For those looking for a local escape from the everyday, Dauphin County’s Wildwood Park offers a rustic retreat from the hustle and bustle of urban life while conveniently located adjacent to it. Owned and operated by the county, the park features 229 acres which includes a nature center, a 90 acre freshwater wetland teeming with wildlife and more importantly from the outdoor enthusiast’s perspective, several miles of trails, ranging from paved to gravel to single track.
A popular 3 mile loop encircles the wetlands. A former canal towpath offers a flat, even surface while the paved section closest to the nature center offers a more challenging, hilly section. Bikers, runners and walkers all share the trail. Currently, as an added bonus, this trail features the annual “Art in the Wild” exhibition, where local artists create environmentally sensitive works composed primarily of nature materials that are integrated into the landscape. For more information about “Art in the Wild” click here.
Wildwood Park is part of the Capital Area Greenbelt, a 20+ mile loop of paths that serves as the green heart of Harrisburg, allowing further exploration beyond the park’s parameters. Whether discovering the park itself or delving deeper into Harrisburg’s trails, Wildwood Park offers a place of beauty for outdoor aficionados.
Wildwood Park is located at 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, Pa. For more information about the park, its trails and activities there, visit explorewildwoodpark.org
About the author: Joe is the Outreach Manager at ARC in Carlisle. He loves running the city streets and hiking the great outdoors. In addition to being outside, Joe is a DJ and art columnist. He is a dad of two and has been married for 30 years.
