Authored By: The Circuit Trails | April 20, 2023

Is there any better way to spend the day than out on the trails? We certainly don’t think so!  

As we look forward to the weekend, we hope you’ll join us #OnTheCircuit this Saturday for Celebrate Trails Day! This annual springtime celebration, organized across the country by our partners at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, encourages people to get outside and enjoy the nation’s exceptional trails and trail systems. This year, Celebrate Trails Day falls on Earth Day, so it’ll be an extra special day along the region’s trails and the parks, waterways and other natural spaces they help connect. 

We’re fortunate to have one of America’s largest trail networks in our backyard. Already, the Circuit Trails network includes more than 370 miles of completed and interlinking trails in the Greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey region—giving us much to celebrate and plenty of fun ways to do it.  

How you choose to celebrate trails on Saturday is up to you! Just by participating, you’ll demonstrate to decision-makers that these spaces are valuable to you, helping to highlight the need to support completing the remaining gaps and reach our short-term goal of 500 miles by 2025. Another step you can take to share how important the region’s trail network is to you is to take a quick action, sending a message to your county commissioner.

If you’re looking for community events to attend, members of the Circuit Trails Coalition are hosting fun-filled activities across the region, including cleanups, guided bike rides, birding walks, music, food and so much more. Or if you’d rather map out your own celebration, you can check out these resources to help inspire and plan your adventure. To help you prepare for Saturday, we’ve gathered the list below of events happening around the Circuit Trails network New events may be added before the big day, so use this link to for the latest lineup of events! 

[Please note: For the most up-to-date information about an event, including about inclement weather plans or other important details, please click on its link below.]

PENNSYLVANIA 

Celebrate Trails Day on the Chester Valley Trail 

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Chester Valley Trail, 132 Church Farm Lane, Exton, Pennsylvania  

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, IM ABLE Foundation and the PA Center for Adapted Sports will host adaptive cycling equipment demos and an expo with regional organizations supporting adaptive recreation. Adaptive athletes will also take part in a trail ride on the Chester Valley Trail. 

Explore the Circuit — Celebrate Trails Day on the Chester Valley Trail 

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

WHERE:  Exton Rail Station, 425 Walkertown Rd, Exton, Pennsylvania  

Explore the highly anticipated Chester Valley Trail Extension East in Montgomery County. Ride first to Exton Park to join the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy adaptive athlete event (referenced above) before continuing the ride on the new 3.8-mile trail extension.  

Celebrate Cobbs Creek Trail Day 

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

WHERE: Cobbs Creek Trail, 1338 S 59th St., Philadelphia (Thomas Ave and Cobbs Creek Parkway) 

Celebrate Cobbs Creek Trail Day welcomes you and will feature free activities, including horseback riding, a birding walk and a plant identification workshop; raffle and more. 

Friends of the Wissahickon Earth Day of Service  

WHEN: 9 a.m. to noon 

WHERE: Four locations in Wissahickon Valley Park, Pennsylvania   

Check out these volunteer cleanups taking place at four locations organized by the Friends of the Wissahickon. Gloves, tools and instructions are provided on the day. Event details linked by location: Harvey Street, Historic Rittenhouse Town, Ridge Avenue, and Valley Green. 

Birds of a Feather 

WHEN: Noon to 4 p.m. 

WHERE: Tacony Creek Trail, Whitaker Ave and Loudon St, Philadelphia 

Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, Inc. will host community artists for live painting along the Tacony Creek Trail, hands-on nature and water activities, and more.  

Volunteer: Toad Detour 

WHEN: 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 

WHERE: Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road, Philadelphia   

The Toad Detour works to protect the local toad population as they migrate to and from their breeding grounds each spring. Participants will learn about toads and the critical role they play in the forest ecosystem. 

NEW JERSEY 

Stockton Park Day 

WHEN: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  

WHERE: Stockton Park, 325 N. Dudley St., Camden, New Jersey  

Learn about Camden’s growing trail network with a free, family-friendly event at Stockton Park, featuring skateboarding lessons, guided bike rides and walks, food trucks, pony rides and more.  

FOHW’s 2nd Annual Earth Day Celebration 2023 | “Becoming a Steward of Your Local Environment” 

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

WHERE: D&R Canal Trail, 600 Snowden Lane Princeton, New Jersey 

The Friends of Herrontown Woods (FOHW) and Princeton Public Library will host a day of exploring and learning in nature, featuring hiking, walking, crafting, bike tune-ups, mushroom foraging, gardening and more.  

Saturday Morning Walking Club on the Lawrence Hopewell Trail  

WHEN: 9:30 a.m.  

WHERE: Lawrence Hopewell Trail, Carson Road Woods, Princeton, New Jersey 

Celebrate trails by getting outside and taking a walk through Carson Road Woods with the Saturday Morning Walking Club. 

Tree Planting and Art along the Circuit Trails in Gateway Park 

WHEN: Starting at 10 a.m. 

WHERE: Cooper River Trail, 2798 Admiral Wilson Blvd, Pennsauken Twp, New Jersey 

The NJ Tree Foundation and NJ Conservation Foundation will host art activities and plant 30 trees in Gateway Park to establish a tree buffer protecting the Cooper River.  

Earth Day @ the Phoenix Festival 

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

WHERE: 1381 Federal St, Camden, New Jersey 

Celebrate the planet and the region’s outdoor spaces like trails through art with food, live music performances, poetry readings and family-friendly activities.  

Wormington & Friends Earth Day Event 

WHEN: Noon to 7 p.m. 

WHERE: 800 Erie St, Camden, New Jersey 

Mastery High School of Camden (MHSC) and Neighborhood Collaborative Community Gardens will host a series of events, including garden and compost tours and a drive-in movie, celebrating Earth Day at the MHSC waterfront in Camden.  

But wait, there’s more! Do you want the chance to win awesome prizes? All you have to do is tell our friends at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy that you’re  participating in Celebrate Trails Day, and you’ll be automatically entered to win a prize pack featuring great gear from RTC and the 2023 Celebrate Trails Day sponsors and partners. Click here to share how you’ll #CelebrateTrails #OnTheCircuit this Saturday and enter to win. 

Whether you’re headed to an event or planning a trail trip on your own, don’t forget to bring your camera along and capture your experiences. Share your photos and videos with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok using the hashtags #CelebrateTrails and #OnTheCircuit. By doing so, you might just inspire others to join in on the fun and experience the beauty of these trails for themselves!