there every day and its there drug dealing and them apts they sell right out front

**PhillyTurboSix** · 10-28-2012, 06:36 PM

Call 911 and report it if you see it. I have never seen any drug deals going on there personally, but I would stop and call 911 even if I was on bike.

**drewpuc** · 10-31-2012, 03:17 PM

I go for a hike with my kids and dog a couple of times a month. We enter the park on Rising Sun @ Rhawn and either take it west to Pine Rd. or east down to Verree. We like to go off road and walk the horse trail and the kids love to skip rocks in the creek. About the only negative thing I have seen is a bunch of beer cans and bottles where kids were probably partying.