Ridley Creek State Park

Hiking   -  Biking   -  Horseback Riding   -  Picnicking   -  Fishing   -  Formal Gardens   -  Cross-country Skiing   -  Sledding   -  Organized Group Tenting

Park visitors enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities throughout the year. Public use areas are open daily from sunrise to sunset. The restrooms in picnic areas #7 and #17 are open year-round.

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Picnicking: There are hundreds of picnic tables in 14 picnic areas. Each area is equipped with restrooms and charcoal grills. Several of the areas have large fields suited to sports activities. Areas #3, #8, #11 and #17 have playground equipment and picnic pavilions. The pavilions can be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Make a reservation.

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Fishing: Ridley Creek is stocked with trout and provides excellent angling. The portion of the creek from Sycamore Mills Dam to the mouth of Dismal Run is a catch and release, fly fishing only area. A wheelchair accessible fishing platform is on the paved, Multi-use Trail along Sycamore Mills Road. Vehicle permits must be acquired at the park office. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply.

Complete information on fishing rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.

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Hiking: 12 miles of trails
The trails pass through a variety of habitats throughout the central portion of the park.

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Biking/Jogging: 5 miles of trails
The five-mile, paved Multi-use Trail along Sycamore Mills and Forge roads is designated for bicycles, joggers, walkers and cross-country skiers. Park in lots #7, #11, #15 and # 17.

Bikes are not permitted on unpaved hiking trails.

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Horseback Riding: 4.7 miles of trails
A 4.7-mile trail begins in Picnic Area #8. A parking lot for trailers is at the trailhead.

Hidden Valley Farms operates a stable within the park that provides trail rides, horse boarding, riding lessons, pony rides, and an assortment of horse related services. 610-892-7260  www.hiddenvalleyhorsefarm.com

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Formal Gardens and Landscaping: The gardens by the park office are a popular attraction and wedding site. The mansion ballroom is available for weddings and events. Call the park office for information.

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Stay the Night

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Organized Group Tenting: Qualified organized groups can camp in the primitive group tenting area from April to October. The area has a restroom with flush toilets and can accommodate up to 120 individuals.  Shower facilities are not available. Reservations are required.

Explore organized group tenting for more information.

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Winter Activities

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Explore the Winter Report for the current snow and ice depths.

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Cross-country Skiing: Cross-country skiers may use the hiking and multi-use trails when snow cover permits.

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Sledding: A large grassy slope by the park office is popular for sledding.

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Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation

The Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation provides visitors with an accurate picture of life on a Delaware County farm prior to the American Revolution.

The Plantation has been a working farm for over 300 years. It is restored to a late 18th century appearance complete with animals typical of the period and authentically clothed historical interpreters. On weekends from April to November, visitors can observe the farm family cooking over the open hearth, preserving foods, processing textiles, tending field crops and performing other chores necessary to survival in the 18th century world.

A fee is charged and group tours are available by reservation. The plantation is closed to public visitation during the winter months. www.colonialplantation.org

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Environmental Education and Interpretation

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Ridley Creek no longer offers environmental education and interpretive programming due to significant reductions in the budget of the Bureau of State Parks.

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Access for People with Disabilities

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If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.

 

Within the park boundaries was a small 18th century village, which grew up around the site of a mill. Now known as Sycamore Mills, the area had been previously named Bishop’s Mill and Providence Mill. The miller’s house, the office and library, and several small mill workers’ dwellings are currently used as private residences. The park area has been designated as the “Ridley Creek State Park Historic District” on the National Register of Historic Places.

Park property was purchased in the 1960s with Project 70 funds, and developed with Land and Water Conservation Fund moneys. Park facilities were dedicated to public use in August of 1972.

The park office is in the “Hunting Hill” mansion, built by the Jeffords family in 1914. The mansion was built around a 1789 Pennsylvania stone farmhouse that forms the core of the building and serves as the reception center.

Keep in Touch

Add yourself to the DCNR's online community to receive info on this park, or parks in general.

Volunteering

Like to spend time in the outdoors, meet friendly people and help make Pennsylvania State Parks great? Volunteering at a park might be for you.

Becoming a Conservation Volunteer is easy.

• Sign up to be a Conservation Volunteer
  OR
• Contact your local state park directly and ask for the Conservation Volunteer coordinator - you'll be hooked up with an interesting and appropriate project in Pennsylvania's natural resources.
   

Scouts and organized groups can earn free camping by completing service projects.

Join the Friends of Ridley Creek State Park

The Friends of Ridley Creek State Park is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and enhancing Ridley Creek State Park. It as an affiliate chapter of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forestry Foundation, and is a qualified 501(c)(3) organization, which means that your contribution is tax deductible. Any money that you donate to the Friends will benefit Ridley Creek State Park directly. The Friends coordinate a wide variety of volunteer activities that benefit the park. www.friendsofrcsp.org

Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation

Believing that each generation is responsible for leaving behind a better legacy of good conservation, the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) was created in 1999 to give supporters and users of Pennsylvania's parks and forests a positive way to contribute to the conservation of our publicly-owned properties. The Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation welcomes the support of individuals and businesses who share a commitment to conserving, protecting, and enhancing the natural, scenic, and recreational areas of this commonwealth. www.paparksandforests.org

Make a Donation

To a park - find this park's address below

To a park's friends group - see above

To a park or the Bureau of State Parks - Pennsylvania Parks and Forestry Foundation www.paparksandforests.org

Through a purchase at a park gift shop

Thank you for your support!

Education Programs

We love when young people ask us how to get involved!

DiscoverE has programs for young people ages 4 to 17, provided by Pennsylvania State Park educators. By combining recreation and education, we hope to motivate children to learn more and return often, leading to a lifetime of outdoor enjoyment and conservation leadership. 

In Watershed Education, teachers and students assess water quality of a local stream on a quarterly basis and develop strategies to solve local water quality problems. 

ECO Camp - Exploring Careers Outdoors - is a week-long residential camp for a cross-section of high school youth from across Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Participate in action-packed, hands on activities and recreational adventures in Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests that expose youth to conservation, recreation and careers in natural resources. Learn how people make a living working in the outdoors.

Explore education for more information on these and other programs.

Explore the Calendar of Events to find a program near you.

iConservePA

Do you take conservation personally? iConservePA is a Web site managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources whose vision is to inspire citizens to value their natural resources, engage in conservation practices and experience the outdoors. Take conservation personally.

Come Work with Us

Pennsylvania State Parks and the Department of Conservation and Natrual Resources offer a wide range of civil service and non-civil service jobs, from foresters, to rangers, to engineers, to educators, to botanists and so much more. Learn what is currently available.

Tell us What You Think

Contact this park with compliments, concerns and issues about the park.

Ridley Creek State Park

Nearby Attractions

Information on nearby attractions is available from the Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau. www.brandywinecvb.org

Pennsylvania Resources Council

This nonprofit organization provides information and educational programs on a wide variety of environmental issues. The PRC’s Environmental Living Center is in the park. www.prc.org

Maps and Downloadables

Below are many of the maps and publications for this park. You can read them or download them and might need special software (all free) to view the publications.

You must have the free Adobe Reader to view the maps and brochures that are in pdf format (.pdf).

Alternate versions of the text of the brochures are in rich text and text formats. Click on the files to view them. To download (.rtf) files:
For Windows users, right click on the link then left click on "Save target as" to download the file to your computer. For Mac users, hold down the "Options" button and click on the link, then select "Save" to download the file to your computer.

Recreational Guide

Ridley Creek State Park Map (.pdf) (612 kb, 3/11)
Ridley Creek State Park Recreational Guide (.pdf) (261 kb, 3/11)
    large print version of the guide text (.rtf)

Interactive GIS Map

The Interactive GIS Map uses Geographic Information Systems to create a map that does not need to be downloaded and features driving directions, searchable park amenities and customizable maps. Please note that the background maps are maintained by a variety of public sources and driving directions usually go to the nearest large road.

Common Birds Brochure

Common Birds of Ridley Creek (.pdf) (356 kb, 3/11)