Chester: Discover Trails, Nature, and History

The Chester Valley Trail is 18.6 miles long in total. Of that, 13.5 miles are open for use in Chester County; another 5.1 miles are open farther east in Montgomery County. The paved trail is fully ADA-accessible and is used by walkers, joggers, cyclists, and inline skaters.

Trails and Nature in Chester County

The Struble Trail offers a different kind of route: It includes 2.6 open miles along the eastern headwaters of Brandywine Creek and runs mostly flat on the former railroad bed of the Waynesburg Rail Line. Dowlin Forge, the protected ruins of a 19th-century ironworks, is located along the trail. Those interested in fishing will find a 0.9-mile Delayed-Harvest fishing area on Brandywine Creek between the bridges at Dorlan Mill Road and Dowlin Forge Road. It is managed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

For longer hikes through varied terrain, Wolf's Hollow County Park is worth considering when planning your trip: Its trails extend for almost ten miles. Features include overlooks above the creek and thickets of mountain laurel. The park’s old-growth forests attract, among other birds, Brown Thrashers, Scarlet Tanagers, and Baltimore Orioles. At Black Rock Sanctuary, 119 acres of wetlands, forests, and meadows take center stage; the area serves to protect wildlife habitat and provide opportunities for public use.

The parks’ landscapes also differ considerably. Exton County Park, at about 701 acres, includes open fields, forests, stream corridors, steep slopes, ridges, wetlands, and agricultural land. French Creek flows through deciduous forests, meadows, and wetlands in 535-acre Warwick County Park. The restored Fink Truss serves as an overlook above the French Creek Valley; the stream is classified as an Exceptional Value water by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Nottingham County Park is located on a serpentine area of more than one square mile, one of the largest serpentine barrens on the East Coast.

The county park system includes more than 4,400 acres and over 35 miles of trails. Chester County’s Parks and Trails Department manages seven regional county parks. Boating, kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding are possible on Chambers Lake using muscle-powered or electrically powered watercraft. Since registration requirements may change, check the current requirements before use.

Gardens, Farms, and History

Longwood Gardens covers 1,100 acres of gardens, forests, meadows, fountains, an Aeolian organ, and a large conservatory. The organ alone has 10,010 pipes. The Main Fountain Garden District features European-inspired architecture, fountain displays, the Rose Garden, and the Topiary Garden. The various areas provide specific reasons to visit, with gardens and design at the heart of the experience.

Several historic landscapes come together at Springton Manor Farm: a colonial plantation, a scientific farm from the Industrial Revolution, a Victorian tenant farm, and the country estate of a wealthy landowner. Visitors can meet the farm animals and learn more about Chester County’s agricultural history. The Family Farm Museum displays seasonal tools and equipment used on Chester County farms from the 18th through the 20th century. Tours at Hibernia County Park share the history of the ironmasters and landowners who owned the estate.

The Chester County History Center and Brandywine Battlefield Park offer further insights into history. The History Center’s museum collection includes more than 70,000 objects and documents over 300 years of Chester County history. Currently, admission to Brandywine Battlefield Park includes an 18-minute orientation film, a museum visit, and a tour of Washington’s headquarters and the Gideon Gilpin House. Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site covers 848 acres; its historic buildings illustrate the economy, technology, and way of life of the growing nation.

Farms and farmers markets in Chester County’s Brandywine Valley are also part of the region’s character, offering fresh produce and handcrafted goods.

Discover more destinations: West Chester, Kennett Square, Malvern, Phoenixville, Coatesville, Paoli, Elverson, Honey Brook, Downingtown, Exton.

For the overview of the wider region: Pennsylvania.