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Print Friendly MapCamden's Cooper River Park is found on both the north and south shores of Cooper River Lake. The urban park is open daily from dawn to dusk and offers a paved loop path for bikers and pedestrians, as well as other recreational facilities such as a boathouse and large playground. On the east side of the loop, the trail also extends out about a mile along S. Park Avenue through a residential area to Vesper Avenue.
The loop around Cooper River Park is around 3.7 miles and passes through the 346-acre park and encompassing wetland and grassland habitats and wildlife like egrets, herons, bald eagles and raptors.
Other sections of the trail pass through Pennypacker Park, Wallworth Pond & Challenger Grove Park and Farham Park.
The pathway is part of a larger effort called The Circuit Trails that aims to connect 750 miles of trail in the Camden and Philadelphia region.
There are a variety of parking options along the trail. At Gateway Park, trail users can park at 2798 Admiral Wilson Blvd. At the William G. Rohrer Children's Playground, look for parking at 5300 N Park Dr. Additionally there is parking at the Cooper River Kayak Landing (510 Park Blvd) and Challenge Grove Park (101 Bortons Mill Rd).
See TrailLink Map for all options and detailed directions.
I have done this numerous times. It has been my go to for years to get a good walk in..It’s best for walking. It gets very crowded. There’s not enough room for two people to walk and I’d like to go by. Someone is always moving over.
Such a great park and trail that it gets too much traffic - cars and feet. Scenic views, facilities, amenities abound. People-watching paradise. Community feel.
Love the this long greatly paved trial, if your a new gen rider like me it’s hard to find good roadies to ride on this is definitely the one!! Also looking for an electric riders out there let’s all meet ride out and have some fun
3.6 miles. Bathroom is a huge plus.
North Park Drive now has painted bike lanes on the road and they are working well. There is good separation between bikers, parked cars, walkers and joggers.
If in the area and want to get a run in, this 4 mile loop around the river is nice. A chance to see some rowing teams is cool. The view of Philly is a pleasant sight when crossing over the bridges at either end.
wind350 made a comment in Oct. 2013 (see below) and it's still the same. The trail has many joggers, walkers, pets and baby carriages and does not work well for bikers. The roads are ok (you do have to weave around drainage grates) but still no bike lanes and Cuthbert Blvd. has a lot of traffic moving at a pretty good clip.
I think I have found a place that I will spend the summer. It's a really nice place and you can spend time with friends or just be by yourself ... to think ... himmmm I'm I got a lot of that to get out of me... Don't forget your music
Playgrounds, ball fields, golf course, track to run, restaurants, 100 benches and picnic tables, and more.
Trail is clean and if you want to do a little bit of gravel/dirt, right next to the paved trail in some places there is a dirt trail.
Its a circle so you know when to stop/start.
I come here 2-4 times a week. Very lovely and enjoyable environment. Nice mix of walkers, runners, bikers, and boaters. Have a picnic, a barbecue, read a book, toss a ball, or do yoga on the greens...this is a very versatile location for many activities.
BEWARE of bogus postings about this park.
Nice ride especially since it is a loop. A bit narrow due to the traffic but still fun. As on 8/2014 there is some pretty heavy construction along side the park but doesn't impede ridong
I'm a little surprised by the positivity of the reviews on here. This place has the potential to be a nice park, but it was not at all on the occasion I visited. When I went here I ran around 4 miles of the overall trail, in total disgust the entire time. The first thing I noticed was trash -- on the trail, in the grass, in the water; one of the park's own trash cans was even floating in the middle of the lake. There was trash littered around that wouldn't even be normal in a park... Like bleach bottles, coolant bottles, you name is. The next thing I noticed was dead animals EVERYWHERE. The lake was covered in dead fish... Not just tiny little dummies but a few 20 lb catfish as well. That tells me that something is WAY wrong with the water. There were some other dead critters too, I found what I think was two dead groundhogs floating in the lake throughout my visit.needless to says, this was not a comfortable or pleasant place to visit for me. I left pretty disgusted and disappointed in collingswood.
I live right next to this "Trail" The trail/path itself is narrow and really can't be used for any kind of serious cycling or rollerblading. You will have to use the road. There are lots of walkers and joggers on the pathway. The pathway is asphalt, not concrete. The route itself is fairly scenic with lots of activities on the weekends. The river is a very popular rowing venue. Cyclist have to share the road that circles the park and there aren't any bike lanes. The road is just wide enough to accommodate both with a posted speed limit of 25mph.
All in all its an enjoyable ride.
Parts of this trail are great, but other sections have large cracks, uneven bumps and depressions that collect water and/or sand making it a challenge for those riding a Trikke or rollerblading.
The views of the river and the Philly skyline add to the attractiveness of this trail and the length makes it a wonderful work out.
This has to potential to be FABULOUS if it just had a bit more consistent maintenance.
i agree, this is a nice park. I've been walking/running on it for years, both during the day and alone at night. I've never had a problem. There seems to be a lot of other people out biking, walking, and running at pretty much all hours. so its well populated (but not overcrowded), clean, and I feel safe. There really is nothing comparable in my neck of the woods. cooper river park is it.
Plenty of parking on both sides of the river, with direct access to the trail. The surface is concrete for pedestrians', Skaters', Walkers', and Bikers' to partake. Safe environment and well maintained, with excellent police presence.
All levels will experience enjoyment from the trail and offers a track for those that like to stay close. A playground facility for the children so the area accommodates a wealth of endeavors.
I'm surprised this trail doesn't have more reviews. Anyways, it's a very commonly used trail along Cooper River, which is heavily used for rowing. It's also used all year round as a biking and running trail--I say trail loosely because it's basically an asphalt sidewalk. It's very popular because it has decent views of the river and even Philadelphia (on a clear day). This is not a nature trail (which is why I didn't give it 5 stars), but it gets the job done if you want to go for an hour-long, well-lit bike ride and you don't have a mountain bike.
"This is a great trail for all level bikers but especially enjoyable for beginners! Beautiful views of the river, great parking. "
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