Norristown Farm Park

Walking at Norristown Farm Park

8 miles of trails

Most trails are paved and used for walking, rollerblading, and bicycling.

NOTICE: There are no park roads or trails open to equestrian use.

This activity or structure is ADA accessible. All paved trails can be accessed by wheelchairs. Some trails have hills that could impact wheelchair use. Check the contours on the map to determine changes in elevation and your ability to maneuver these grades. Several rustic nature trails are available for the adventuresome.
CAUTION: Any of the roads and trails could potentially be used by either park vehicles or farm equipment. Users will need to pay attention to other users of the roads and trails.

Public motor vehicles are restricted to the Upper Farm Road for access to the picnic pavilions and parking lots.

Interpretive Nature Trail
Just outside the park office is the Millennium Grove, one of two sites in Pennsylvania selected by the American Forest Foundation and the White House Millennium Council to promote the planting of historic tree groves in each state.

These trees have been propagated to continue the lineage of trees touched by important figures in our nation’s history. The Millennium Grove is a national program sponsored by:

U.S. Department of Agriculture
American Society of Landscape Architects
White House Millennium Council
American Forest Foundation
The groves are part of Millennium Green, the White House Millennium Council’s project which encourages people and businesses to plant and adopt trees, establish gardens, or care for a special natural resource treasure in honor of the new millennium.

The American Forest Foundation provided the initial 100 seedlings to SmithKline Beecham for donation to the Millennium Grove project at the park.

These seedlings are from 21 parent trees of historic significance, including:

Johnny Appleseed Apple Tree
Hermitage Tulip Poplar
Trail of Tears Redbud
Minuteman Red Maple
John F. Kennedy Post Oak
Charter White Oak
Mark Twain Cave Bur Oak
Abraham Lincoln White Oak
Franklin D. Roosevelt Redbud
Ft. Atkinson Black Locust
Harriet Beecher Stowe White Ash
Frederick Douglass White Oak

Picnicking at Norristown Farm Park

This activity or structure is ADA accessible.
There are several picnic areas throughout the park and two ADA accessible picnic pavilions.

Each pavilion contains 14 picnic tables and accommodates up to 84 people for a total of 168 people. There are five charcoal grills at each pavilion.

Groups, organizations, and individuals wishing to reserve these pavilions for their function need to contact the park office for dates and availability.

A volleyball court and a horseshoe pit are located in the Picnic Pavilion Area adjacent to Parking Lot #3.

Chess, checkers, and volleyball sets may be checked out at the park office. Restrooms are available here and at the park office.

The Kevin W. Walsh Memorial baseball field is leased to the West Norriton Little League, which has first priority in its use. If the field is vacant, park visitors may use it on a first-come, first-served basis.

Wildlife Watching at Norristown Farm Park

Because of the park’s diverse habitats, including historic trees, more than 170 species of birds have been recorded. Area bird watchers are continually drawn to the park in hopes of catching a glimpse of a new or rare species to add to their own personal list.

Bird Watching
Each year, volunteers monitor and maintain 118 bluebird boxes located throughout the park on 13 separate trails. These same volunteers also participate in Cornell University’s Christmas Bird Count -- a bird feeder survey/census that records fluctuations in bird diversity and population densities.

A one-acre farm pond sits quietly atop a gentle rise just off Upper Farm Road, overlooking much of the park. The area is surrounded by wooded fence rows and farm fields.

Its remote location makes the site a bird watchers’ paradise. This tranquil setting features a viewing blind built in 2004 by a local Boy Scout and his troop as an Eagle Scout project. The enclosed structure allows for the close-up observation of a wide variety of birds, both resident and migratory.

This picturesque area abounds year-round with waders and common waterfowl, and is also home to a wide variety of warblers and other songbirds.

A bird checklist specific to the park is available upon request at the park office/visitor center.

Please note that, while much of the park is open for exploration, the farm fields (particularly during the growing season) are not.

Interpretive Nature Trail
Just outside the park office is the Millennium Grove, one of two sites in Pennsylvania selected by the American Forest Foundation and the White House Millennium Council to promote the planting of historic tree groves in each state.

These trees have been propagated to continue the lineage of trees touched by important figures in our nation’s history. The Millennium Grove is a national program sponsored by:

U.S. Department of Agriculture
American Society of Landscape Architects
White House Millennium Council
American Forest Foundation
The groves are part of Millennium Green, the White House Millennium Council’s project which encourages people and businesses to plant and adopt trees, establish gardens, or care for a special natural resource treasure in honor of the new millennium.

The American Forest Foundation provided the initial 100 seedlings to SmithKline Beecham for donation to the Millennium Grove project at the park. These seedlings are from 21 parent trees of historic significance, including:

Johnny Appleseed Tree
Hermitage Tulip Poplar
Trail of Tears Redbud
Minuteman Red Maple
John F. Kennedy Post Oak
Charter White Oak
Mark Twain Cave Bur Oak
Abraham Lincoln White Oak
Franklin D. Roosevelt Redbud
Ft. Atkinson Black Locust
Harriet Beecher Stowe White Ash
Frederick Douglass White Oak
Others

Fishing at Norristown Farm Park

Visitors may fish at the Farm Pond or at either of the two trout-stocked streams:

Stony Creek
Kepner Creek
A Pennsylvania fishing license and a trout stamp are required for persons age 16 and over.

Bicycling at Norristown Farm Park

The paved trails are open to bicyclists and rollerbladers.

Please use caution as you share the trail with pedestrians, and obey all posted speed limits.

Sledding at Norristown Farm Park

Any part of the park may be used for sledding.

The users assume all risk and liability when participating in these sports on park land.

Cross-Country Skiing at Norristown Farm Park

Any part of the park may be used for skiing (downhill or cross-country) or snowshoeing.

The users assume all risk and liability when participating in these sports on park land.