Camp Woods

Enter Camp Woods and listen for the “eee-o-lay”—the throaty, flute-like call of the wood thrush songbird that sings from the branches of this centuries-old forest. This 35-acre preserve is remarkable for its towering trees (some nearly 100 feet tall) and centuries-old history. George Washington’s army camped here during the Revolutionary War. A visit to Camp Woods allows you to step into nature and step back in time.  

There are two options for entering Camp Woods:

1) Begin your journey at Armentrout Preserve. Follow the trail nearest Morris Road as it crosses a private driveway and enters Camp Woods.

2) Take Lewis Lane to Miles Drive to Mason Drive in Whitpain Township. Access to Camp Woods is marked by a sign at the edge of the woods. From the end of Mason Drive, walk straight back to the sign. The property owner has granted a crossing for the purpose of public access to Camp Woods. Please be mindful that you are walking on private property. 

Once in Camp Woods, you’ll enjoy a 1.4 mile natural, unpaved trail system used by walkers and equestrians. This “lollipop” trail system allows you to explore a few different small loops, returning each time to the main path. As you move through the preserve, look for towering tulip poplars, American beech trees, and oak trees in forested areas, alongside a small groundwater wetland. Many wildlife and insect species thrive here, including birds like pileated woodpeckers, wood thrushes, and red-shouldered hawks, as well as smaller amphibians like red-backed salamanders and eastern box turtles.

During your visit, don’t miss our deer exclosure, in which native plants grow abundantly because deer cannot graze on them. You can easily spot the exclosure from the main forest trail. This area shows what a healthy forest where deer do not over-browse looks like.