Ridley Creek State Park, 16 miles west of Philadelphia, boasts over 1,600 acres of dog-friendly wooded and paved multi-use trails, plenty of picnic areas, and some interesting history and centuries-old buildings. The park is within the “Ridley Creek State Park Historic District” on the National Register of Historic Places, as it was the site of a small 18th-century village. I enjoy visiting Ridley Creek State Park for the beauty of its woodland trails, Ridley Creek itself, and also for its fascinating history: the 18th-century living history farm, the Hunting Hill Mansion dating to the late 1700s, and the small 18th-century village that grew around a mill. Nowadays, the buildings help tell the stories of those who lived here generations ago. And the buildings are all surrounded by beautiful woodlands and a meandering creek. The park is perfect for a few hours or even a day of exploration.
Hours and Admission
- The park is open from sunrise to sunset year-round.
- There is no admission fee for Ridley Creek State Park.
- There is an admission charge to visit the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation, a colonial living farm on the park grounds.
What You’ll Find at Ridley Creek State Park
- Over 1,600 acres of wooded and open spaces with a paved 4.4-mile, multi-use (walking, jogging, hiking, biking, birding) Park Loop Trail that runs along Sycamore Mills Road and Forge Road.
- Well-marked woodland trails: Yellow Trail (7.4 miles); White Trail (4.3 miles); Blue Trail (3.4 miles); and Orange Trail (2 miles). You can create your own trail by combining part of each of these trails, too. Check the trail map to get some ideas.
- The remains of an 18th-century village that grew around a mill once known as Bishop’s Mill and Providence Mill. Many remaining buildings, including a school house, a miller’s house, and mill workers’ homes, are privately owned today.
- An 18th-century mansion called Hunting Hill Mansion (now the park office and event space) and adjacent gardens.
- A waterfall (created by a dam).
- 14 picnic areas, each with many picnic tables, modern restrooms, and charcoal grills.
- Playgrounds in 4 picnic areas.
- Horseback riding trails and parking lot for horse trailers.
- Fishing in Ridley Creek. Areas are marked for trout fishing, fly fishing, and catch-and-release.
- Hunting in over 1,000 acres during deer hunting season.
- Cross-country skiing, sledding, and tobogganing areas in the winter.
- An electric vehicle charging station at the Hunting Hill Mansion parking lot.
- A colonial living farm (Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation) that’s open on the weekends from April through November. An admission fee is charged for entrance to the farm.
Map of Ridley Creek State Park
Tips for Your Visit to Ridley Creek State Park
- The park is open year-round, from sunrise to sunset. Gates close at sunset.
- Plan your arrival by early afternoon, as parking lots may fill up on nice weather days.
- Walkers are to walk on the left side of the road facing traffic. Bicyclists are to ride on the right side of the road — with traffic.
- Bring water to stay hydrated. There are no concession areas.
- Wear bug spray, sunscreen, and hats to combat bug bites and sunburn.
- Biking is allowed on paved trails only (e.g., Sycamore Mills Road and Forge Road).
- Restrooms in picnic areas 7 and 17 are open year-round.
- All pets must be leashed.
- Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
How to Get to Ridley Creek State Park
Ridley Creek State Park is located on Sandy Flash Drive South at Gradyville Road in Newtown Square, PA – 16 miles west of downtown Philadelphia. It is less than a 15-minute drive from Route 476.
Enter 351 Gradyville Road, Newtown Square in your GPS. The park entrance is across the street from this address.
Brief History of Ridley Creek State Park
Centuries before it was a public park, the grounds were home to a mill and associated buildings and homes. At one time, the small 18th-century village was called Bishop’s Mill and Providence Mill. Walk along the Sycamore Mills Road Trail, and you’ll see an 1870 one-room schoolhouse, some farmhouses, and mill-related buildings that are now privately owned.
Investment banker Walter Jeffries built Hunting Hill Mansion in the early 1900s around a stone farmhouse dating from 1789. Stroll the surrounding area to find lovely gardens, a reflecting pool, a pump house, an abandoned swimming pool, and a small dam built in the late 1700s.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania began purchasing land – that would later form the park – in the 1960s. Ridley State Park opened for public use in 1972.
Nearby Attractions
Consider these other great attractions in eastern Pennsylvania.
- Big Pocono State Park, Poconos
- Bushkill Falls, Poconos
- Colonial PA Plantation, outside Philadelphia
- Covered Bridge Tour of Bucks County
- Covered Bridge Tour of the Lehigh Valley
- Gettysburg Visitor Guide
- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Lehigh Valley area
- Housenick Park, Lehigh Valley
- Jacobsburg State Park, Pocono area
- Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia
- National Museum of Industrial History, Bethlehem
- Philadephia: Fairmount Park’s Unique Colonial Mansions & Their Stories
- Philadelphia Self-Guided Walking Tour
- Best Things to Do in Philadelphia
- Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania Guide
- Promised Land State Park, Poconos
- Ricketts Glen State Park, Poconos
- Tyler State Park, Bucks County
- Valley Forge National Historical Park, outside Philadelphia
- Washington Crossing Historic Park, Bucks County
Final Thoughts
Visiting Ridley Creek State Park is a treat because it offers many recreation opportunities, including picnicking, walking, jogging, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and fishing. Just about something for everyone. Besides all that are the historical buildings and a chance to learn more about life in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The folks at the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation (photo below) do a very nice job representing life there in the 1700s. The buildings in the park’s main section are well-marked with informational signs. A park ranger is often in the mansion parking lot on weekends to provide additional information and trail guidance.
Planning a Visit to Ridley Creek State Park
To get the most out of its history, plan to arrive early on the weekend to visit the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation, an 18th-century working farm, and then enjoy a lunch from home in one of the picnic areas before setting off to explore the mansion grounds and trails. You may visit the park year-round, but the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation is open only on weekends from April through November.
Comments?
Feel free to share your experiences at Ridley Creek State Park and/or suggestions for other places to visit in the Philadelphia area. Your ideas could be helpful to other travelers. Thanks! 🙂
