Yellow Trail

The Yellow Trail at Ridley Creek State Park is a 3.7-mile trail with yellow blazes that wanders across most of the park and crosses many of its other trails. Pennsylvania DCNR rates it "more difficult" and lists it as an out-and-back route. Start at Picnic Area 16 or at the park office by the Hunting Hill Mansion, where there are restrooms, picnic tables and benches. It is the trail to take when you want to string several trails together.

Two Starting Points

Park office and mansion. The mansion lot is the park's landmark parking area, with the office, the formal gardens, restrooms and an electric vehicle charger. Starting here lets you pair the Yellow Trail with the Mansion Gardens loop (Hunting Hill Mansion).

Picnic Area 16. A picnic-area start puts you near tables and grills for a meal after the hike (Picnic Areas).

Out-and-Back, but Easy to Make a Loop

DCNR classes the Yellow Trail as out-and-back: you follow one trail to a point and return the same way. Because it crosses so many other trails, you can make a loop by turning onto the White Trail or the Blue Trail and coming back on a different route. Carry the DCNR map so you know which junction you are at (Trail Map).

What You Will See

The trail runs through the park's woods of oak, beech, walnut, maple, hickory and tulip poplar, with dogwood and spicebush underneath. Some of the trees, DCNR notes, date back to colonial times. Spring brings dogwood bloom and birdsong and fall turns the canopy color.

Good For

• Hikers who want to build their own route.
• A moderate half-day when combined with the White Trail.

Maybe Skip If

• You want a guaranteed loop with no map reading: the White Trail is a marked loop.
• You need a paved surface: use the Sycamore Mills Road Trail.

Tips

• Note the blaze color at every junction; several trails meet here.
• Leashed dogs are welcome (Dogs).
• Bikes are not allowed on the Yellow Trail or any unpaved hiking trail.