A Guide to Philly's Fairmount Park: Trails, Attractions, History & Things to Do

Can’t-Miss Experiences

Take a stroll; head out for an afternoon of softball, organized Ultimate frisbee or pier-side fishing; or enjoy a relaxing family picnic.

Fairmount Park houses miles of trails for off-road cycling, horseback riding and deep-woods hiking.

There are also tours of the historic Colonial-era mansions that dot the landscape, Japanese tea ceremonies and outdoor concerts.

Boxers' Trail   — Photo courtesy Fairmount Park Conservancy

Two outdoor concert venues (Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts and the Dell Music Center) routinely feature some of the biggest names in music and provide an intermittent summer home for the renowned Philadelphia Orchestra.

And the world-famous Philadelphia Art Museum sits at the head of the park, overlooking the row of Victorian-era boathouses that have become architectural landmarks themselves.

Click the button below for our guide to 13 can’t-miss experiences in Fairmount Park.

Must-See

Fairmount Park boasts excellent examples of public art scattered throughout the grounds, including sculptures by masters like Cyrus E. Dallin, Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Randolph Rogers.

Landmarks like the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, Historic Strawberry Mansion and Fairmount Water Works create an opportunity to appreciate history amid the verdant surroundings.

Shofuso Japanese House and Garden   — Photo by S. Marshall Lin

Kids love Smith Memorial Playground and the Philadelphia Zoo, America’s oldest zoo. The Philly Pumptrack bike track provides guests with all-ages outdoor fun and Lloyd Hall along Boathouse Row offers year-round indoor recreational activities.

All areas of the park are open from sunrise to sunset.

History

Bankruptcy and the quest for clean water were the two driving forces behind the creation of Fairmount Park.

When Robert Morris, financier of the Revolutionary War, went bankrupt, his country farm and gardens were purchased by another businessman, who created gardens that were so lovely he charged admission to see them. The property changed hands again only to suffer from yet another economic downturn.

In 1844, a shrewd city councilman purchased the property, which was situated above the municipal water works, and designated it as parkland. This enabled the city to end the industrial contamination of the river that had occurred downstream.

Over the next century, the city acquired additional lands and recruited landscape architects to develop a plan that would preserve the park’s natural features while maximizing public accessibility and emphasizing its lovely vistas.

Admission and Information

All areas of the park are open from sunrise to sunset.

Picnic facilities are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Because the wilderness trails for off-road biking require extra maintenance, using them requires a permit.