Peacedale Preserve

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

A hike just shy of 3 miles taking advantage of most of the trails in the Peacedale Preserve. The Preserve is a good example of the geography of southwestern Chester County, with open fields and woods on rolling hills. Grades are generally gentle. Creeks boarder the preserve on the east and west sides. The creek to the west is smaller and more easily accessed by the trail system (Woodland Trail). The creek on the east is accessed by an unmarked trail off of the South Meadow Loop.

Parking is free but there are no restrooms.

From the parking lot, choose one of three directions. Multiple loops of different lengths are possible by way of cutoffs, but you'll have do some backtracking if you want to see the entire preserve.

The terrain is small rolling hills with fields and woods. A nice little creek runs through the woods. Only a few sections get muddy following rain. The trails are mostly wide, cut grass, but some singletrack is also present. There appears to be an old homestead site on the Meadow Cut-off.

On the southwest corner of the South Meadow Loop there is a short unmarked trail that will take you to Walker Road, not far from Mt. Olivet Road (doubletrack closed to motor vehicles), connecting Walker and Strickersville Roads.

Crossing the creek to the east will take you to doubletrack (open to motor vehicles) connecting Franklin and Walker Roads, but requires bushwhacking.

Grassy fields and deciduous woods. Signs highlight birds.