Alerts & Current Conditions

 

Alerts

 

Winters at Valley Forge are cold and damp with a cool spring and fall and a hot and humid summer. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended for outdoor recreation during the snowy winter season. Find more detailed weather information here: www.nps.gov/vafo/planyourvisit/weather.htm

Weather Details

 

What's Open and Closed at Valley Forge

What's Open:

• Roads, trails, grounds, and parking lots.

• The visitor center and museum exhibit. The Visitor Center at Valley Forge and The Encampment Store are open 7 days a week, 9 AM to 5 PM. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's days.

• Park Theater. The 19-minute orientation film Determined to Persevere: The Valley Forge Encampment is shown on the hour and the half-hour from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM daily. Learn more here, or ask a ranger at the visitor center for details. The park's visitor orientation film can also be viewed online here.

• Washington's Headquarters and Historic Valley Forge Station. Washington's Headquarters and the exhibit in the train station are open daily, 10 AM to 5 PM.

• Public restrooms in parking lots. Open restroom facilities include:

- Artillery Park parking lot
- Betzwood picnic area parking lot
- Varnum's picnic area parking lot
- Visitor Center lower parking lot
- Washington's Headquarters parking lot
- Wayne's Woods picnic area parking lot
- Wilson Road parking lot.

Please be aware that these restrooms may be closed periodically for cleaning.

• Wayne's Woods picnic area.

• Betzwood picnic area.

• Varnum's picnic area.

Outdoor areas are accessible during normal park hours, from 7 AM to 30 minutes past sunset every day.

What's Closed:

• Varnum's Quarters.

 

A tree fell through the roof of the Knox Covered Bridge on August 22, 2024. The bridge and a section of the adjacent Valley Creek Trail are closed while PennDOT completes repairs.

NPS Photo

 

Valley Creek Trail from the covered bridge to Wolfinger Trail will be closed during repairs. Follow posted signage.

NPS

Knox Coverd Bridge Repair and Valley Creek Trail Closure

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is repairing the historic Knox Covered Bridge, which was damaged when a tree fell through the roof on August 22, 2024. There is currently no set date for when PennDOT will complete the repairs. Since large dumpsters and construction equipment will be present at the site, the Valley Creek Trail from the covered bridge to Wolfinger Trail will be closed during repairs to accomodate these materials.

This picturesque bridge, known as the Knox Covered Bridge, is owned and maintained by the state of Pennsylvania. Built in 1865, the bridge stretches 65 feet connecting Route 252 and Yellow Spring Road and sits above Valley Creek. We will keep you posted as we received more information on PennDOT’s progress. To learn more about the bridge, visit our Knox Covered Bridge webpage.

 

The River Trail will remain open during trail work but visitors are encouraged to use extra caution around work crews.

NPS Graphic / G. Purifoy

Trail Maintenance Work on the River Trail

Trail maintenance work on the River Trail between Betzwood picnic area and the River parking lot along Pawlings Rd will take place on consecutive Fridays during July and August, 2024.

Work to include widening the trail to a standard 8 feet and relocating sections of the trail where the banks of the Schuylkill River are encroaching. The River Trail will remain open to hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders but all trail users are encouraged to use extra caution while maintenance work is ongoing.

 

Visitors are encouraged to park in the Chapel parking lot and cross Route 23 at the pedestrian crossing for access to the Grand Parade trails.

NPS Graphic / G. Purifoy

Maurice Stephens Parking Lot Closed During Construction Project

The parking lot near the Maurice Stephens house, located on Rt 23 opposite from the Washington Memorial Chapel, is closed during construction and renovation work on the house. Visitors are encouraged to park in the Chapel parking lot and cross Route 23 at the pedestrian crossing for access to the Grand Parade trails.

Construction work on the Maurice Stephens house is expected to be completed at the end of 2024.

 

Tree removal took place on both sides of Valley Creek on the north side of Rt 23 near the intersection with Valley Creek Road (Rt 252) and the Washington's Headquarters area.

Tree Removal Work on Rt 23 at Valley Creek near Washington's Headquarters

In early May, Aqua water utility cleared trees on the north side of Rt 23 at Valley Creek to allow for a water main project to advance.

In Autumn 2024, Aqua will install 24-inch water main to replace an outdated water main that travels up and over Mount Misery in the park. In order to avoid damage to the exceptional value of Valley Creek, Aqua will use a directional drill to bore under Valley Creek and pull the pipe underneath the stream bed. This work requires a large area on either side of the stream to operate the necessary equipment.

Aqua completed numerous resource related investigations to mitigate impacts to rare, threatened, endangered species; special habitats; archeology; and other sensitive park resources. Since a rare bat species (Northern Long-Eared Bat) has been identified in the area, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) required that any trees that must be removed for the project be removed before May 15, 2024 to avoid negative impacts to the species. USFWS is the agency that oversees the Endangered Species Act.

Following tree removal, the area will be seeded with a quick growing cover crop to limit erosion until the pipeline installation project starts in fall. Once the pipeline installation is completed, the area will be restored with a combination of native trees and seed.

Work is being completed within a legal Aqua Right of Way and under a park special use permit to protect park resources.

 

Tips for Visiting the Park Safely

• Recreate Responsibly. Follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, and avoid crowding and high-risk outdoor activities.

• 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.