Dodsworth Run Preserve

Looking for a paved trail that is family-friendly? Dodsworth Run Preserve in Upper Gwynedd is a brief (.43 mile) trail with exciting natural features that is worth a visit. 

Visitors to the 9.4-acre preserve experience the beauty of the Dodsworth Run watershed, which flows into the Wissahickon Creek and contains meadows and wetlands. As you walk, you’ll see native grasses along the trail. Visitors in the summertime can spot hummingbirds, bats, and other pollinators. 

Stop and linger at the preserve’s small, vernal pond. When this area holds water, it serves as a stopover for migrating shorebirds in the spring and fall. Birders have seen sandpipers and yellowlegs here. These birds travel great distances, and rely on natural sites like the Dodsworth Run Preserve to rest and refuel on their long journey.

In the middle of the preserve, step up into the Hawk’s Nest, an observation deck where you can watch for migrating birds and hawks soaring overhead. Interpretive signs will help you learn more about how to identify raptor species in flight. The Hawk’s Nest can accommodate six visitors at a time.