Boulder-Hopping at St. Peter's Village

Driving along Route 23 in Warwick Township, Chester County, it is easy to pass by St. Peter’s Village. Although there is a sign displaying the name of the site, the road into the village, which was once an industrial mining town, is narrow and doesn’t appear to lead to anything out of the ordinary. However, beneath the shade of the canopy of trees that lines St. Peter’s Road is a small historical village complete with a Victorian-style inn and ice cream shop. Owned and maintained by the St. Peter's Condominium Association, the quaint appearance of St. Peter’s is enough to attract visitors throughout the year, but the natural setting nestled behind the main road is where I head for a day of outdoor leisure.

Running parallel to the town is a creek, a tributary of French Creek, filled with massive boulders spilling down the length of the stream. This spot offers both a quiet retreat and a playground for the adventurous types. On any given day at St. Peter’s, I can find families with small children climbing on the rocks or having a picnic along the creek’s edge, while teenagers spring from boulder to boulder over the fast, rushing waters, pulling out their best Spider-man moves mid-air. I prefer to do more of a small hop to each boulder to avoid landing in knee-high water, as a companion of mine once demonstrated. When I go to St. Peter’s, I wear athletic sneakers and loose-fitting clothes, as I may choose to play among the boulders or hike in the woods alongside the creek. Or, if I'm looking for a pleasant spot to read, write, or reflect, many of the boulders are large enough to lie down on, so I can bring a blanket and a good book and relax.

After I am finished jumping, climbing, or resting on boulders, I always head to Warwick County Park, which sits directly across the street from St. Peter’s. There I find pavilions, a volleyball court, and two playgrounds, which I admit to playing on from time to time. I can also head into the woods surrounding the park and walk along one of its many trails, such as the Horse-Shoe Trail, which extends from Valley Forge National Historic Park to the Appalachian Trail at Stony Mountain. I have just one warning: watch out for snakes! I accidentally scared a gray Northern Water Snake that blended in with the gravel trail and both the slithering reptile and I jumped about two feet into the air.

Both St. Peter's Village and Warwick County Park are free and open to the public from dawn till dusk, and I can get from Philly to St. Peter's is about an hour's drive.