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

 

Park Roads Conditions and Closures

 

North Outer Line Drive, a one-way tour road, will have one turn lane closed while park staff repaint the roadway on Friday, June 27, 2025.

NPS Graphic

Road Painting on North Outer Line Drive

On Monday, June 30, 2025 Valley Forge park staff will be repainting the roadway on North Outer Line Drive at the intersection with Gulph Road. The one-way tour road has two lanes: a left-only turn lane and a straight/right turn lane. One lane at this intersection will be closed while painting is ongoing. Please use extra caution when crossing or turning onto Gulph Road.

 

The Knox Covered Bridge reopened on Friday, October 11 after repairs to damage caused by a fallen tree were completed by PennDOT.

NPS Photo / G. Purifoy

Knox Covered Bridge Reopens

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced on Friday, October 11, 2024 that Knox Covered Bridge over Valley Creek has reopened following repairs from tree damage.

This picturesque bridge, known as the Knox Covered Bridge, is owned and maintained by the state of Pennsylvania. Built in 1865, the covered steel stringer bridge is 55-feet-long, 12-feet-wide, and carries approximately 1,604 vehicles per day. To learn more about the bridge, visit the Knox Covered Bridge webpage.

 

Trail Conditions and Closures

 

Fatlands Trail (formerly River Trail) reopened after high water levels and flooding

Water levels have gone down and the Fatlands Trail (recently renamed and formerly called the River Trail) is reopened as of Thursday, July 3, 2025 after heavy rains and flooding from the adjacent Schuylkill River.

 

Trail Maintenance on the Fatlands and Chapel Trails

Ongoing trail maintenance on the Fatlands Trail (formerly called the River Trail) between Betzwood picnic area and the Fatlands Trail parking lot along Pawlings Rd is taking place in 2025.

Work on the Fatlands Trail includes widening the trail to a standard 8 feet and relocating sections of the trail where the banks of the Schuylkill River are encroaching. Work on the Chapel Trail includes building new check steps and trimming vegetation.

The Fatlands and Chapel trails 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 access road and parking lot near the Maurice Stephens house, located on Route 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.

 

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.