Alerts & Current Conditions

 

Coronavirus Disease Valley Forge Response

Valley Forge National Historical Park is currently closed. This closure includes all park roads, parking lots, trails and open spaces. The regional Schuylkill River Trail remains open for through users; however, no access or parking is available within the park. We have made this difficult decision in order to better protect visitors, park employees and the resources that make this place special. Vehicles parked illegally will be ticketed. Vehicles that block emergency vehicle access (such as on roads or in front of gates) will be towed, as they present a serious safety hazard.

We are in a rapidly changing situation and we continue to follow guidance from the CDC and recommendations from state and local health authorities and in consultation with NPS Public Health Officials. Check the park’s website and social media for the latest information. Updates about the NPS response to #COVID19 will continue to be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

For up to date information about the disease and information on how to protect yourself, please visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html.

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, all park-sponsored public programs and events are postponed until further notice, including:

• Landscapes and Structures Photography Program
• Trail Tuesdays (Park Alliance)
• March Out of the Continental Army
• Spring Home School Day
• Junior Ranger Day
• Join the Continental Army
• The Bake Oven

We will work to reschedule these activities, for a future date(s), once park operations resume in accordance with all relevant public health and local/state guidance. We look forward to inviting you to participate in these programs in the future. In the interim we encourage you to learn more about the history and significance, as well as natural resources, of Valley Forge on our website: nps.gov/vafo.

 

Roads and Trails

• Effective immediately, a short portion of the Chapel Trail, beginning 1/2 mile east of the Washington Memorial Chapel to the intersection with the Sullivan's Bridge Trail, will be closed through Summer 2020 due to the U.S. 422 Schuylkill River Bridge construction project and additional construction along Cinder Lane.

  As an alternative, visitors can use the Joseph Plumb Martin trail that parallels the approximate route of the Chapel Trail - on the south side of Valley Forge Park Road / PA Route 23. You can find almost 30 miles of additional trail options on our trail map, available at https://www.nps.gov/vafo/planyourvisit/maps.htm

• An unauthorized social trail on Mt. Joy will be permanently closed and remediated beginning on July 10th. A map of the trail closure, along with authorized neighboring trails on Mt. Joy, is available here.
  
  The trail is being removed because it crosses over some of the original earthworks built by the Continental Army in 1777-78. Repeated walking, erosion, and wear is damaging these historic earthworks. Additionally, the trail cuts through a forest restoration area, allowing for invasive species to spread and eliminating any natural regeneration that was occurring. This repeated trampling destroys vegetation and compacts any remaining soil leaving the area bare. The current trail is too steep and serious soil erosion is occurring, washing soil and nutrients onto park roads and trails.
  
  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.