Schuylkill River Trail Again Declared “One of Nation’s Best River Walks”

A Schuylkill River Trail ambassador volunteer skates on the trail mural in Pottstown

Schuylkill River Greenways

Spanning five counties in southeastern Pennsylvania within Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area, the Schuylkill River Trail has been named to USA Today’s 10 Best River Walks in the United States.

The Schuylkill River Trail (SRT) covers 120 miles of terrain ranging from rural landscapes and small, historic towns to the urban banks of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, mostly on old railroad routes. Schuylkill River Greenways Executive Director Elaine Paul Schaefer, whose connection to the trail is also as a runner, likened the Trail to the “spine” of the Heritage Area when speaking recently with Lansdale, PA newspaper The Reporter.

Within Philadelphia, the Schuylkill River Trail passes through the historic Bartram’s Garden, the oldest surviving botanical gardens in the country, continues on past the Philadelphia Museum of Art and its iconic “Rocky Steps”, and then follows the river through Fairmount Park and through historic Manayunk, before heading north out of the city toward Valley Forge National Historical Park.

The Schuylkill River Trail passes through many major sites in Philadelphia

Schuylkill River Greenways

Schaefer—who can speak with authority when she says that there “is simply no finer trail in the world for running” —notes how unique and rich the variety of settings make the trail to its users, with “every type of landscape and environment available for the choosing”.

The trail, however, is as much about people and providing links between towns and cities as it is about the natural scenery. “The SRT is not just a beautiful venue for riding, running, walking and strolling, it also serves as a connector of our many diverse communities and our extraordinary cultural and historic treasures,” says Schaefer. “Trail users can experience the nostalgia of old industrial towns such as Phoenixville, the serenity of our rural landscapes in Berks and Schuylkill Counties, the awe of the history of Valley Forge and the vibrancy of the hip side of Philadelphia – all on a bike ride!”

A safe and beautiful recreational outlet, especially during springtime.

Schuylkill River Greenways

Schaefer says she and the entire staff at Schuylkill River Greenways NHA “are so thrilled for the positive attention that the USA Today has brought to the Schuylkill River Trail”. The trail landed at #3 of ten “River Walks” across America on the USA Today reader’s choice poll. The trail’s inclusion on the list “reflects the recognition of our residents that we are so incredibly lucky to have this asset available to all 4 million of us in this five-county region,” says Schaefer. The trail was also recognized in 2015 by USA Today on its list of the United States’ 10 Best Urban Trails—and ended up taking home the #1 ranking according to readers.

Schuylkill River Greenways NHA Assistant Director Tim Fenchel agrees that variety and connection of diverse landscapes put the Schuylkill River Trail above the rest, ranging from an “urban trail setting in communities like downtown Philadelphia, Norristown and Reading” to “completely rural tree-canopied sections near Pottstown, Hamburg, and Phoenixville.”

Fenchel also describes the trail as highly versatile in recreational possibility: “Each town along the trail offers different and unique amenities and resources that make it interesting and exciting not only for first time users but for seasoned trail enthusiasts’ as well”—so whether it is your first time or you commute every day on the trail, there is always something new to discover miles of scenery and culture.

Schuylkill River Greenways

In an effort to build on their success, Schuylkill River Greenways continues to improve and elevate the trail, including the Reading Gateway Initiative, which will refresh the Thun Section of the trail in the city of Reading. Fenchel and the team at Schuylkill River Greenways NHA are “excited about the continued recognition the SRT is getting, and along with all of our trail partners, continue to work to make the SRT the best trail in the country”.