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    Schuylkill Water Trail

    137 miles of scenic water trail starting at the headwaters in the tiny coal town of Tuscarora flowing southeast through Schuylkill, Berks, Montgomery, Chester and Philadelphia Counties to its confluence with the Delaware River.

    Drone photo shot from above the Schuylkill River as a group of paddlers sojourn down the river.

    About the Schuylkill River Water Trail

    The Schuylkill River Watershed is the most densely-populated region in Pennsylvania, with almost one-third of the state's population living in the 1,700-square mile area. 137 miles stretch through five different counties and offer recreational opportunities for any outdoor enthusiast. Though booming now, this area wasn't always considered a scenic getaway.

    The Schuylkill River was once devastated by pollution from the boom of the Industrial Revolution. With the discovery of anthracite coal in 1790, cities and towns filled with mines, iron works, mills, railroads, oil refineries and more were built along the Schuylkill River's banks. And all of that pollution went into the river, creating an environmental catastrophe. 

    "The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia" reported as early as 1866 that the river had a "dark, dirty, milky appearance" and perhaps even then was unfit as a drinking water source. Long stretches of the Schuylkill were dead of aquatic life. Sixty years later, the United States Army Corps of Engineers estimated the river was polluted with 38 million tons of coal waste. That shaped how people viewed the river. 

    In the 1940s, change came. Cooperative state and federal cleanup efforts made such a difference that in 1978 Pennsylvania designated the Schuylkill River it's first Scenic River. 

    Today, more than any time in the last 250 years, it is a beautiful scenic trail for paddling, fishing and enjoying nature.

    Cityscape of the Philadelphia Art Museum with the Schuylkill River along the bottom of the photo
    Scenic overhead view of the Schuylkill River in the Fall.

    Fishing Opportunities

    Though once polluted and once-dead of aquatic life, this river now holds many species of fish. The most common being the Smallmouth Bass averaging around 9-12 inches. Some anglers have even reeled in bass in the 15-17 inch range. 

    The section from Hamburg downstream to Lower Felix Dam Park supports habitat of riffles, bridge pilings and tributary mouths which create areas with deep water that hold larger fish. 

    Channel Catfish and Flathead Catfish can be found in the middle and lower reaches. In Spring, Walleye gather below the river's remaining dams and Musky bring anglers to the area of the river between Reading and Norristown. 

    Close-up of a hand holding a Smallmouth bass

    Boating Opportunties

    Stretching over 135 miles from Schuylkill County to Philadelphia, the Schuylkill River provides paddling opportunities for experts or beginners. 

    "With all the remnants of the canal systems and dam, moving water features are few and far between. You might have a class I feature, but then you have 10 miles of perfectly flat water." - Noah Phillips, Executive Director of Take it Outdoors Adventures

    Take it Outdoors Adventures is a non-profit paddling and river advocacy group and a sister agency to the Schuylkill River Greenways, which manages the Schuylkill River Trail. Noah Phillips is the Executive Director of Take it Outdoors Adventures, who's mission is to "get butts in boats and out on the Schuylkill River." The number of paddlers on the river are growing, and most are locals to the area. 

    A man and a woman, both wearing life jackets, paddleboard along the Schuylkill River.
    A man wearing a life jacket paddling a canoe through small rapids along the Schuylkill River.

    Some paddle with Phillips' organization, others paddle on their own. Some paddle for an afternoon, others do a multi-day sojourn covering 112 miles from Schuylkill Haven to Philadelphia. What you can expect to see depends on where you paddle. The upper reaches of the Schuylkill River, north of Pottstown—and mid-point of the water trail—are more remote where you might not see a house for 10 miles. As you come down, the scenery becomes more developed with history and landmarks along the way.

    "Once people went out of their way to avoid anything to do with the Schuylkill River, but more and more people today see it as a resource—a recreational asset. That’s a great turnaround,” said Phillips.

    Schuylkill River Greenways

    Adventures are easy to plan with the help of the Schuylkill River Greenway's interative online map. It shows the location of boat access points, amenities, restaurants, lodging and sight seeing. They also have a printed river guide available for purchase. 

    Woman wearing a life jacket paddling a kayak along the Schuylkill River