Most roads, trails, grounds, and parking lots. (See below for a list of locations closed due to the impacts of flooding from Post-Tropical Cyclone Ida)
The newly renovated Visitor Center. The Visitor Center at Valley Forge and The Encampment Store are open 7 days a week, 9 AM to 5 PM. New exhibits are currently unavailable, but are being installed this winter.
Public restrooms at parking lots. Open restroom facilities include: Visitor Center parking lot, Artillery Park parking lot, Washington's Headquarters parking lot, Betzwood Picnic Area parking lot, and Wilson Road parking lot. Please be aware that these restrooms may be closed periodically for cleaning.
Wayne's Woods Picnic Area.
The Covered Bridge. The Covered Bridge at the intersection of Rt 252 and Yellow Springs Rd is reopened.
Services are limited and the return to normal, full operations will take place using a phased approach. Open areas are accessible during normal park hours, from 7AM to 30 minutes past sunset every day.
What's Closed:
Washington's Headquarters.Due to the impacts of flooding from Post-Tropical Cyclone Ida, the interior of Washington's Headquarters remains closed indefinitely. Read the news release.
Valley Creek Trail. Due to flooding and damage caused by Post-Tropical Cyclone Ida, the Valley Creek Trail is closed from the Covered Bridge on Yellow Springs Rd to the intersection with the Wolfinger Trail. The Valley Creek Trail is open from the intersection with the Wolfinger Trail to the Horseshoe trailhead near Rt 23. Learn more here.
Valley Forge Train Station.
Varnum's Quarters.
Public programming. Suspended programs include many in-person educational and interpretive talks, tours, demonstrations, etc. See additional information about suspended programs below.
Museum Exhibits. New exhibits are being installed this winter.
Park Theater. Temporarily closed for renovations. Projected to reopen early 2022. In the meantime, the park's visitor orientation film can be viewed online here.
Wayne's Woods restroom. (Closed for the winter season)
Varnum's Picnic Area parking lot and restroom. (Closed for the winter season)
Visiting Valley Forge and COVID-19
The National Park Service is working service-wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, masks are required in park buildings, regardless of vaccination status. Please maintain social distancing protocols and expect reduced capacity limits.
All individuals over the age of two, regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks, except when actively eating or drinking, in all common areas and shared workspaces in buildings owned, rented, or leased by the National Park Service, including, but not limited to, park visitor centers, administrative offices, lodges, gift shops, and restaurants.
All individuals over the age of two who are not yet fully vaccinated must wear masks in the following outdoor areas when others are present, except when actively eating or drinking, where the superintendent has determined that physical distancing (staying at least six feet apart) cannot reasonably be maintained:
• All facilities, including but not limited to historic and reproduction structures, contact stations, picnic areas, pavilions and bathrooms that are open to the public.
• All designated trailheads, trails, and parking lots.
Masks must cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face. Masks not designed to be protective, masks with ventilation valves, and face shields do not meet the requirement.
Regardless of vaccination status, all individuals must comply with all orders regarding masks issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
CDC prevention measures continue to apply to all travelers on public transit, regardless of vaccination status. Masks remain required on all forms of public transit that operate within parks, including busses, trains, and boats/ferries, and in transportation hubs.
Find more detailed information and answers to frequently asked questions on the Virtual Visitor Center page.
Formal Program Postponement
Following guidance from the CDC and recommendations from state and local public health authorities in consultation with NPS Public Health Service Officers, many park-sponsored in-person programs and events are postponed until further notice, including:
March Out of the Continental Army
Spring Home School Day
Junior Ranger Day
Join the Continental Army
The Bake Oven
Learn more about ranger-led programming at Valley Forge here.
Park in Designated Locations. Vehicles parked illegally will be ticketed, and vehicles that block emergency vehicle access (such as on roads or in front of gates) will be towed.
Plan to Pack Out Your Trash. In-park trash and recycling receptacles are limited.
Practice Social Distancing. Wear a mask, avoid large groups, and stay 6 feet away from others. Cover your coughs and sneezes.
Map depicting the weekend road closure of North Outer Line Drive.
Roads and Trails
Weekend Closure of North Outer Line Drive
On Saturdays and Sundays, North Outer Line Drive may be temporarily closed to motor vehicles during periods of heavy recreational use. Please use an alternative driving route.
Valley Creek Trail Closure
Due to the impacts of flooding and damage caused by Post-Tropical Cyclone Ida, the Valley Creek Trail is closed from the Covered Bridge on Yellow Springs Rd to the intersection with the Wolfinger Trail. The Valley Creek Trail remains open from the intersection with the Wolfinger Trail to the Horseshoe trailhead near Rt 23.
Please help us protect the natural and cultural resources in your park and stay on the 35 miles of official park trails. The official trails are designed to provide access to the different habitats and cultural sites in the park, to connect to other trails and allow users to make loops, to be of varying difficulty, and to be sustainable and manageable by the park.
