Valley Forge National Historical Park Bikeways - Smart-guided Selfie Tour

Along with American history buffs, cycle tourists will enjoy touring this national treasure chock full of scenic vistas, and great bikeways.

The 3,500-acre Valley Forge National Historical Park is amazing to explore, especially on a bike tour! Visitors can peek into American history with General George Washington's headquarters and an encampment of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

This is also home to the National Memorial Arch, modeled after Rome's Arch of Titus. Dedicated in 1917, this grand structure memorializes the triumphant arrival of General Washington and the Continental Army during the winter of 1777-78.

Natural beauty also adorns the tour route. Along with the scenic park grounds the Schuylkill River and Perkiomen Creek provide ample waterside vistas to take in along the way. The tour also visits Lower Perkiomen Valley Park, a popular 107-acre area for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

The tour comes in two lengths - 15-miles and 31-miles. Both options explore Valley Forge National Historical Park. The longer tour is more in-depth and travels further along the Schuylkill River Bikeway.

A tasty spot towards the end of the tour is included, which is friendly to furry friends if you happen to be touring with yours (found on Bring Fido). Details are included with the tour links.

The route follows the lay of the land which is mostly flat with only 400' of climbing over 15 miles on the Short tour and 885' of climbing over 31 miles on the Long tour. Both tours are an 83% bikeway loop mostly on paved bikeways with some crushed stone segments, and about 50% shaded. In some short segments the route shares the road with motor vehicles. As usual, the tour comes with the CycleNuts 50% downhill guarantee. There are a few segments where you might use your bike gears, but nothing to work up too much of a sweat about. Speaking of sweating - it's optional. You set your pace, starting time, and touring agenda with CycleNuts' smart-guided tour.

Points of Interest:

• Artillery Park - a historical field where Brigadier General Henry Knox commanded and dispatched Continental Army cannons.
• Schuylkill River - The 135-mile river is one of the Delaware River's largest tributaries.
• Perkiomen Creek - A 38-mile tributary of the Schuylkill River voted one of Pennsylvania's best swimming holes in 2024.
• Muhlenberg Brigade - 9 reconstructed Continental Army huts are the center of historical reenactment living history events and 18th century costumed volunteers and park rangers.
• National Memorial Arch - Impressive monument honoring the return of General George Washington and the Continental Army to Valley Forge.
• Valley Forge Train Station - opened in 1911 by the Reading Railroad as an elegant stop for the thousands visiting Valley Forge State Park, is now used as a museum and information space.
• John James Audubon Center - 175-acre estate managed by the National Audubon Society where visitors can explore the 18th-century life and art of John James Audubon, in a historic, three-story stone farmhouse museum surrounded by a world of birds.
• Lower Perkiomen Valley Park - 107-acre Montgomery County park popular with outdoor activity seekers.
• Visitor Center at Valley Forge - opened in 1976 provides a central stop for Valley Forge touring information complete with a store and museum.
• Valley Forge National Historical Park - 3,500 acres of natural beauty and history. Pennsylvania's first state park opened in 1893 and was given to the National Park Service in 1976.
• General Washington's Headquarters - tour the historic building used as General Washington's war room.

Bikeways:

• Chapel Trail
• Chester Valley Trail
• Audubon Loop Trail
• Schuylkill River Trail
• Sullivan's Bridge Trail
• Perkiomen Creek Trail
• Schuylkill River Oak Trail
• Joseph Plumb Martin Trail
• Joseph Plumb Martin Loop Trail

*Why choose a Smart-guided Selfie Cycle Tour?

You get all the benefits of a guided tour without the drawbacks of a tour guide, other tourists, time restrictions, and a rigid tour agenda. With this smart-guided tour, you can go when you want, at your speed, and hang out at a spot as long as you wish. You can even wander off the planned route and the smart guide will get you back on track when you are ready.

HERE'S THE PLAN: You bring a bike and a smartphone. CycleNuts provides the smart-tour guide! Via an email, you receive an expertly designed tour route. Click the emailed link and follow the Selfie Tour route using your smartphone as your smart-tour guide for the Voice and Map guided turn-by-turn instructions.

From your location click on link 1 provided by CycleNuts (using your cell phone) and follow the Google Maps directions to the starting spot. Unload your bike (if you transported it to the starting spot), or if you rode to the starting spot, you are good to go. Click on link 2 provided by CycleNuts and begin the tour (for more complex tours there may also be a link 3 or 4 to click on along the way and additional instructions).

ARE YOU READY TO ROLL? GREAT... LET'S HIT THE TRAILS!

GET YOUR TICKET TODAY! - the tour starting and ending times on the ticket are only a general guideline to give you an idea of how much time the tour may take at the minimum. Your time in the saddle, on the trail, and starting times are your call - it's your tour. One ticket equals fun for all! Bring as many people as you wish on your tour. Ticket purchase is for the CycleNuts Selfie Smart-guided route only. Attractions, lodgings, food, bike rental, etc. are not included in the ticket purchase.

CycleNuts Selfie Tours tie together fun, interesting, scenic, historic, tasty, and refreshing points of interest along a bikeway-focused tour route where you ride at your pace and pleasure. You are the tour boss. You pick the date and time - the ticket is good for any day or time - dates/times listed only as a guideline to give you an idea of how long the tour normally takes.

With these smart-guided bikeway cycling adventures, you bring the bike and smartphone, and CycleNuts provides the Smart Guide. The Smart Guide gives voice and visual turn-by-turn instructions along an expertly designed and tested tour route.

Do the tour solo or bring along your crew. 1 ticket = fun for all! Easily stop anywhere along the way to visit attractions or refreshments and the Smart Guide will continue the route from wherever you are when you are ready to roll.

Got questions? - Get answers! – http://CycleNuts.link FAQS

Where you want to go? Let's go together!

Or just wear this cool t-shirt and send me a selfie picture.

Free tickets may be available for this tour in the Meetup group.

Host or Publisher CycleNuts