One of the best things about living in Bucks County is that you are never more than fifteen minutes from a real trail. Not a sidewalk loop around a retention pond, an actual trail, with creeks, covered bridges, cliffs, and in one strange corner of Upper Bucks, boulders that ring like bells when you hit them with a hammer. Here is our guide to the county’s best parks and trails, sorted by how much of a workout you are signing up for.
Easy Walks and Scenic Paths
Delaware Canal Towpath
The spine of the county’s trail system. The towpath follows the old Delaware Canal through New Hope, Washington Crossing, Yardley, and down to Bristol, flat the whole way, with river views and historic stops like the Thompson-Neely House along the route. Pick any stretch and walk as far as you feel like. It is especially good through New Hope and Yardley.
Peace Valley Park (Doylestown)
The paved Lake Galena loop runs about 6 miles around the lake, and the adjacent Peace Valley Nature Center adds another 14-plus miles of quieter woodland trails. Look for the 150-year-old buttonwood tree. This is the default walk for half of Doylestown, and for good reason.
Neshaminy State Park (Bensalem)
About 4 miles of flat, beginner-friendly trails where Neshaminy Creek meets the Delaware, including the River Walk with views of the Philadelphia skyline. One of the easiest wins in Bensalem for a quick outdoor hour.
Moderate Trails
Tyler State Park (Newtown)
Twenty-five miles of multi-use trails along Neshaminy Creek, plus a disc golf course and the Schofield Ford Covered Bridge, the longest covered bridge in the county. Paved loops for bikes and strollers, dirt trails for everyone else. The crown jewel of parks near Newtown.
Lake Nockamixon (Quakertown)
Roughly ten trails around Bucks County’s biggest lake, from easy shoreline paths to hillier terrain, with a waterfall and the local legend of Ghost Mountain thrown in. Boat rentals in season make it a full day out near Quakertown.
Sellersville to Perkasie Trail
A 5-mile rail-trail-style route along the creek that passes two covered bridges (Mood’s and South Perkasie) and the historic Perkasie Carousel.
Idlewood Trail (Langhorne) and Playwicki Farm (Feasterville)
Two Lower Bucks options that fly under the radar: quarry views and rock formations at Idlewood near Langhorne, and 110 acres of trails at Playwicki Farm including an ADA-accessible paved loop.
The Adventurous Ones
Ringing Rocks Park (Upper Black Eddy)
A boulder field where the rocks literally ring when struck, plus a short trail to High Falls, the tallest waterfall in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Bring a hammer. Everyone does.
High Rocks at Tohickon Valley (Pipersville)
Two-hundred-foot cliffs above Tohickon Creek in the Ralph Stover State Park area, about 4 miles of trail with the best fall foliage views in the county. Stay behind the fences, the drop is real.
Washington Crossing Historic Park
History and hiking in one stop: Revolutionary War sites, Bowman’s Hill Tower, and the wildflower preserve, all along the Delaware.
Want more ways to get out around the county? Check our covered bridges guide, our farmers markets guide, and the weekly events roundup, or browse by town on the Towns We Cover page.
