Friends of RCSP Home

Keep up with recent Park and Friends' happenings. Check out our latest newsletter: Spring/Summer 2024 Newsletter (Subscribe here)

Gather Your Photos for the 2024 Photo Contest!

The Friends of Ridley Creek is once again happy to host the annual photo contest. This event has been one of our most popular and long-standing traditions. Through the years we have collected many beautiful photographs and looked at the park through the public's perspective. Two decades of past entries can be seen on the website - click on "Photo Contest" on the left panel. We often display photos from past contests at our events and we publish some of them in our newsletter.

There will be a display of all submitted entries and a reward ceremony on Wednesday, June 26, at 6 pm in the ballroom of the Hunting Hill Mansion. Cash prizes will be given for first, second, and third place, and for honorable mention. If there are youth entries (under age 18), prizes will be given for that category.

The deadline for submitting up to 3 photos is Thursday, June 20, to allow time for judging. Bring your photos to the park office, which is inside the Hunting Hill Mansion. The hours of the office are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. When the time gets closer to the deadline, we usually set up a box outside the building for off-hour submissions.

You can submit your photos as late as Tuesday, June 25 in the morning, and they will be displayed, but they will not be eligible for an award. Get the rules and entry form by clicking on this link.

Please direct questions to photocontest@FriendsofRCSP.org. Have fun and good luck!

The Friends of Ridley Creek State Park 2023 Photo Contest

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Photo Contest!

• First Place - Cindy Procopio, Enchanted Winter Walk
• First Place - Tori McClay, Golden Hour
• Second Place - Wayne Kuehler, Dragon Tree
• Third Place - Barbara Hayes, Owl Speak to You Later
• Honorable Mention - Tom Hooper, Amber Waves
• Honorable Mention - Susan Shields, Susurrous

View a slideshow of the 2023 Photo Contest entries here!

A Rainy Day Surprise at RCSP, by Gary Sawyer

I walked the MUT on the afternoon of March 18 [2021]. Had the whole loop to myself - just one other walker on the 4.5 mile loop.

The Vernal Pool at roughly mile 1.1 was in full throat with Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs. I've attached a recording (click the play button below to hear.). You could see frogs on the surface, and several balls of mating animals. Also attached is a photo of the sign Gary Stolz made up. (Please click the photo to zoom in and read the vernal pools sign.)

The Spring Peepers remind me of growing up in New Hampshire next to a small swamp. Yes, a source of mosquitos in the summer, but we fished the little stream that ran through it and skated on the marsh when it flooded in winter.

Trail Maps

Ridley Creek State Park hiking trail maps and GPX trail files are now available on our Trail Map page.

Friends Trail Work

Register as a Conservation Volunteer with the State to express your interests and let us know who is volunteering!

The Friends of Ridley Creek State Park organize volunteer trailwork the first Saturday morning of each month, rain or shine. Volunteers have aided in building bridges and erosion controls and taking ou tblowdowns on the trails.,

Trail areas in need are always being identified. Think about joining the fun the first Saturday of each month!