The Schuylkill River Trail

 

Welcome to the Schuylkill River Trail, a multi-use trail in Southeastern Pennsylvania with a projected length of almost 130 miles when complete. There are currently over 60 miles of finished trail, including a 26-mile stretch from the City of Philadelphia through Montgomery County to Phoenixville in Chester County. A shorter Chester County segment of about six miles runs from just outside Phoenixville in Cromby to Parkerford. The trail breaks off in Parkerford and picks up again in Pottstown where it continues for about 20 miles to Reading. While the Reading to Hamburg section has not yet been built, cyclists can follow a signed on-road route for about 20 miles to get from Reading to Hamburg. In Hamburg, trail users can access a scenic seven-mile stretch to Auburn in Schuylkill County. The trail is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, exercise or commute. This site provides maps and information to help you access the trail and get the most from your visit.
The Schuylkill River Heritage Area have taken the lead in creating a unified sign system, printing and distributing trail maps, and improving trail heads.
The Schuylkill River Trail in Philadelphia is approximately 10 miles in length, providing recreational space in the center of this beautiful and historic city.  Schuylkill Banks, located between the Fairmount Water Works and Locust Street, is a linear park that hosts a variety of entertainment and recreational events throughout the year.
From Schuylkill Banks to East Falls, the trail is a wide paved surface suitable for rollerblading, walking, running and cycling.  This section runs next to Kelly Drive and takes users past Boathouse Row.
From East Falls to Ridge Avenue the trail is on sidewalk, Ridge Avenue to Manayunk’s Lock Street uses Main Street, then the trail goes behind Main Street and uses the Manayunk Canal towpath, a section of the Schuylkill Navigation System.  The Manayunk Canal towpath varies between crushed stone and wooden boardwalk. From Shawmont to Port Royal Avenue the trail uses Nixon Street.
http://www.schuylkillrivertrail.com

The Schuylkill River Trail is one of my favorite place to go to in the City. It's just a short walk up Market Street and it is a short escape for me. I like to sit on the rocks or the benches and read. I like to walk to trail and listen to music or walk with friends and pretend I'm not in the city for a little bit. Even though you can see the city all around you the trail does it's best to block the train tracks that run next to the trail. But the rocks and the benches that people sit on face 76, they aren't nice places to look with all of the traffic and unpleasant site of the construction. Farther along the trail the Fairmount Water Works building is located along with the Philadelphia Art Museum.
The Schuylkill River Trail is a nice place to ride your bike or take a walk. There is also a new skate park that opened up last spring and there are always skaters there who seem to really enjoy the space. Along the trail are little hidden spaces that I personally enjoy relaxing at. These place aren't as frequented by people, like the main trail is, so it becomes a nice escape. I included my favorite alcove is that last set of photos. There is a spiral staircase that leads down onto a "shelf" right along the river. On one of the rocks there is a statue of a fisherman, but there is still enough room to sit down and it has a beautiful view of the row houses. Especially at night when they are all lite up. This spot is personally my favorite escape in the city, I have taken a lot of my friends who have come to visit from home to this spot.