Leiper-Smedley-Crum Creek Loop Guide

The Springfield Trail is just one hiking adventure that can be started at Smedley Park. Another loop can be created by combining the Leiper Smedley Trail with the Crum Creek trail. This loop is part paved (Leiper Smedley) and part woods (Crum Creek) trail. I recommend hiking shoes and poles for this one. The woods portion is rocky, full of roots and it's position on the side of the hill between Crum Creek and Swarthmore college makes for some awkward footing in some places. At least it does for me. Don't let that sway you away from this delightful adventure. Forewarned is forearmed. :)

This loop starts at the parking lot by the Penn State Extension in Smedley Park. Enter the park off Baltimore Pike on Paper Mill Road. Turn left just before the trolley tracks; following the sign for the Penn State Extension. Go slow. It's a narrow road and you may meet another car coming out.

[Note about the photos. I used the smallest image. To see more detail, click on the photo and it will enlarge for you]

After parking the car, continue walking out of the parking lot (away from the direction you drove in) toward the Penn State Extension building.  Follow the road to the right (see above)

 And pick up the trail just on the other side of the bollards pictured here.

This short section of trail is taking your towards the Blue Route (476). Note the sign (above) for the Leiper-Smedley Trail (on the right of the photo). It can be confusing as just where that sign appears there is a dirt trail off to your right. Notice, however, that the arrow takes you forward then right. Just past here the trail goes down toward the on ramp to Exit 3 of the Blue Route (476). 

Stay on the side walk which heads left toward the Traffic Light Crossing of Baltimore Pike. Use the designated cross walks to pass safely over the merge to the on ramp; Baltimore Pike; and the off ramp merge onto Baltimore Pike on the other side. 

You are now back on the trail and walking alongside the off ramp from Exit 3 of the Blue Route (476). Stay on the paved trail to Plush Mill Road. Alternatively you can take the dirt trail (see the left of the photo above). It will take you to the same place as the photo below. It's a bit steeper though and prone to blockages. A fun detour if you are up for it though.

Either way you will end up here (above) at Plush Mill Road. At the road you will turn right onto Plush Mill Road. This takes you over the Blue Route (476). 

 On the other side of the Blue Route (476) turn left.

The highway is now on your left and on your right is Wallingford Community Arts Center and Pendle Hill. It's noisy because of the highway (the sound barrier can only do so much) but ignore that and enjoy the glimpses of some fun looking buildings on your right.

 At the end of this section you will turn left to stay on the trail. However, a right turn will take you on to the grounds of the Arts Center and Pendle Hill. There are some interesting paths there through old ruins and mosaic gardens. It's very peaceful. You can put together a nice out and back adventure between here and where you left your car.

Staying on today's tour, however, turning left will take you back over the Blue Route (476) on Rogers Lane. It's actually two lefts. One to get you off the trail and one just after crossing Rogers Lane. Follow Rogers Lane then, over the highway. After the crossing, turn right to stay on the Leiper Smedley Trail. 

You will now follow the trail between the highway on your right and the woods on your left. Today, there was a competition between the Cicadas and the Traffic. In some places, the Cicadas won. :) Highlights of this section are glimpses of Crum Creek and the crumbling ruins of Lytlecote. 

You will also pass under the Septa Media-Elwyn Line. The path here takes a sharp, blind bend. Be aware for cyclists coming the other way. Take a moment on the other side of the underpass to learn about the Crum Creek Viaduct. The path-side information sign gives much more information than any link I could find on the Internet. 

 The trail will eventually bring you down to Avondale Road. You will pass under the highway and at the stop sign carefully cross over to pick up the trail on the other side. There is parking here just to the left off Avondale Road.

Avondale Road can be busy at times and parts of the trail are no more than a wide shoulder off the road (as shown above). However, it is wide and safe enough to travel. You now meet up with Rose Valley Road. 

At this juncture, turn left to continue our loop. However, make note that if you turn right onto Rose Valley road you can continue on to the Thomas Leiper House. If you park in the space where the Trail meets Avondale road it's just a short walk to the Leiper House. I don't know if it's open during COVID but it is a nice tour if you like to learn about Delaware County history. 

 To continue our loop we leave the Leiper  Smedley Trail and follow Avondale road to the left. You will walk a short distance on the shoulder of the road then up on to the sidewalk pictured above.

 You are heading toward the Crum Creek Trail portion of the loop. However, there are no signs. You have to know it's there. Following the road (on the sidewalk) a short distance ....

... you will see the slightly worn path off to your left. The creek is on your left as well and when the creek turns 'inland' you should follow it. It won't take long for the slightly worn path to become a fully obvious trail. Until then, you may feel uncertain. Don't be. If you come to the high rise apartment building you went just a tad too far on Avondale. 

You are now on the Crum Creek Trail. It's mostly dirt, rocks, roots and greenery. You will see a lot of markers such as the one pictured above. I haven't figured out what they mean. Although I imagine they were placed there by (and mean something to) Swarthmore College & Arboretum. 

There are no blazes along this trail and many many dirt trails wander off here and there. Most of them will take you up or down the side of the hill between the creek and the college. Keep the creek on your left and you will be headed the right direction. Explore the side trails for some interesting views. The worst that can happen on the side trails is you'll end up on the college campus. 

Enjoy this section. The views of the creek are amazing. However, don't neglect the woods either. The rock formations (although not as photogenic perhaps as the creek) are beautiful. 

The trail will eventually bring you out to a big meadow with lots of little trails in and out of the wildflowers growing there. When you reach the Septa Line again you will need to head UP to go under the tracks and then the trail will veer up and to the right. It will follow the line of the tracks for a bit before veering off the left to the join the path of the creek again. 

The trail will bring you out to Plush Mill Road again -- down the hill and around the bend from where the Leiper-Smedley portion of this loop crossed Plush Mill Road earlier. 

Turn left on Plush Mill Road to cross over the creek. Be careful the cars coming toward you are coming around a sharp bend. It's safer to cross the street first then walk across the creek. 

 On the other side of the creek notice the yellow blaze on the guard rail. Turn right here....

 ... and follow the path into the woods again. There are no extra trails wandering off in this section. The creek will be on your right now.

 It's a bit rocky here but eventually the path lead you under Baltimore Pike....

And on the other side of Baltimore Pike you are back in Smedley Park. Follow the dirt path through the grass. There will be a ball field backstop on your left.

Just past the backstop look for these steps on your left. Head toward them.

 The steps do not lead anywhere but they alert you to the existence of this trail that will take you back to the parking lot where we started this adventure.

The white building at the top of the hill is the Penn State Extension where we started. To the right of that is the parking lot. 

I was able to map this loop in MapMyWalk.com. Here is the link. It's a little over 4 miles. If you are in the mood for a pleasant long hike, you can combine this with the Springfield Trail Loop for a 9+ mile adventure. 

To connect to the Springfield Trail from this hike, instead of heading toward the steps above continue across the field to Paper Mill Road and pick up the Springfield Trail on the just across the trolley tracks. 

Keep Smiling Keep Moving 

-Paula