Schuylkill River Greenways Takes It Outdoors

The staff and board members of Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area, paddling down the Schuylkill River.

Schuylkill River Greenways Photo / Miicah Patterson

Pottstown, PA (July 21, 2020) –

Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area staff and board members, plus many regional representatives, including the Montgomery County Commissioner, took to the river on June 30^th for a group paddle.

As the group kayaked down the peaceful river, clear water sparkled beneath their boats. About halfway through the trip, paddlers were amazed at their good fortune to spot a bald eagle perched on a tree branch that hung out over the river. One look at the pebbles, crayfish, carp, and natural flora evident under the water’s surface, visitors would never guess that this river’s crystal clear water was once known throughout the region for its industrial pollution, and especially for the coal silt clogging the waterway.

Schuylkill River Greenways Director Elaine Schaefer paddles down the river.

Schuylkill River Greenways / Miicah Patterson

The Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area’s director, Elaine Schaefer, said that people’s negative recollection of the polluted Schuylkill is no longer relevant to the beautiful river of today. The group paddle, organized in honor of the new partnership between the outdoor recreational outfitter Take It Outdoors and the Schuylkill River Greenways, highlights how far the heritage area has brought the river in both watershed health and recreational opportunity.

“The Schuylkill River gets a bad rap,” said Elaine Schaefer. “Not many people know about how far it’s come. This new outfitter is one of a kind … we’ve never had anything like this before on the river.”

The Take It Outdoors sign, inside the outfitter's headquarters.

Schuylkill River Greenways / Miicah Patterson

The heritage area announced its new partnership with Take It Outdoors in June. The organization offers kayaks, bikes, and more for rent and use on the Schuylkill River Trail, as well as opportunities for organized one-day kayaking or bike trips, multi-day trips, and inexpensive Wednesday Evening Paddles. Local trips are usually followed by a visit to a local restaurant, COVID-19 precautions permitting, and are a great way for community members to get to know one another. Staying six feet apart from one another is easily accomplished while kayaking down the river.

In the early part of the last century, the river’s swift waters, and the Schuylkill canal system, allowed the heritage area's coal mines and factories to ship goods down the river to major cities and fuel the growth of the nation. Even though the river and its canal system were important to the success and growth in the region, the industrialism came at a cost to the environment. After an unprecedented, wide-scale clean up in the middle of the century, the Schuylkill was eventually designated Pennsylvania’s first Scenic River, in 1978. The Schuylkill River Greenways works to preserve the river’s heritage while keeping its waters clean.

A kayaker raises her paddle over her head, victoriously.

Schuylkill River Greenways / Miicah Patterson

The Schuylkill River Greenways’ mission is to connect the community and visitors to this special river. They work hard to promote the trail and encourage economic development by fostering river stewardship and civic engagement. Find more information about the heritage area here, or register for the upcoming Schuylkill Sojourn, the heritage area’s popular annual kayak expedition, now offered virtually or in person.



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