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Route Scout
Threatened by developers, but not the Redcoats by kingsnake You've all heard of Valley Forge: This is the walking tour. First spend at least an hour at the small, but excellent, Visitor Center / Museum. It has hundreds of artifacts from the winter of 1777, and other Revolutionary War areas. Exiting the Visitor Center, curl south on the bike/walk path to the one-way Outer Line Rd (named after the outer line of defenses), which this walk will mostly follow. Around the first pull off lot, you will see a cannon, a rebuilt redoubt, and several reconstructed cabins. This area was occupied by DeKalb's Division. Numerous state and unit memorials follow all along the loop. At 1.4 miles, you will reach Memorial Arch, the overall memorial to the defenders of Valley Forge. Continue south on the path to the New Hampshire cabins, then west through the Pennsylvania Columns to Wayne's Woods, where there is a statue of "Mad" Anthony Wayne. You have gone 2.1 miles. Curl north to Baptist Rd. Go straight across to where you see the "Do not enter: falling limbs signs". (It appears they refer to the area north of the dirt path, not the path itself.) Continue southwest on the dirt path until youu cross a stone culvert. Go a few feet up the culvert to pick up Inner Line Dr, which you will follow for .25 miles until you see a dirt path on your left. Turn up the path, climbing to the open meadow that is the "peak" of Mount Joy. You have gone 3.5 miles. Not much historical on Mount Joy, but it is an opportunity to get onto dirt and into woods, away from path walking. Continue across the meadow, following the dirt path until you arrive a trail intersection. Turn right across the bridge, and the paved road, descending northeast to Inner Line Dr. where you will connect up with the paved path, which you will follow north, past the Artillery Park, to the von Steuben statue. You have gone 4.7 miles. Continue east on the paved bike/walk path, paralleling Valley Forge Rd, to the Washington Memorial Chapel, an active Episcopal church, which has its own tours and gift shop. Continue east, past the African-American monument, and the asbestos-polluted woods -- unlike the "falling trees" signs, this warning is best heeded -- before turning south for a few hundred yards to the Visitor Center. You have gone 6.2 miles. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your walk/tour to support this local community.
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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
