Take advantage of these long, summer days and cool summer nights and take a hike through West Chester’s Stroud Preserve. Explore and revel in the 571 acres available to you and the history in the location, as it is one of the most 
historic grasslands in the area. Stroud Preserve is also includes farmlands and woodlands and provides a melting pot of unparalleled views, agricultural production, and an outstanding location for scientific research.
With nine miles of unpaved trails, the beauty of this nature preserve is guaranteed to make you return for more time and time again. Stroud Preserve additionally is working to protect the wildlife that reside there, as well as protecting the watersheds that nourish thousands of people.
Amenities:
- You can hike on Stroud Preserve trails for up to nine miles
- You can canoe and kayak down the river
- You can check out their historic sights
- You can learn more about the Stroud Water Research Center
History:
Dr. Morris Stroud established Stroud Preserve in 1990 when he sold his 332-acre farm to Natural Lands. Before the farm was in Stroud’s possession, it was known as the Laird Farm, which was a historic cattle farm that stretched from the town of West Chester to Wawaset Road. The Stroud Water Research Center was commissioned by Stroud in his will, and the Center now studies various kinds of water that run in the Preserve’s streams and rivers. Stroud Preserve is the only site in Pennsylvania that is a part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Monitoring Program, which studies how land usage and human activities affect water quality.
Stroud Preserve is located at 454 North Creek Road. For more information, visit their website. You can also donate to keep the preserve pristine.
