Take a Sunrise Hike Above the Tohickon Gorge Near Doylestown |
A state park naturalist leads an early-morning walk to High Rocks in Delaware Canal State Park |
Some of the best views in Bucks County are only about 20 minutes from Doylestown, and on Sunday you can see one at first light.
A state park naturalist is leading an October Sunrise Hike on Sunday, Oct. 18, from 6:30 to 9 a.m.
The group meets at the High Rocks Overlook parking area, 150 Tory Road in Pipersville, in Delaware Canal State Park.
From there, the hike covers about three miles along the rim of the Tohickon Creek gorge.
The High Rocks cliffs drop sharply to the creek below, giving one of the widest views in the county.
Watching the light come up over that valley is the kind of thing you remember for a long time.
This is a real hike, not a stroll.
The park warns of uneven terrain and significant elevation changes, so good walking shoes are required.
Bring water, a snack and layers, because October mornings are cold before the sun gets going.
The park even suggests bringing your morning coffee, which may be the best advice of the week.
About a dozen pairs of loaner binoculars will be on hand, and you are welcome to bring your own.
There is a portable restroom at the meeting spot.
Pre-registration is required, and sign-up is through the state parks' online events calendar.
The listing does not mention a fee or say how many spots remain, so register early if you want to go.
The program can be canceled or changed for bad weather or unsafe driving conditions, so check the listing the night before.
If you have walked the High Rocks trail before, going with a naturalist adds a new layer, with someone along who can point out what you would otherwise walk right past.
If you have never been, this is a memorable first visit.
Set the alarm, fill the thermos and start your Sunday somewhere beautiful. |
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Just checked the events calendar and it was easy to find. Registered in about two minutes. See you all there Sunday.
The cliffs dropping right down to the creek are a little scary if you are not a fan of heights but the view is worth it.
Free event with loaner binoculars and a naturalist guide? State parks do not get enough credit for stuff like this.
The light over that valley when it first comes up is something else. Hard to describe until you see it.
Are dogs allowed on this one? Would love to bring mine but I know some guided hikes say no.
Worth checking the night before like they say. Cancelled a trip up there once because of fog and it was the right call.
The article notes the program can be canceled for bad weather or unsafe driving conditions, so that night-before check is genuinely worth the 30 seconds it takes.
Dan CallahanSmart call. That road into Pipersville can get dicey in bad weather too. Not worth the risk when you can just reschedule.
Drove past High Rocks last weekend and the parking lot was packed. People definitely know about this spot.
This is the kind of thing that makes living in Bucks County really nice. Glad the parks still do these programs.
Three miles is a solid distance for that terrain. Not a beginner walk for sure but not crazy hard either.
The part about watching light come up over the valley is exactly right. I did a sunrise there years ago and still think about it.
Tory Road in Pipersville is a little tricky to find in the dark. Leave some extra time to locate the parking area.
I always forget Delaware Canal State Park has so much more than just the towpath. Great reminder.
I keep saying I will do one of these sunrise hikes and I keep sleeping through my alarm. This time I mean it.
Set two alarms this time, the article's advice to fill the thermos the night before might help make that 6:30 a.m. Start feel a little more achievable.
Registered last night. Spots might be filling fast so do not wait too long if you want to go.
The fact that they put a portable restroom out there shows they actually thought this through.
It really is a thoughtful detail, especially for a 6:30 a.m. Gathering when the nearest alternative is probably pretty far down the road.
Tory Road is a little tricky to find the first time. Give yourself extra time if you have never been out there before.
Great practical tip, building in a few extra minutes is smart, especially since the hike starts at 6:30 a.m. And you don't want to be rushing down Tory Road in the dark.
The Tohickon is gorgeous any time of year but sunrise in October has to be something else.
Uneven terrain and elevation changes is an understatement on that trail. It is a real workout. Fun though.
My knees are not ready for significant elevation changes but I love that the park does programs like this.
NancyP.Same situation here. I hope they do a flatter version sometime along the canal path. Would love a guided walk without the elevation stuff.
October mornings up in those hills are cold. Layers is not a suggestion, it is a necessity.
20 minutes from Doylestown and most people have never even heard of this place. Go before it gets crowded.
Already set my alarm. Bringing a big thermos and layers like they said.
Hope the weather holds. October around here can go either way fast.
Having a naturalist along makes a real difference. Last time I walked that trail I had no idea what I was looking at.
BrianW.Same. I walked it solo last fall and just kind of wandered through. Having someone explain what you're actually seeing sounds way more worthwhile.
Saw the sunrise from up there once years ago. Still think about it.
Carla JenningsThat gorge at sunrise is something else. The light hits the water down below and it just looks unreal. Good memory to have.
Does anyone know if this fills up quick? The article says register early but not how many spots there are.
mark_h87I signed up for a different state park hike last spring and it filled within a day or two. I would not wait on this one.
Binoculars on loan is a nice touch. Good for people like me who never remember to bring their own.
The loaner binoculars are a nice touch. Good for spotting the fall color in the valley below.
Took my kids there two summers ago and they still talk about looking down into the gorge. Great spot.
Twenty minutes from Doylestown and I have never been up there. That is embarrassing. Registering today.
Does anyone know if the parking lot gets full? Wondering if we need to get there extra early.
Wish they did more of these seasonal hikes. The state park naturalist programs are so underrated.
That Tohickon Creek gorge view is one of the best kept secrets in the county honestly.
Three miles along that rim is not easy. Glad they put the warning about proper shoes. I wore the wrong ones once and regretted it.
Done this trail a few times but never with a naturalist. Curious what they point out that I have been missing.
The coffee suggestion is solid advice. October mornings up there are no joke cold.
Just signed up. Was not sure about 6:30am on a Sunday but honestly it will be worth it.
Went up there last fall and could not believe how far you can see. Stunning.
High Rocks is absolutely worth the early alarm. That gorge view stops you in your tracks.
I go up there a few times a year and it genuinely never gets old. The gorge looks different every season.
That's exactly the spirit of a place like the gorge, the Tohickon looks completely different as the seasons shift, and October light at sunrise might be the best version of all.
Doing this with my daughter. She has never been to High Rocks and I want this to be her first time there.
A first visit to High Rocks at sunrise with a naturalist guiding the way sounds like a pretty unforgettable morning for both of you, enjoy every minute of it.
Three miles on uneven terrain at dawn is not my idea of a relaxing Sunday but respect to those who do it.
RonFromRichboroHa, I feel this. But I keep telling myself I'll regret not going more than I'll regret going. Maybe that's how I end up signing up for these things.
Already registered. Spots were going fast when I checked this morning.
Lisa T.Thanks for the heads up. Just checked and it looks like there are very few slots left. Glad I saw this comment before I waited until tonight.
The coffee thermos tip is carrying this whole article honestly.
Chris AlbrightHonestly the thermos line is why I forwarded this to my husband. He needs no other convincing.
I had no idea Delaware Canal State Park had stuff like this. Been living here 12 years.
Delaware Canal State Park is full of surprises, the High Rocks Overlook alone is worth the 20-minute drive from Doylestown, and this guided sunrise hike is a great reason to finally make the trip.
Tohickon gorge in October with the leaves changing? That sounds incredible.
Went once in the spring and the trail is no joke. Wear real shoes people, not sneakers.
The park's own warning about uneven terrain and significant elevation changes backs you up completely, this is a real hike, and your feet will thank you for dressing accordingly.
High Rocks is honestly one of the most underrated spots in the whole county. Glad more people are finding out about it.
6:30am on a Sunday though lol
Did this hike last fall and the view from those cliffs is unreal. Worth every bit of the early alarm.