Discover Montgomery: River Trails, Parks, and History

Montgomery combines waterside trails with wide-open spaces and historic sites. The Perkiomen Trail runs for more than 20 miles along Perkiomen Creek, from Oaks to the Borough of Green Lane, and connects to the Schuylkill River Trail. This gives you a choice for planning your trip between trails with named endpoints, expansive parkland, and historic destinations.

River Trails and Parkland

Green Lane Park is a 3,400-acre open space area operated by the county. More than 20 miles of multi-use trails are designated there for walking, running, and biking. Audubon Pennsylvania recognized the park as a Pennsylvania Important Bird Area in 1996. Its nature trails and this designation give the park a different focus from destinations whose historic buildings are their main attraction.

Central Perkiomen Valley Park is also located along Perkiomen Creek: it spans 800 acres and provides access to more than 19 miles of the Perkiomen Trail. Lower Perkiomen Valley Park is smaller, at 107 acres; it offers views of the creek and serves as a starting point for the Perkiomen Trail. The trail system also connects it to the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove and Valley Forge National Historical Park. This makes it possible to consider park visits and trail sections as distinct parts of your trip planning without treating the individual trails as interchangeable.

You’ll find other types of trails along the Schuylkill River. The Schuylkill East Trail connects Lock 60 with Upper Schuylkill Valley Park and runs mostly on natural surfaces. At Lock 60 in Schuylkill Canal Park, there is a public boat ramp and a five-mile water loop. The working lock there was built in the 1820s. If you’d rather combine paved trails with traces of history, consider Norristown Farm Park: it offers more than eight miles of paved trails as well as additional rustic nature trails. Its landscape also includes a trout-stocked stream and buildings dating from the mid-18th to the early 20th century, which at various times were associated with mills, a tannery, farms, and Norristown State Hospital.

The Cross County Trail provides access to several public transit services in Conshohocken and Plymouth Meeting. One completed section is currently three miles long, running from Conshohocken to Germantown Pike in Plymouth Township. The Wissahickon Trail, in turn, is an existing hiking trail along Wissahickon Creek, from Stenton Avenue to a point near the Borough of Lansdale. The different endpoints and routes can help you choose among the nature destinations.

Historic Sites and Ways to Visit

The historic sites tell different stories. Peter Wentz Farmstead is a restored historic site and working 18th-century farm. Peter and Rosanna Wentz first settled there in 1744; the house was built in 1758 and is considered a remarkably unique example of Pennsylvania German colonial architecture. A smartphone-accessible audio tour lets you explore the grounds at your own pace and takes 30 to 45 minutes. Pottsgrove Manor was built in 1752 for the Potts family and showcases the elegance of early Georgian architecture. Its history encompasses John and Ruth Potts and their 13 children, as well as the paid, indentured, and enslaved people who lived and worked there. Special programs, workshops, and exhibits explore 18th-century history.

Pennypacker Mills combines historical insights with offerings available throughout the year: tours, exhibits, nature walks, workshops, and special events. The collection reflects the interests of Samuel W. Pennypacker (1843–1916), his term as Governor of Pennsylvania from 1903 to 1907, the construction of the State Capitol, Pennsylvania history, family history, and Pennsylvania German culture. Events from the Revolutionary War are also connected to the site: George Washington and his army camped at Pennypacker Mills and on the surrounding grounds from September 26 to 29 and October 5 to 8, 1777.

The John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove is a National Historic Landmark. Mill Grove was built in 1762 and was the first American home of artist and naturalist John James Audubon. More than seven miles of trails and striking views of Perkiomen Creek shape the visit. Docent-led tours of the Historic House at Mill Grove take place Wednesday through Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; check the schedule before your visit.

At Valley Forge National Historical Park, the park preserves the site of the winter encampment of the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, from 1777 to 1778 during the American Revolutionary War. The grounds span 3,500 acres of meadows, forests, historic landscapes, and monuments. A 90-minute trolley tour departs from the visitor center. Compared with the smaller historic houses, it offers a different way to visit: a self-guided audio tour, tours of the Historic House, or a trolley tour through a large historic park.

Choose where to stay based on the experiences in Montgomery that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: West Conshohocken, Montgomeryville, Gilbertsville, Blue Bell, Royersford, Pottstown, Willow Grove, Hatfield, East Greenville, Oaks, Fort Washington, Horsham, King Of Prussia, Lansdale, Plymouth Meeting, Norristown, Collegeville, North Wales, Bala Cynwyd, Conshohocken, Eagleville.

For the overall travel guide: Pennsylvania.