Philly 17.76 mile Heritage Trail Freedom Walk
About this Event
Part of a weekend event celebrating America's 250th birthday and the Delaware River Heritage Trail. There will also be cycling, running and other activities, a weekend full of great journeys, surprises, smiles and lots of Delaware Valley energy.
Start: Franklin Square
Finish: Franklin Square
Distance: 2.25 to 17.76mi
Where to find us: south lawn of the square
Optional endpoints: many
Mini: 2.25 mile history loop
Terrain: Paved
Transit: Septa and Patco
Parking: 618 Market St Park (enter on 7th south of Market)
or 6th and Willow parking lot
Difficulty: Average
Category: history, urban, scenic
Coordinator: Charles Updike
The walking event begins with a 2.25-mile loop tour of Historic Philadelphia that returns to the start before continuing on the Heritage trail.
The second loop is 4.5 miles and takes us through Penn Treaty Park and Fishtown.
The final loop of eleven miles goes across the Ben Franklin Bridge and through various riverfront park spaces and completed segments of the Heritage Tail.
Each loop returns to Franklin Square, where there are food, beverages and bathrooms.
Highlights:
- Franklin Square
- Independence Hall
- Liberty Bell
- Betsy Ross House
- Carpenters Hall
- Washington Square
- Delaware River
- Race Street Pier
- Penn Treaty Park
- Ben Franklin Bridge
- Walt Whitman house
- Cooper River Trail
- Cramer Hill Park
- Cooper's Poynt Park
This walk is part of the 2026 celebration of the Delaware River Heritage Trail. Join us as we walk the trail on these dates:
May 2: Turnpike Gap Challenge, Bristol to Burlington
Aug 15: Delaware River Heritage Trail Loop Walk
(Philadelphia, Camden, Pennsauken, Palmyra, Tacony, Port Richmond)
Aug 29: Lower Bucks Loop Walk, Levittown to Bristol, Fairless Hills
Sep 5: Roebling Ramble, Roebling to Trenton
Oct 3: 17.76 mile Heritage Trail Freedom Walk, Philly and Camden
Oct 17: Bristol Stomp, Bristol to Trenton
Oct 25: Burlington Heritage Trail Walk, Burlington to Palmyra
Partners:
The Delaware River Heritage Trail is a scenic multi-use pathway loop highlighting the cultural and natural resources along the upper portion of the scenic Delaware River estuary, linking dozens of communities from Trenton and Morrisville to Philadephia and Camden, connecting active travellers to parks, canals, waterfront views, and colonial and industrial history.
The East Coast Greenway Alliance is a non-profit organization developing a public multi-use 3,000 mile trail from Canada to Key West through New Jersey and New York. Donations and memberships help make this dream trail a reality.
Circuit Trails is 800 miles of interconnected trails in Greater Philadelphia in the making, already one of America's largest trail networks. Once connected, the Circuit Trails will be one of the nation's premier urban trail networks and it will provide multiple benefits to neighborhoods, communities and the region as a whole.
More about FreeWalkers:
Our calendar of walks and hikes | About FreeWalkers | Walker stories | Walking tips
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Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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