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On the front page of today’s New York Times, the lead image is of people cooling off from the heat with a dip in Devil’s Pool, the hidden and off-limits watering hole in the Wissahickon Valley Park.

It’s a cool shout out for one of Philadelphia’s hidden treasures: the Wissahickon Gorge.

There are 57 miles of trails in the lush, 1,800-acre Wissahickon Gorge, crossing forest and meadow before plunging down to the waters of the Wissahickon Creek. Walking, biking, horseback riding, fishing and swimming are all popular activities.

Forbidden Drive, a low-lying gravel road that follows the creek, leads directly to the historic Valley Green Inn, the last remaining example of the many roadhouses and taverns that once flourished here and a great place to get a drink or a snack.

Devil’s Pool itself is located off the Wissahickon Trail but swimming and jumping into Devil’s Pool is actually prohibited.

For more information about the Wissahickon Valley Park and the efforts to clean up the Wissahickon Creek, check out the Friends of Wissahickon.

Update: To clarify, swimming in and jumping into Devil’s Pool is both illegal and dangerous. Over the weekend, a police officer was stationed at Devil’s Pool to prevent anyone from doing either.

Bathers beat the midday heat at the Devil’s Pool in Philadelphia [New York Times]

Previously:
Roundup: Our Guide To How To Beat The Heat In Philadelphia; Frozen Treats, Cold Drinks, Water Sports And More