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Schuylkill River Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 118 Google reviews · Running trail in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Boardwalk
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Schuylkill River Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Riverfront spot for walking or biking along a well-maintained trail with city views.
What runners say about Schuylkill River Trail
“Beautiful Boat Houses, Philly Museum of Art, Water Works & Dam, Skate Park, Boardwalk in the River, Coffee in Locust Park area, Strawberry Mansion Bridge.”
“Love running along this path, especially at night looking at the lights under the bridges.”
“The peaceful atmosphere along the water contrasts nicely with the vibrant city backdrop, making it an ideal escape right in the heart of Philly.”
Philadelphia's latest and greatest addition to the trail system. I spend as much time as I can enjoying this beautiful trail.
This was a great walk to get from the 30th street station to the museum area. It was beautiful and calming. As a woman walking alone, I felt safe the whole time.
Love running along this path, especially at night looking at the lights under the bridges. I've always been one to run along Kelly Dr. and was very pleasantly surprised when I realized the connection to this part of the path behind the Art Museum. It would be nice if more of the path lights worked at night.
Love to walk along the bicycle path to check out all of the nature and the beauty that it has to offer. Even though it's a trail to ride your bicycle, it's also great to just spend the day to walk and ride your bike.
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful Boat Houses, Philly Museum of Art, Water Works & Dam, Skate Park, Boardwalk in the River, Coffee in Locust Park area, Strawberry Mansion Bridge.”
“The peaceful atmosphere along the water contrasts nicely with the vibrant city backdrop, making it an ideal escape right in the heart of Philly.”
“Love running along this path, especially at night looking at the lights under the bridges.”
“Beautiful Boat Houses, Philly Museum of Art, Water Works & Dam, Skate Park, Boardwalk in the River, Coffee in Locust Park area, Strawberry Mansion Bridge.”
Plan your run at Schuylkill River Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websiteschuylkillbanks.org
- Phone(215) 222-6030
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Philadelphia
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Schuylkill Banks
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,579 reviews
Riverside park featuring a jogging/biking trail, plus benches, a 9/11 memorial & skyline views.
Stairs to Lower Trail
4 ★★★★☆ 3 reviews
Schuylkill River Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,929 reviews
This park runs along the river & offers a playground, paved paths, sports areas, a pool & a dog run.
