Facilities

Downingtown Pike Access
1085 Downingtown Pike
West Chester, PA 19380

Skelp Level Road Access
810 Skelp Level Road
West Chester, PA 19380

The East Branch Brandywine Trail is a paved multi-use trail that runs along the banks of the Brandywine Creek in both East and West Bradford Townships. The trail is currently 2.4 miles long and can be accessed from several different parking lots. In East Bradford, the trail is accessible from the M. John Johnson Nature Center parking lot on Skelp Level Road and from the Harmony Hill Nature Area parking lot on Harmony Hill Road, just east of the Gibson covered bridge. In West Bradford, the trail is accessible from the Brandywine Meadows parking lot located on PA Route 322 / Downingtown Pike just south of the Trestle Bridge.

The paved trail connects with several miles of natural trails within the Harmony Hill and Sugar’s Bridge Nature Areas. The East Branch Brandywine Trail is planned as part of a larger, multi-municipal trail network and will be extended further through the Township in future phases. The existing trail mostly follows the old West Chester trolley line which operated from 1902 until 1929, going from West Chester to Downingtown. Dogs are allowed on the East Branch Brandywine Trail but must be kept on a leash at all times.

Directions

Harmony Hill Road Access (North)
1183 Harmony Hill Road

From West Chester: Take Route 322 west towards Downingtown. Make a right on Skelp Level Road (PECO substation will be on your left). Go approximately 0.8 miles to the intersection of Harmony Hill Road. Turn left onto Harmony Hill Road and continue approximately 0.6 miles to Gibson’s Covered Bridge. The parking area will be on your right, just before the bridge.

From Downingtown: Take Route 322 east towards West Chester Borough. Just outside Downingtown, make a left onto Boot Road (there is a Wawa at this intersection; Boot Road is just past Logan Avenue; if you go under the trestle bridge, you’ve gone a little too far). Continue for approximately 0.6 mile. Turn right onto Skelp Level Road and continue for approximately 1.7 miles to the intersection of Harmony Hill Road. Turn right onto Harmony Hill Road and continue approximately 0.6 miles to Gibson’s Covered Bridge. The parking area will be on your right, just before the bridge.

Downingtown Pike Access (South)
1085 Downingtown Pike

From West Chester: Take Route 322 west towards Downingtown.  Go past the PECO substation on your left, just past Skelp level Road, the parking lot is on your right before you cross the Brandywine Creek.

From Downingtown: Take Route 322 east towards West Chester Borough.  Just after the traffic signal at Sugar’s Bridge Road, cross the Brandywine Creek and the parking lot is on your left.

Skelp Level Road Access (South)
810 Skelp Level Road

From West Chester: Take Route 322 west towards Downingtown. Make a right on Skelp Level Road (PECO substation will be on your left). The Parking area is immediately on your left, at the intersection of Skelp Level Road and Route 322.

From Downingtown: Take Route 322 east towards West Chester Borough. Make a left on Skelp Level Road (PECO substation will be on your right). The Parking area is immediately on your left, at the intersection of Skelp Level Road and Route 322.

Information & Documents

1. Sugar’s Bridge Nature Area & M. John Johnson Nature Center