Beneath a canopy of oak and maple trees, it is easy to forget that we are smack dab in the middle of a city of 1.5 million residents. The dense woodlands hush the chaos of Center City and Interstate 76. Philadelphia may not top a trendy list of outdoorsy towns to live in but the City of Brotherly Love offers escapes for those who know where to look.

Everything from mountain biking, trail running, fishing, rock climbing, and even horseback riding is there to enjoy within the city’s parks. A distant volley of fireworks breaks through the silence reminding us that it is the Fourth of July holiday weekend, but the calm of the forest is palpable. The breeze drifts through the branches, and all is seemingly serene as Kelly Roberson and I wait for her friend Quinn McGunnigle inside Wissahickon Valley Park. At a little more than 2,000 acres, the woodlands surrounding Wissahickon Creek are home to some of Philadelphia’s more progressive singletrack. The steep slopes of the creek gorge have provided a palette for Philadelphia’s more ambitious trailbuilders. They’ve carved paths in the dirt here since the 1990s. The “Wiss,” as it is affectionately referred to by locals, is home to more than 50 miles of trail. From walking paths to some spicy black diamond chutes, there’s a little something for everyone.