Fort Washington

Fort Washington SP https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/FortWashingtonStatePark/Pages/default.aspx https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Washington_State_Park Fort Washington State Park is located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The park is noted for the springtime flowering of dogwood trees, and is popular with families for picnics and hiking. It is approximately 17 miles (27 km) north of Philadelphia, 2 miles (3.2 km) from exit 339 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Recreational activities at Fort Washington State Park include Disc Golf, fishing, hiking, dog walking, bird and wildlife watching, sledding, cross-country skiing and picnicking. From September 1 to October 31, an organized "Hawk Watch" takes place in which viewers can observe all 16 species of raptors that migrate on the East Coast from the park's observation deck.

A Pennsylvania Recreational Guide for Fort Washington State Park Fort Washington State Park Rich in modern recreational facilities and historical significance, Fort Washington blossoms with flowering dogwood in the spring. The park takes its name from the temporary fort built by George Washington’s troops in the fall of 1777, before heading to Valley Forge. The park is popular with hikers and picnickers. Birders enjoy the seasonal migration of raptors from the Observation Deck. NO HUNTING: Hunting is prohibited in all areas of Fort Washington State Park. FISHING: Wissahickon Creek passes through the park offering trout fishing in the spring. During the summer, it offers warmwater fishing for carp, catfish, panfish, and suckers. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulations and laws apply. Directions Fort Washington State Park consists of 493 acres in eastern Montgomery County. The park lies between the towns of Fort Washington and Flourtown along the Bethlehem Pike. It is about two miles from PA Turnpike Exit 339. Flourtown Day Use Area: 44 West Mill Road, Flourtown, PA 19031 Militia Hill Day Use Area: 447 Militia Hill Road, Fort Washington, PA 19034 6036 Joshua Road, Fort Washington, PA 19034 Reservations Make online reservations at www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. Recreational Opportunities HAWK WATCH OBSERVATION DECKS: The lower deck is ADA accessible. All 16 species of raptors that migrate on the east coast can be seen here. The “Watch” begins on September 1 and lasts through October 31. Volunteer compilers are on duty every day, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, counting raptors that migrate past the deck. For more information, or to bring a group to the observation deck, call the park office at 215-591-5250. The deck provides a scenic overlook year round, and also great views of the butterfly garden. HIKING: 4.2 miles of trails Moderate difficulty trails wander through forest and open fields. Fort Washinton State Park 500 South Bethlehem Pike Fort Washington, PA 19034 215-591-5250 email: fortwashingtonsp@pa.gov GPS DD: Lat. 40.13027 Long. -75.21764 Make online reservations at www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks visitPAparks PICNICKING: Flourtown Day Use Area and Militia Hill Day Use Area provide over 300 picnic tables. Three picnic pavilions are available for year-round use, weather conditions permitting. The pavilions are available for rental with advance reservations. If not reserved, they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Large playfields offer ample room for group or individual picnic activities. The entire park is a carry-in/carry-out trash disposal area. There are no trash collection or recycling facilities. Visitors are asked to limit the amount of disposable items brought to the park and to take all trash, garbage, and recyclables home to be disposed of properly. ADA accessible picnic tables and parking spaces have been designated throughout the park. Militia Hill Day Use Area has two ADA accessible picnic pavilions, a minipavilion, a playground, and restrooms. The Flourtown Day Use Area Pavilion and restroom are also ADA accessible. SOFTBALL FIELD: The softball field in the Flourtown Day Use Area is available on a first-come, first-served basis. An Equal Opportunity Employer 2018 ORGANIZED GROUP TENTING: This rustic area is open year round and has a maximum capacity of 220 people. Groups must call the reservation system to reserve a site. Green Ribbon Trail: This 2.5-mile multi-use trail provides opportunities for biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing along Wissahickon Creek. It connects the Militia Hill and Flourtown day use areas via Montgomery County park land. Plans are underway to extend the trail through local communities to the south and connect with Fairmount Park’s Forbidden Drive in Chestnut Hill. History Fort Washington State Park and the community of Fort Washington take their name from the temporary fort built here by soldiers of the American Revolution in the fall of 1777. Formerly known as Whitemarsh, the area saw the encampment of 12,000 soldiers of General Washington’s army from November 2 until December 11, 1777. Following the unsuccessful battle of Germantown, Washington chose the heights of the Whitemarsh Valley as an easily defendable position. From here he pondered the possibility of launching an attack against General Howe’s British army in Philadelphia. Although Washington decided against an attack, the British marched out from Philadelphia on December 5 in order to engage the Americans in battle. Because of Washington’s strong position, only local skirmishes took place. After much marching back and forth, Howe led his army back to Philadelphia on December 8. Knowing his poorly clad men needed better quarters, and also to protect the iron forges and foundries in