Montgomery County

Known to locals as “Montco,” this wealthy, family-friendly community borders Philadelphia to the north. It’s the third most populous county in the state, encompassing residential areas including Norristown, Pottstown, King of Prussia, Lansdale, and Willow Grove. There are lots of great option for running here, especially when it comes to rail trails and nature paths. Here are some of our favorites:

Cynwyd Heritage Trail

A roughly 2-mile multi-use path, the Cynwyd Heritage Trail in Lower Marion reaches from Cynwyd Station to the Manayunk Bridge, where it intersects with the Schuylkill River Trail. The running surface is primarily asphalt and crushed stone, as it stretches through residential areas, parks, and cemeteries. If the asphalt becomes too much for you, a softer dirt trail parallels much of the route.

Haverford College Nature Trail

The pristine grounds of Haverford College are a great place to run, with a Nature Trail circling the airy campus. This 2.2 mile path, originally established to view the school’s arboretum, quickly became a favorite training ground for collegiate athletes. Locals caught on, and the public is encouraged to visit the dirt/gravel trail, which starts at the visitors center and wraps around the arboretum, athletic fields, and duck pond.

Three University Run

In addition to the attractive grounds of Haveford College, enjoy the equally Villanova University 2.5 miles to the north and Bryn Mawr College 2 miles to the south. We’ve mapped a 5.5 mile route incorporating all three campuses, with the prettiest roads connecting them. One GREAT option is to run one-way and take the train back (Paoli/Thorndale Line) or, even better, the NHSL Light Rail, which runs even more frequently.

Chester Valley Trail

Though primarily in Chester County, the Chester Valley Trail extends into Montgomery County for about 1.2 miles. The asphalt multi-use rail trail can be accessed at South Gulph Road in King of Prussia. Plans are in order to expand the trail north into Norristown.

Valley Forge National Historical Park

For flat, scenic running in a historic and educational location, see our post on running in Valley Forge.

Norristown Farm Park

A lovely spot for running, with farm buildings, fields, woods, and streams. There are 7 miles of paved trails and some wooded nature trails. Good map with trail loop/length options.