Covered Bridges, Stone Paths & Gorgeous Views: Hiking in Philadelphia’s Wissahickon

I’m embarrassed to admit that we’ve been living in Philadelphia for ten years nows…and we had never gone hiking in Wissahickon until last year, The Ninth Year of Our Residency in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

One of the coolest things about Philadelphia? It’s old, man. At least by U.S. standards. And the Wissahickon?

Well.

Once inhabited by the indigenous Lenape people — as early as 2000 years before European settlers came to the area — the Wissahickon is supposedly named after a Lenape term that means ‘catfish stream’. In a ‘truth is stranger than fiction’ twist, the Wissahickon was once the home of a doomsday cult in 1694, and was also the site of Revolutionary War skirmishes. Both Edgar Allan Poe and Mark Twain have waxed poetic about its beauty…although rumor has it that Ben Franklin wanted to flood the area for drinking water.

Thank goodness Mr. Franklin moved on to other ideas [she writes as she peers through her bifocals].

But that’s the thing: hiking in the Wissahickon feels a little like going back in time. It’s gorgeous, to be sure, but it’s also…quaint.

What I’m Wearing: My Hiking Outfit

We keep getting questions about what to wear when hiking, so I’ll throw my outfit details here. This is, admittedly, not a Very Serious Hiking Outfit, rather, it’s the one I wear when our hikes are on the easier side, and an après-hike drink is involved.

**denotes pieces that meet our sustainability criteria

Jacket: Patagonia Lunar Fleece Jacket** (xs) – take 15% off with code THEMOMEDIT – Made from recycled polyester, I’ve worn this cute little jacket on date nights AND hikes. It’s this crazy cross between a sporty fleece and a glam faux-fur. And I disagree with the negative review on Backcountry — mine does NOT shed.

Sweater: Everlane cashmere turtleneck sweater (sm) – Sounds crazy, but I swear by cashmere sweaters for both warmth and wicking. I also machine wash them on cold and lay flat to dry. They’re better in the cold than all of those other technical fabrics.

Jeans: Levi‘s 721** (26) – Levi’s are quickly becoming my very favorite denim brand. The washes are SO good and…they’re sustainable.

Boots: Danner Hiking Boots** – take 15% off with code THEMOMEDIT — I love these SO MUCH. You can read my full review, here.

Backpack: Patagonia Arbor Backpack** – take 15% off with code THEMOMEDIT. Annoyingly, the brown color has been discontinued — it was my favorite. If you are really hoping for that same color, I can also recommend this one (same fill capacity) or this one (a little smaller).

Since we often partner with Backcountry, we do have a code for 15% off: THEMOMEDIT. This code takes 15% off your entire purchase, but only applies to full-price items. (There might be a few other exclusions, too, but I did test it with the pieces marked above.)

Where To Eat Along The River

After Wissahickon, our favorite haunt — by far — is In Riva. We can sit outside on the patio, they have an awesome beer selection, and the pizza is delicious. (There’s also pasta, as well as salads if you have a strange child who doesn’t like pizza. Bizarre, I know.)

xo,

S