Map of the Schuylkill River Trail

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Schuylkill River Trail

The Schuylkill River Trail is a multi-use recreational trail system located in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The route of the trail follows the Schuylkill River from Landingville to the middle of Philadelphia. The trail goes through beautiful countryside, past farmland and rural communities as well as going through the Philadelphia suburbs and ending in the heart of the city after going through Farimont Park and past the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Conditions

The Schuylkill River Trail is currently constructed in multiple sections totaling 60 miles and when complete will extend to a length of 130 miles. The longest mostly continuous section of the trail is situated between Parkerford and Philadelphia. The trail is open for non-motorized use such as bike riding, running and walking.

Communities

The Schuylkill River Trail goes past the following cities and communities in Southeastern Pennsylvania:  Landingville, Auburn, Hamburg, Reading, Gibraltar, Birdsboro, Stowe, Pottstown, Parker Ford, Spring City, Phoenixville, Audubon, Norristown,  Conshohocken, Manayunk and Philadelphia.

Trail Sections & Points of Interest

The Schuylkill River Trail has several separate sections that are located next to towns and other urban areas.

Landingville: There is a short 1.5-mile long section adjacent to Landingville.

Auburn to Hamburg: The is a 6-mile long section that stretches between the two towns. This is a thickly forested area that passes Port Clinton. The north end stops short of Auburn at an old railroad bridge across the Schuylkill River. A large trailhead is located on Kernsville Dam Road north of Hamburg.

There is a large gap in the trail between Hamburg and Blue Marsh Lake.

Blue Marsh Lake to Reading: The Union Canal Trail is a 7-mile long trail that stretches between these two locations and comes close to the Schuykill River Trail near Schuylkill Avenue in Reading.

Reading to Gibraltar: There is a 7.6-mile long stretch of trail between these two locations. The trail starts at River Road in Reading and  stops at Proudfoot Drive in Gilbraltar. The trail goes past Baer Park, Northwest Elementary School, Reading Area Community College, Schlegel Park, Angelica Creek Park and Ridgewood.

Birdsboro to Pottstown: There is a 9-mile long section of the Schuylkill River Trail that spans between these two locations. The trail goes past Union Township Recreation Area in the north and ends at College Drive near Hanover Street in Pottstown.

Parker Ford to Phoenixville: This is a 5.8-mile long section or the trail that goes past Spring City.

Phoenixville to Philadelphia: This section of the trail is close to 26 miles long. There have been many new sections contrcuted over the past few years and this stretch of the trail in nearly continuous. This section of the Schuylkill River Trail starts at Longford Park on the south side of Phoenixville. Just north of Highway 422, the trail intersects the Perkiomen Trail. The Schuylkill River Trail continues to follow the river past Audubon, West Norriton, Norristown and Conshohocken. At Conshohocken, the trail intersects the Cross Country Trail. The Schuylkill River Trail continues to follow the river to a point near the University of Pennsylvania at Schuylkill River Park.

Philadelphia: Within the city the trail goes through Fairmount Park and West Fairmount Park past many historical points of interests, entertainment venues and museums. These points of interest include: Fairmount Park Athletic Field, Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Historic Strawberry Mansion, Dell Music Center, Centennial Arboretum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Resources

Following are links to official off-site resources to find out more details about the Schuylkill River Trail in Eastern Pennsylvania.