Valley Forge in winter

Is Valley Forge open in winter?

Yes, every day. The grounds open at 7 AM and close 30 minutes after sunset, and entry is free.

The roads, parking lots, trails and meadows never close for the season. What changes is the light. Sunset comes at about 4:40 PM through most of December, so the gates close a little after 5 PM, and the Encampment Tour loop is best started by early afternoon. The Visitor Center keeps its usual 9 AM to 5 PM, with the free 19-minute film every half hour from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Three days shut the Visitor Center, and the grounds stay open on all of them. The table shows the holiday weeks.

Is Washington's Headquarters open this winter?

No. The Isaac Potts House closed on 4 May 2026 for restoration, and the park expects to reopen it in 2027. Its surrounding area is closed too.

The work repairs flood damage from Hurricane Ida in 2021 and covers the foundation, the structure, new alarms and the stone walls. The National Park Service says the house and its surrounding area are closed to visitors until the work is done, with on-site displays about the project. From home, the park's website has a digital tour that walks you through the rooms where Washington, Hamilton and John Laurens worked.

Snow and ice can close other park roads and sites too. When the roads are icy, call the Visitor Center on 610-783-1099 before you drive out.

When does the Valley Forge trolley run in winter?

Weekends at 12 PM and 2 PM until 22 November, three tours a day over Thanksgiving weekend, then daily from 26 to 31 December. It stops for the rest of the winter.

The 90-minute trolley follows the Encampment Tour route from the front of the Visitor Center, with long stops at Muhlenberg's Brigade and, before its restoration closure, Washington's Headquarters. It is run by The Encampment Store and sold by phone on 610-624-5010, not online. Pick up tickets at the store at least 30 minutes before departure, since unclaimed seats are released five minutes before the tour leaves. Tickets cost $24 for adults, $22 for students, seniors 62+ and military, and $14 for children 11 and under. November tours run weather permitting.

The week after Christmas is the trolley's last run of the year and a good one for families home on holiday. Full detail is in our trolley tour guide.

What happens at the March-In on 19 December?

The park marks the anniversary of the army's arrival with a free day of ranger talks and living history around 19 December. This year is the 249th.

On 19 December 1777, more than 12,000 soldiers and about 400 women and children marched into Valley Forge after a hard autumn of campaigning. The park lists the March-In among its winter special events, and 19 December falls on a Saturday this year. Times and the programme are posted by the park nearer the date.

The last edition gives a good idea of the shape. It ran from 11 AM to 3 PM, with half-hour talks in the theater, two dramatised courts-martial, a holiday cookie table and a March-In Junior Ranger badge, while reenactors at the huts showed rations, shelter and drill between musket firing demonstrations. Next year's March-In is the big one, the Great Marching In of Encampment 250. More in our America 250 post.

What is Valley Forge like in snow?

Quiet and very beautiful. The paved loop trail and the roads are the easy options, and the park's hills suit snowshoes and cross-country skis.

The National Park Service describes winters here as cold and damp and recommends sturdy hiking shoes. The Joseph Plumb Martin Trail, a paved multi-use path of 8.7 miles with a 5-mile inner loop, links the huts, the Arch and the Grand Parade, though it is hilly and open to the wind. Valley Forge Tourism lists cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the park during open hours.

Two warnings for the cold months. The park runs no regular ranger programmes from December to February, so the Visitor Center exhibit and film carry the story on weekdays. Parts of the driving loop can close for emergency weather, and the park posts those closures in the alerts on its website. A flask of something hot helps. The Visitor Center sells snacks, and the privately run Washington Memorial Chapel has a café.

What is the best way to visit Valley Forge from Philadelphia in winter?

A guided half day with transport, then a warm afternoon in the Museum of the American Revolution. You skip the cold drive and the parking.

The Valley Forge half-day tour runs rain or shine in a small van from 48 N 12th St, 4 hours 30 minutes, from $149 with a donation to the park. Victoria, in October, liked her guide Jason and added, "I liked the small van, too." For a family, the private tour collects you at your hotel, and the car stays warm between stops.

Back in the city, the Museum of the American Revolution ticket costs $27 and is valid for two days in a row. Washington's war tent is the piece to see after a morning at his winter camp. The museum is open daily 10 AM to 5 PM, and closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day, like the Visitor Center.

A guide, the van from Philadelphia and the full winter story of the encampment, back in 4 hours 30 minutes, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

★ 5.0 · 4 hours 30 minutes · from $149

Explore the Valley Forge half-day tour → Tour details

Frequently asked questions