Carpenter's Woods

Historic Bird Sanctuary

Carpenter's Woods is a 37-acre section of Wissahickon Valley Park located in the northwestern part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Preserved from development in 1916, this urban forest was specifically protected due to its importance to a wide variety of resident and migratory bird species.

In 1921, through the efforts of conservationist Caroline Moffett, Carpenter's Woods became Philadelphia's first bird sanctuary. The woods are named after a wealthy businessman who had a natural history museum on his estate and associated with naturalists of his time, including John James Audubon.

In 2005, the National Audubon Society designated Carpenter's Woods as an Important Bird Area, recognizing its significance in bird conservation.

Ancient Forest Ecosystem

Carpenter's Woods is characterized by its varied habitat and unusual concentration of ancient trees, many of which are over 200 years old. The forest includes large white oaks, black oaks, northern red oaks, American beech, black tupelo, tulip-poplar, and sassafras.

This diverse ecosystem allows the woods to host a wide range of breeding birds, including Eastern Screech-owls and Pileated Woodpeckers, and makes it a migration hotspot, especially for warblers and thrushes.

Part of Wissahickon Valley

The park is part of the larger Wissahickon Valley Park system, which encompasses a 1,800-acre forested gorge running through Philadelphia's Fairmount Park and continuing through Montgomery County's Ft. Washington State Park. Carpenter's Woods is considered one of the oldest forests in the valley and represents true urban old growth.

Trails and Access

Visitors to Carpenter's Woods can enjoy serene wooded trails that wind through hills and lead to a clearing with benches. While not directly connected to the main Wissahickon Valley Park, the North Mt. Pleasant Place Trailhead nearby connects to the white and orange trails in the wider Wissahickon trail system.