Creekside and Brandywine Valley Trail Loop

This loops starts out from the Rockland Road Trail head.  There is a pay station here that is self-regulated.  Creekside Trail starts here and runs the entire length of Brandywine Creek State Park along the Brandywine River. The trail is an easy 2.6 miles long and continues into First State National Historical Park where is meets up with the Brandywine Trail. The southern end of the trail is single track that weaves through the forest along the river. The trail exits at Thompson's Bridge where you cross the road and continue on a much more defined trail. The trail crosses into First State National Historical Park onto a dirt road. To the left is the Brandywine River and to the right is a field of soybeans, something I have never seen in this area. The crops go back to the 1600's when the land was deeded to William Penn. This was my favorite trail in the park. 


Brandywine Valley Trail in the park is a wide easy trail about 2.9 miles long, most of which is a carriage road. It is part of the Northern Delaware Greenway that extends for 10.4 miles. To the north, the Brandywine Trail leaves the park.  Hike past the soy bean field in First State National Historic Park. At the end of the field there is a carriage road that leads back to Thompson's Bridge.  The carriage road becomes paved for a short distance then back to dirt and exits back at Rockland Road trail head.