A Bike In The Park

VALLEY FORGE, Pa., - Remember the feeling of freedom you felt when you first rode around the block by yourself? Or the joy you experienced when you felt the exhilaration of making it to the top of a steep hill?

Now when you visit Valley Forge National Historical Park you can experience that same excitement without even hitching a bike to the back of your car. For a more vigorous tour of the park, visitors can rent a bike and explore the Park on their own.

Bike rentals are available from the lower Welcome Center parking lot daily from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Labor Day through the end of October on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. weather permitting. Two-hour rentals start at $15 for adults, $12 for children, and $49 for families (2 adults and 2 children).

The bikes are "path" bikes. They have frames and gears like a mountain bike with an upright seating position, a wide comfortable saddle, a less aggressive tire set, and seat post suspension. With 21 speeds they're well suited to the paved bike paths at the Park. Two sizes of kid-friendly bikes are available, as well as buggies that tow behind an adult bike for the little ones. Also available is a Tag-a-long, a half bike that goes onto the back of an adult bike, for children up to 80 pounds who just want to sit back and enjoy the ride. Helmets are available for everyone and are included in the rental price.

For those that just enjoy a leisurely walk, there are 40-minute ranger-led walking tours that are free of charge and depart twice daily, at 11:50 a.m. and at 1:50 p.m.