Hiking Trails

Ridley Creek State Park has 13 miles of trails, according to Pennsylvania DCNR's hiking page, including a paved 4.3-mile multi-use loop along Ridley Creek. The White Trail (4.3 miles) can be used to link to other trails, and the Yellow Trail (3.7 miles) intersects many of them. For an easy, paved walk, take the Sycamore Mills Road Trail or the 1-mile Mansion Gardens loop. Hiking is free, and the trails are open sunrise to sunset every day.

Ridley Creek Trails by Length

• White Trail, 4.3 miles, more difficult, loop, white blazes. Restrooms, picnic tables and benches at the trailhead. (White Trail guide)
• Sycamore Mills Road Trail, 4.3 miles, easiest, paved loop, no blazes. Open to walkers and bicycles. (Multi-use trail guide)
• Bridle Trail, 4.7 miles, more difficult, two loops, no blazes. Shared with horses. (Horseback riding)
• Yellow Trail, 3.7 miles, more difficult, out-and-back, yellow blazes. (Yellow Trail guide)
• Blue Trail, 3.7 miles, more difficult, out-and-back, blue blazes.
• Orange Trail, 2.0 miles, more difficult, loop, orange blazes.
• Mansion Gardens Trail, 1.0 mile, easiest, paved loop around the Hunting Hill Mansion gardens.
• Fishermans Trail, 0.34 mile, more difficult, out-and-back to the creek.

These are DCNR's current figures from its Ridley Creek hiking page. The 2023 printed park map shows different lengths for several trails (the Blue Trail is 2.3 miles on the map and 3.7 online).

What "More Difficult" Means Here

DCNR rates trails on a three-step scale. "Easiest" means a gentle grade with few obstacles. "More difficult," which covers every blazed trail at Ridley Creek, means steeper grades and narrower tread with rocks or roots underfoot. None of the park's trails is rated "most difficult." DCNR describes the park as gently rolling terrain cut by Ridley Creek, so expect short climbs rather than mountains.

The Blue Trail

The Blue Trail starts near Picnic Area 9 and runs through woodland across the park, with a small loop near Picnic Area 14. It is an out-and-back trail, so plan to return the way you came or link it to the White or Yellow Trail. The trailhead has modern restrooms and picnic tables.

The Orange Trail

The Orange Trail heads south from Gradyville Road on the east side of Ridley Creek. It is a 2-mile loop with no trailhead amenities. Part of the area east of the creek near the Orange Trail is open to archery deer hunting in season, so wear orange in the fall (Hunting).

Fishermans Trail and the Gardens Loop

The Fishermans Trail is a short path from near Picnic Area 4 down to good fishing spots on Ridley Creek (Fishing). The Mansion Gardens Trail is a 1-mile paved loop that starts by the mansion parking lot and circles the formal gardens around the Hunting Hill Mansion. It is rated "easiest" and has a modern restroom at the trailhead.

Which Trail Should You Pick?

• First visit: the White Trail loop.
• Flat and paved, strollers or bikes: the Sycamore Mills Road Trail.
• Short walk with the kids: the Mansion Gardens loop, then the playground at a picnic area (Picnic Areas).
• Longer day: combine the Yellow and White Trails; the Yellow Trail crosses many other trails.

Trail Rules

• Bicycles are not allowed on the unpaved hiking trails.
• Horses use the Bridle Trail only.
• Dogs must be on a leash and under control (Dogs).
• In winter, the trails are open for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing (Winter).

Download the DCNR map before you go: cell service is unreliable in many Pennsylvania state parks (Trail Map).