Montgomery County never looks more beautiful than in the fall, when leaves are changing colors and the foliage is on full display.
To get the full fall experience, we encourage you to park the car and see it in a whole new way. Take a bike ride along a scenic trail, look out at the trees from high above, paddle along a tree-lined riverbank, or fly through the trees on a ziplining adventure.
These are just a few of the ways to experience the season in Valley Forge and Montgomery County:
On Two Wheels
With 100 miles of trails in Montgomery County, October is prime time to pedal through our impressive pathways.
Two of the standouts are the Perkiomen Trail and the Schuylkill River Trail. On the former, cyclists can enjoy the sight of a flurry of brilliant maple leaves landing gently on the flowing Perkiomen Creek. On the latter, the wide vistas of Valley Forge National Historical Park — from its open grassland to its hilly rises — are transformed into real-time picture postcards of fall beauty.
Find more info here.
By Rail
The Secret Valley describes the former industrial railway between Boyertown and Pottstown, which was once crucial to the bygone iron industry. Now, however, its charms and beauty have been revived by the Colebrookdale Railroad, which offers scenic weekend train rides through a feast-for-the-eyes landscape.
Find more info here.
In a Trolley
The Encampment Store at Valley Forge National Historical Park is the start of an adventurous tour on a festive trolley. This outing has just as much to offer fall foliage fans as it does to history buffs. The tour includes the impressive scenery and the moving story of our nation’s quest for independence. Through Dec. 31, on typical weekends, tours are available at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM.
Find more info here.
From the Water
Viewing a tree line that hugs a waterway in the fall doubles the spectacle, as the leaves are reflected in the calm, glassy surfaces. Paddle your own kayak or canoe on any of our picturesque passages and enjoy the panorama. Boating is encouraged at Green Lane Park, Evansburg State Park, and the Perkiomen Creek. Port Providence Paddle offers kayak, canoe, and tube rentals for trips down the Schuylkill River, the longest of which takes you to Valley Forge National Historical Park and back.
Find more info here.
On Horseback
Red Buffalo Ranch provides guided trail rides on horseback through the 3,500 acres of Evansburg State Park. Trails are custom-chosen to suit riders of all experience levels, but all routes feature the sound of hooves clip-clopping through crunchy fallen leaves. Green Lane Park and Valley Forge National Historical Park also offer scenic trails for self-guided rides. All three locations do allow for horseback riding; however, only Red Buffalo Ranch offers tours.
Find more info here.
On Foot
Here’s a recipe for a fallish fantasy: Take 12,000 plants, trees, and flowers, dress them up in their autumnal best, and spread them out over 92 acres of historic ground. Connect them with winding pathways and top with a cool, sunny afternoon, and the result is the Morris Arboretum. A birds-eye view of fall can be enjoyed at the new “Out on a Limb” experience, which raises the game on leaf watching 50 feet off the ground.
Find more info here.
On the Golf Cart
Duffers who lose a shot in a pile of reddish-brown oak leaves may not cheer the change in seasons, but despite the effect on a score, the colorful view from a golf cart is a pleasure unavailable any other time of year. The layout of Raven’s Claw Golf Club and Turtle Creek Golf Course are particularly recommendable from the viewpoint of autumn’s awe; the fairways and greens are nestled among lush groves of trees that turn fiery in the October sun.
Find more info here.
Keep the adventure going by exploring more local happenings at VFTCB.
