The Schuylkill River Trail is a work in progress currently but as soon as it is finished it will be a 130 mile long trail that runs from Philadelphia to Pottsville. It will follow its namesake the Schuylkill River. It is a mostly a paved trail that you can get a fast workout in or you could get a great long run in. This trail cuts through many of the suburbs of Philadelphia and it is easy to hop off the trail and grab a bite to eat. There are tons of great places for this along the trail.
What Makes It Great
This trail is the perfect group run trail due to the fact that is paved and the trail is wide in most sections. People also enjoy this trail because of how accessible the towns along the trail are from the trail. Its easy to pop off the trail grab a bite to eat from a restaurant and then get back on. There are also a lot of parking spots along the trail. Currently you can run from Philadelphia to Parkerford. This is about 30 miles one way and the majority of the trail is paved. The only section that is not is from Phoenixville to Parkerford.
The trail is flat, like super flat, it makes it awesome for tempo runs, mile repeats and speed work. The trail is also marked every quarter mile making it easy to know how far you have gone. From this trail you can hop onto other trails such as the Perkiomen Trail. The SRT has a lot to offer even though it isn't fully finished. You can have a great time on the trails that are finished now and I would suggest them to all running abilities.
Who is Going to Love It
The runners that are going to love it are people who enjoy flat and fast runs. This trail is a multi-use trail meaning you are likely to run into people on bikes or walking. The trail is very popular on the weekends and heavily used. That's because it is the perfect place to get your long run in on the weekend. With the paved trails, flatness and wide paths it is ideal for weekend warriors. The runners who want a great run with a great view of the Schuylkill River will enjoy this trail a lot.
Directions, Parking, & Regulations
To get to the SRT trail from downtown Philadelphia you will need to get on I-95 S. Once on I-95 S you will need to take exit 14 Bartman Ave towards Essington Ave. Next make a right onto Essington Ave. After that you’ll make a left onto S 70th Street then make a right onto Lindbergh Blvd. Next is a U-turn on and continue onto Linderbergh until you come to Bartman’s Garden. You can park there and pick the the SRT right there.
