Take a hike! 6 Philly-area jaunts for beginners

Beach not your bag? Then head into the woods instead. You don't need to go far or to have special gear to do so.

Here are six parks local to the Philadelphia area to help you get your nature fix. Some feature challenging hikes and climbs; others, paths meant for strolling or even, as in one case, for rolling.

» READ MORE: Allaire State Park

4265 Atlantic Ave., Wall Township, N.J., 732-938-2371.

This 3,205-acre park just west of the Jersey Shore's northern beaches features 10 trails, mostly sandy and flat. The Pine Trail is the longest at 4.6 miles, and the Boy Scout Trail is the shortest at 1.3 miles (both are loops). The Manasquan River winds through the park, which means it's open to fishermen and canoers, too. Campers: The park has 45 tent and trailer sites available for rent year-round.

If you like history mixed with your hiking, check out the Historic Village at Allaire, dedicated to what was then an early 19th century industrial community, including a bakery and general store (if you're still just into hiking, the village has plenty of parking and nice bathrooms).

» READ MORE: Crows Woods Nature Preserve

Upland Way, Haddonfield, NJ, 609-330-6701

It's the smallest park on the list - at just 50 acres - but it packs in a lot of beauty in the middle of an old part of South Jersey. Most popular is the White Trail, which is a 1.5-mile loop and includes some stairs and climbs, plus a wooden footbridge over a creek, but the terrain is manageable for most. The trail is not rocky, so you won't need special hiking shoes.

» READ MORE: Palmyra Cove Nature Park

1300 Route 73 North, Palmyra, N.J., 856-829-1900.

This 250-acre park along the Delaware River is flat with a lot of shade - perfect for those who don't want to hike themselves up on a trail, or for kids, or both. The Cove Trail is .9 miles long (and yes, you'll need to walk back).

» READ MORE: Ridley Creek State Park

1023 Sycamore Mills Rd., Media, Pa., 610-892-3900.

This Delaware County park clocks in at more than 2,606 acres. The 13 miles of hiking trails can be challenging with their climbs and descents if you're not used to them. But you can also opt for the park's five miles of multipurpose paved trails (though be warned: bikes are not allowed on unpaved hiking trails). The park is bisected by its namesake, Ridley Creek, which is stocked with trout.

The park also has a 120-person area open for tent camping from April through October, and about 1,200 acres are open to archery hunting for deer during deer season.

» READ MORE: Steel Wheels Tour

Pine Barrens, Shamong, N.J.

The Pinelands can be daunting to anyone (1.1 million acres; largest body of open space on the mid-Atlantic seaboard between Richmond and Boston), but it's especially so for those who want to see the splendor but aren't so mobile. That's why Pinelands Adventures created the Steel Wheels Tour, which is led by a naturalist and held at the Americans with Disabilities Act compliant Atsion Lake Trail. Seniors and people with physical disabilities are welcome to use wheelchairs, walkers, and canes on the tour. The path is a half-mile, and tours take about two hours. Tours are $25 for adults 16 and up; $15 for children.

1005 Atsion Rd., Shamong, N.J., 609-268-0189, pinelandsadventures.org.

» READ MORE: Wissahickon Valley Park

Parking available, at the Chestnut Hill entrance at Valley Green Road, 215-247-0417.

This 1,800-acre city park has 50 miles of trails, a wooded oasis that feels like it's not part of a major city. Trails can be rugged, so either stick to Forbidden Drive, which from 1823 to 1856 was a turnpike (and is relatively flat), or study maps of the park at fow.org.

Highlights: Fingerspan Bridge, a pedestrian bridge sculpted out of a ship's staircase (though an uncomfortable walk for those afraid of heights); and Devil's Pool, which is deep because it's a spot where the Cresheim and Wissahickon Creeks meet (and, despite what you may hear and maybe even see, is NOT open to swimming).