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The Chester Valley Trail - A Hidden Family Gem

October 10, 2019

If you have never explored the Chester Valley Trail, you must! It is one of the area gems for family fun and outdoor activity. The trail begins near Swedesford Road, behind the Church Farm School and travels all the way to King of Prussia! The second phase of the trail (from Malvern to King of Prussia) was opened only recently and is a beautiful addition and a great community resource. 


The trail is paved and wide and is great for walking (dogs under leash are permitted), jogging, biking, scooters, strollers, and rollerblades. It is generally flat, as well, making it very stroller and kid-friendly. A full list of permitted and prohibited activities is available on the Chester County website. There are currently three trail access points where you can park and head to the trail. They include: 

  • Exton Park, west of Church Farm Lane (look for the street sign - "Church Farm Lane") - There are also restrooms open seasonally and a small swing set
  • Battle of the Clouds Park, east of Phoenixville Pike - There are restrooms open seasonally and a great playground for young children.
  • East Whiteland Township Building, west of Route 401 

There are several points where the trail does cross busy roads and it is marked but, as always, exercise caution with the little ones. When parking at the trail access points, you can walk or ride for a good distance in one direction without having to worry about crossing a street with a child on a bike or scooter.

Tim Lander, President of the Friends of the Chester Valley Trail adds "The Chester Valley Trail will provide opportunities for bicycle commuting to businesses along the Swedesford Road corridor and the Great Valley area, including Vanguard and Siemens. It will also provide recreational opportunities for all local residents. The CVT runs by several Tredyffrin parks: Cedar Hollow, Wilson Farm Park, and L.A.D. Park, making them more accessible to residents who are too young to drive - or prefer not to. Along with the benefits of recreation, the trail is expected to bring members of the community closer together, for formal events such as 5K races, and by linking many neighborhoods that are otherwise hard to reach on bike or foot, due to a lack of bike lanes and sidewalks. 


All residents are welcome to join the Friends, and to attend our meetings. See our website , as well as our Facebook site, for more information. If you have an idea for a trail event, please let us know. I would also add that the County has assigned two Park Rangers to patrol the trail, so if you happen to see them, please say hello; they are there to help. 


Above all, we ask that everyone using the trail adhere to basic guidelines for trail etiquette: Keep to the right, notify others when you intend to pass, keep your dog on a short leash, place all trash in appropriate receptacles, and so on. By working together, we can ensure a great trail experience for everyone." 


This terrific community resource is well maintained, well-traveled, and perfect for your next outdoor family trek! Take the next beautiful day and enjoy it on the Chester Valley Trail




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