Schuylkill River Trail - Philadelphia to Mont Clare/Phoenixville

Easy
29.98 Miles
Montgomery, Philadelphia

Trail Description

The Mont Clare/Phoenixville to Philadelphia segment of the 130-Mile Schuylkill River Trail stretches 26.3 miles along the historic Schuylkill River from downtown Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, to Montgomery County, Valley Forge National Historical Park and on out to Mont Clare. In Philadelphia, the trail uses Fairmount Park trails and the Manayunk Canal towpath. In Montgomery County, it runs along an abandoned Pennsylvania Railroad line. There are two sections (Manayunk, Philadelphia and Port Providence, Montgomery County) of the trail that utilize restored historic canal towpaths that have a stabilized crushed stone surface. Remnants of the corridors former use are visible along sections of the former railroad and canal corridor, including lock remnants and ruins of a few 19th century buildings. In Valley Forge, trail users cross the Schuylkill River via Sullivan’s Bridge. Sullivan’s Bridge will give way to a brand new separated pedestrian bridge on Friday August 19, 2016. The bridge will provide access to the main park with its extensive trail system and historic sites. From Port Providence to Mont Clare there is one of the last watered sections of the Schuylkill Canal, and a restored lock tender’s house and lock. Today the trail is a busy commuter route. The primary asphalt pathway is somewhat narrower than many newer trails, so caution as well as rail-trail etiquette should be heeded. This section of the trail has numerous access points at businesses and near public transit. Parking at the Spring Mill Trailhead is located at the SEPTA lot off of Conshohocken Road and is free of charge for trail users after 6:00 P.M. on weekdays and all day on weekends.

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