Need some help. Staying @ the Homewood Suites in Valley Forge anf was thinking of running at the park. Saw that the Joseph Plumb Martin Trail is 6M. Is that a loop or an out and back?
I have tried (very unsuccessfully) to see when it opens to runners and if there’s a fee.
Can anyone answer these questions? Don’t want to run on the hotel treadmill!
Thanks.
It’s rare to hear it called by that name, but that’s basically the paved loop that runs around the park. It’s pretty narrow and can get crowded with runners/bikes, but it has some great views of the open fields that make up the park.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/us/king-of-prussia-pa/valley-forge-joseph-plumb-martin-trail-route-19871282
It’s free to park at the visitor center right off Rte 23 (or any of the smaller lots that are dotted along the road through the park, which kind of follows the trail), and there’s no fees to use that trail or the rest of the park.
If you’re at the Homewood at Audubon, you also have the paved Schuylkill River Trail on your side of the river - just take S Trooper Road toward Rte 422, then right before the 422 ramp bear to the left and head toward the river. The Betzwood lot is on the right, and you can pick up the SRT there and either head out toward the city or the other way to Oaks. There’s also a packed dirt trail that runs along the river parallel-ish to the SRT.
Keep zooming in on this map and you’ll see the lot etc in relation to S Trooper https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1136206,-75.4254693,14z
http://www.nps.gov/vafo/planyourvisit/upload/joseph_plumb_martin_trail.pdf
http://www.nps.gov/vafo/planyourvisit/hours.htm
http://www.nps.gov/vafo/planyourvisit/feesandreservations.htm
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Have run that loop in the park a few times when I’ve had to go to VF for work, have seen deer right on the edge of the path on the section that hugs the woods. Great spot to run.
Wow, you are surrounded by running terrain. The Schuyllkill (whatever…) River trail is within minutes of you, as described above. From the Betzwood Bridge lot, you can run miles in either direction with lots of shade, all paved. If you park at Betzwood, there’s a pedestrian bridge you can take across to get into the VF park itself, and from there cross 23 (the main road) and hang a right. Run till you’re tired and go back.
If you want to drive and want some gravel / hills: DRIVE down 363 till you get to 422, then 422E, then off at 23W. Follow to turn left on to 252 South. Follow 252 S along the creek till you see a covered bridge (white) on your right, the road turns left there. Follow the road (not over the bridge) to the left, then there’s a big parking lot up on the right. You’ve got all sorts of choices from there: the great expanse of the VF paved trails to your east (across the road), you can follow the new paved trail down towards the bridge you just passed, then cross the bridge and pick up the gravel trail along the river (scenic, very nice). If you’re a glutton for punishment, cross the bridge but go up the hill a bit - look for a trail entrance on the right to the Mt. Misery Trail. That would be a few hundred feet of elevation gain on a dirt trail - hard work but easy on the knees.
Enjoy it. Other than the Philly heat, the trails there are running nirvana.
Thanks A LOT. Looks like it opens @ 7am…damn it. Was hoping to get in there a little earlier (run start time @ 6:15ish).
http://www.nps.gov/vafo/planyourvisit/upload/joseph_plumb_martin_trail.pdf
If you’re at the Homewood at Audubon, you also have the paved Schuylkill River Trail on your side of the river - just take S Trooper Road toward Rte 422, then right before the 422 ramp bear to the left and head toward the river. The Betzwood lot is on the right, and you can pick up the SRT there and either head out toward the city or the other way to Oaks. There’s also a packed dirt trail that runs along the river parallel-ish to the SRT.
Wow, you are surrounded by running terrain. The Schuyllkill (whatever…) River trail is within minutes of you, as described above. From the Betzwood Bridge lot, you can run miles in either direction with lots of shade, all paved. If you park at Betzwood, there’s a pedestrian bridge you can take across to get into the VF park itself, and from there cross 23 (the main road) and hang a right. Run till you’re tired and go back.
I think this is my best bet. I think I know how to get there too, which if you knew how I was with directions, you’d know that was a minor miracle.
Park at the Betzwood lot (which I think I found) then get to VF. If I’m looking correctly, I’ll want to have the river to my LEFT at first to get to VF. At the worst, I run the trail tomorrow, then get to VF Sunday/Monday.
Do I have this right?
I’m not suggesting that anyone should do this or anything, but if someone were to run there at 06:15 it’s doubtful anyone would bat an eyelid. Especially if that someone was able to play the “Oh sorry I’m from out of town and didn’t know” card. Parking in the main lots might be an issue but there is other parking further up 23 towards the church and Washington’s Headquarters that isn’t gated. Apparently.
I, uh… might know of someone who used to mountain bike the trails at night there for years and never saw a ranger outside park hours 
Park at the Betzwood lot (which I think I found) then get to VF. If I’m looking correctly, I’ll want to have the river to my LEFT at first to get to VF. At the worst, I run the trail tomorrow, then get to VF Sunday/Monday.
Do I have this right?
If you’re at the Betzwood lot and facing the river, you’ll see the 422 bridge to your left, crossing the river. There’s a ramp leading up from the SRT to a pedestrian walkway on the upstream side of 422 (it’s a wooden boardwalk). Once across that, follow the road down the hill until you hit Rte 23. Cross 23 and the Plumb Martin trail goes uphill both to your left and right.
There are a handful of street parking spots on Gulph Road right in front of the National Memorial Arch. That’s a public throughway with no gates. I wouldn’t expect any issues parking there at 615.
I wouldn’t worry about the 7am thing. I think all the trails in the area have a “opening time” which is somewhat ridiculous. The VF loop trail is the most scenic in the area, but the Schuylkill River Trail (SRT) is pretty excellent training ground as it is miles of paved, mostly shaded, trail.
Thanks to everyone for the help. I have parked the last two days at the Betzwood trailhead. There is construction, so I’m unable to go straight on Trooper Road.
Yesterday, I ran on the skuhlyhill (sp) trail…the paved one, out 3 miles and back.
This AM, I ran on the gravel portion, much closer to the river. Out, the river was on my left; back, the river was on my right. This AM, three small deer were eating on the trail and didn’t move at all when I ran by them. Very cool stuff, and nothing I see where I run in TPA.
Tomorrow, when I have a little more flexibility with my time in the AM (and not needing to rush back to the hotel), I’m going to drive to the actual park and run that 5 mile loop a couple of times. I can’t quite figure out how to get to the park (or the ‘cool’ parts of the park) from the path I’ve found, so I’m going to change it up tomorrow.
Again, thanks for all the help from everyone. Really appreciate it.
From the Betzwood lot you can get into VF itself by crossing the river on that rickety cantilever bridge. Personally I avoid that thing unless I really have to use it. The main lot at VF is at the Visitors Center right there on Gulph Rd. Should be easy to park there and get on the 5mi loop trail.
You ran today in one of my very favorite run places. It’s quite peaceful down on that trail and very pretty. Tends not to get crowded down there either. I was out riding on the SRT myself.
By the way - The construction at Betzwood is just detouring the trail right at the bridge, you can run towards Norristown by just going around the construction following the detour signs.
I had to go to the VF visitors Center this afternoon, and I am going to try and park there tomorrow AM. But the gate does open @ 7am. I did not see any rickety bridge, but since I am a sissy, I would have avoided it…
Can’t wait until tomorrow AM.
Very nice run this AM @ VF. weather was nice, couple of really nice views.
Once again, thanks for the help with my run training this week!