Kelpius Cave Loop Hike - Philadelphia, PA

Kelpius Cave Loop

The Kelpius Cave Loop Hike at Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a 0.9-mile hike that leads from Hermits Lane over to a small hillside cave known as Kelpius Cave (aka Hermit's Cave).

The hike itself starts at the trailhead road gate and leads down to the Yellow Trail. Once you're on the Yellow Trail, be on the lookout for a sign post labeled "Hermit's Cave 0.1 miles" to your right. Take this right until you reach the Kelpius Cave (Hermit's Cave).

Upon leaving the cave, stay left and take the trail down to Wissahickon Creek and the Lincoln Drive Trail. Follow the Lincoln Drive trail north until you find a small stone bridge that leads across the creek and onto Lincoln Drive. Take the trail opposite of the stone bridge back up to parking - this is yet again the Yellow Trail.

Yellow blazes: most of this trail follows yellow blazes on the sign posts.

History of Kelpius Cave

In 1964 a small group of men left Germany in search of religious freedom. Known as Pietists, they pursued interests in prayer, medicinal herbs, astrology, mathematics, alchemy, philosophy, and music. Johannes Kelpius, described as a mystic philosopher, led the Pietists. They settled in this area and became known as the "Hermits of the Wissahickon." On the property in which Hermit's Cave lies, they reportedly worshiped in a Tabernacle, built log cabins and meditated in the nearby cave. The group dissolved when Kelpius died in 1708 and members joined other religious organizations such as the Mennonites, Dunkers and Seventh-Day Baptists. The Richter or Righter family acquired the property in parcels amounting to 151 aces. They operated a ferry and a shad fishery on the banks of the Schuylkill River. Local place names such as Righter Street, Righters Ferry Road, and Righters Mill Road mark lands once held by Peter Righter and his descendants. The property was eventually acquired by the city in 1895 for one dollar from the property owner at the time.