American Pilgrims on the Camino - Philadelphia Chapter

This hike is recommended for those seeking to train for the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and for those who are interested in discovering it.

Explore the beautiful Wissahickon!

We'll meet in the parking lot of Gustine Recreation Center (4868 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia) at 9:30am on Sunday, November 17. Please note, the rec center is closed on the weekends and there are no facilities.

6-miles, walking along the Wissahickon bike trail (1.3 miles, more narrow mixed use trail) to Forbidden Drive (wider mixed use trail) and back.

Mostly flat with some mild hills. Terrain is either paved, rocky, or dirt road.
Please note, there is a bin composting toilet at about 2 miles in.

Afterward, option to head to the nearby Landing Kitchen for lunch. https://www.thelandingkitchen.com/

Camino Coffee time (also known as second breakfast!)! An opportunity to meet up with fellow pilgrims, learn about the Camino de Santiago, reminisce or learn about different routes.

Come for the coffee (very good coffee here!) or come for the walk (roughly a 4 miler). Or come for both! Anticipating walking around 11:30am. It’s actually an easy stroll down to the park and then a lap around Haddon Lake, then back towards Trouble Brewing.

There is an opportunity, if anyone is inclined, to have lunch post walk. On the corner across from Trouble Brewing is a small "deli" with good food, called Local Links.

Dress for the weather, as we’ll meet rain or shine. Only truly horrific winter weather will cancel us. Bring your pack if you like.

Join us for a 12-13 mile loop hike in Wharton State Forest. We'll start at the historic Batsto Village, walk along the Batsto Lake, Mullica River, cross the Batsto River on Quaker Bridge, and return to Batsto Village. The terrain is flat and easy.

There are restrooms at the start and finish in the Visitor's Center. There are no options to shorten the hike, so you will be committed to walking the entire length. Please make sure you are easily comfortable with hiking 13 miles.

Meet at the Visitor's Center parking lot in front of the Visitor's Center. My car is a white Fiat 500 with Camino shell sticker on the back.

I'll find a spot for a post hike lunch., location TBD.

We’re posting this event here in case anyone might be interested in signing up for a BIG hike! The Mammoth March is an annual, “20-miles in 8 hours” hike set in multiple locations throughout the US. The Delaware Valley location (Elkton, MD) is closest to us, and is scheduled for Saturday, May 31st, 2025.

20-miles is about 32kms, and this would be equivalent to a big day on the Camino. But signing up (and training!) for an event like this could be the perfect preparation for a summer Camino!

We are sharing the event here with an understanding that anyone who signs up takes responsibility for their own hike. This is not a group event like our other hikes! We already have a few members registered, and depending on who signs up we can look into carpooling, cheering each other on at the start (and maybe celebrating at the end). Some members may choose to walk together but this is very much a ‘hike your own hike’. For an event this long, people will have different paces and may have their own individual goals. If you decide to participate, please be comfortable with the possibility/likelihood of doing this hike on your own.

If you decide to sign up, know that a few members have already selected the 8:00am start time. Do whatever works best for you, but for those who start at 8:00am, we can gather as a group and take our first steps together!

Here are links to the registration page, FAQs, general info:
https://www.mammothmarch.com/delaware-valley-25
https://raceroster.com/events/2025/91525/mammothmarch-delaware-valley
https://www.mammothmarch.com/faqs