We're entering the home stretch of summer!!! As apart of my weekly cardio,I decided to check out Schuylkill Banks since it's been brought to my attention the route has been expanded. The walkway was far from full for a late afternoon and was still both walkable and bikeable(new word alert!). When I reached the "new expansion" portion of the walking trail I was a bit stunned by the beauty of the layout. There was a mini-skate park towards the end of the trail and unfortunately what appeared to be Overall, if you're looking for a new departure from some of the more popular trails around Philly and long for something a bit more "in-city"Schuykill Banks fills that itch. Happy trekking! read more

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Great trail for any outdoor activity - run, bike, rollerblade, walking. Love how it curves with the river! Great views of the boat houses and there's some nice stops along the way to take pictures and learn about history. Lloyd hall is also a great stop for a quick bite or drink! During the summers there's fountains turned on to hydrate and there is always something to enjoy while walking the banks. Great way to see the the city from a different POV! read more

Schuylkill Banks - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This park and bike/running path along the river (not to be confused with Schuylkill River Park) is a gem. It runs along the sunken banks of the river down away from traffic so it's a bit quieter than you'd expect. There are numerous accessways from the streets above. The trail itself runs at least from the East Falls area of the city to the Gray's Ferry area. It's mostly flat so good for biking and running. It's usually pretty busy in the wamer months so expect to have tons of company. I only walked from the 30th St Station area (path is on the far side of the river from the station) up to the art museum. Great trail for exercise, people watching, and views of the river. Very glad to have something like this in the city. read more

Nature is calling for you to explore the great out doors with fresh air!. Birds to entertain you while walking, jogging just to get some fresh air?. Many paths are leading up of seeing new vistas while taking on new adventures?. read more

Omg - I absolutely love this walking path! I'm a huge walker, and discovered SB while exploring outside during a training lunch break. You see fellow walkers, bikers, others pushing babies in strollers, and adorable doggos! My heart broke for a few probable homeless people in tents - our country needs to help our OWN!!! read more

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What a great idea! I enjoy taking yoga classes outdoors and I really liked the location of this most recent class on the Schuylkill River! There are so many activities happening in the area (biking; jogging; walking and yoga) to say the least! The areas views inspires you to want to do something healthy for yourself! I enjoy all the access points of the Schuylkill Banks..so great! read more

Schuylkill Banks - Yoga Class - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The riverside greenway is fairly extensive here. It's definitely a case of the city working with what it has, as the river is built up and not especially scenic, and the trail has to manage going under, over, or around various other things. In my search for restrooms and water fountains, I found one small building containing the former, which was locked. No water was evident anywhere on the main stretch. Kind of a slap in the face to anyone who possesses a normal human physiology. If you wander around the city you can find something eventually. At least the trail here was somewhat cleaner than the rest of the city, and due to the overpasses was relatively uninterrupted by traffic. read more

Schuylkill Banks - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We walked from South Street Bridge to the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk that extends to the Schuylkill River Trail. The boardwalk is a 2,000-foot-long pathway with views of the river and Philadelphia skyline. I didn't walk the length of it since it was hot and unshaded, but I did enjoy the views. read more

Decent running, walking paths along the meandering Schuylkill. Construction on the west side. Benches, boats. 3 read more

Schuylkill Banks - Schuylkill (+ 1 burnt out hippie) - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I can't believe it was only just recently that I visited here for the first time. It was truly lovely! We had a nice little walk which we started by The Waterworks. Over there it's free 2 hour parking. We walked almost the entire way down the clean, well kept boardwalk watching the rowers in the water, the trains and the moms club stroller crew on a weekday morning while admiring the city skyline. The journey totaled just over 3 miles round-trip. The path crosses under South Street Bridge. There's a little plaque describing the history of the original bridge and the details they mimicked on this newer one. You can rent kayaks for a decent price here. They also host Parks On Tap yearly and movies under the stars in the summer! So fun! Great place for a family day outside! I can't wait to come back and enjoy a sunset, as I know how gorgeous they can be here from strolling the bridge above. read more

There's little I love more than urban hiking trails. Us city kids once in a while like to pretend that we commune with nature, and this trail is a lovely place to do so. I really like trails with little surprises along the way. Schuylkill certainly has that, with cool little outposts for photo ops and bridges and statues and benches and whatnot. Also worth noting, people who hike seem to be nicer people. Lots of cool kids hanging out on the trail which helps set the scene for a lovely stroll. I also appreciate the utility and ambition of this trail. Along the trail there are signs delineating the plans for the path. When it's completed it will be awesome-as it will connect the western suburbs all the way down to Fort Mifflin. The trail is such a wonderful highlight of our city and should be enjoyed by everyone! read more

It's nice to know that even in the claustrophobic city, there along the river lies a piece of heaven. There are so many cool spots along the trail. There's an extension bridge which lies on the water, a few Kayak drops, Art Installations and more. This area is used for just about everything. You can Fish, Paddle Board, Kayak, Run, Walk, and when it comes to biking this trail definitely peaks as one of the best. Makes you feel like your in a stage of the Tour de Schuykill (Tour de France). The trail is apart of the East Coast Greenway. In theory, you could use the entire trail from Maine to Florida. Hopefully one day soon I'll add my name to the end-to-enders list. For now I'll keep training. read more

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Philadelphia should be proud of the Schuylkill Banks, which is not pronounced anything like it's spelled. The trail is paved, well-maintained, and populated, and its curving path along the Schuylkill offers nice river views. I walked the trail on a Saturday morning and there were all kinds of cyclists, runners, walkers, and rollerbladers out getting some exercise, so be prepared for company. I took the trail from the entrance across the bridge from 30th Street Station to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which was an easy mile plus walk. If you rely on pubic transportation I can tell you that this route to the art museum is MUCH easier and more scenic than walking from City Hall, which looks short and doable but in actuality seems to go on and on until the ends of time. The trail takes you right up to the museum itself, and the grassy area behind the museum is a really ideal spot for a picnic lunch before the walk back. So whether you're a tourist taking in a leisurely walk or the avid cyclist zooming by, the Schuylkill banks will be there, clean and pretty, to suit your needs. read more

Schuylkill Banks - The trail and the city - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I love their free movie Thursday nights - it's the perfect recession time date! 7/9 was Back to the Future 7/23 The Goonies 8/06 Indiana Jones Perks: everything is FREE - popcorn, non-alcoholic drinks, pretzels & a raffle (gift prize last time was a basket full of Ikea stuff); you're outdoors; you're utilizing the Schuylkill river front; Pitfalls: Completely my fault, I sat too close last time and the speakers were blasting. My ears rang for the rest of the night. Tips: Show up early, bring blankets and a bottle (or two) of wine. Movies play after dusk (after 8:15) but to get a square of lawn up front you should plan to arrive around 7:30-7:45. read more

Nice little park under a bridge. Couple of round corners, a hump and a table top pyramid. Watch out for a plethora of spotted lantern flys, all seeming to play king of the hill. Don't bother if it's raining, the bridge leaks and the concrete is deathly slippery when wet. Lots of transition and pool coping. Parking is a long block off the bridge next to a bus parking depot. read more

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If you're looking for a place to walk and enjoy a great view of center city + the schuykill? this is it. Def has improved with time. If you're bored of just kelly dr or mlk dr then change it up by heading over here...it all connects by waterworks. Love all the wrought iron trimmed paths leading down from the art museum connecting it all. Even though 76 runs parallel and 676 crosses over, the traffic isn't loud and the trail is quieter than you'd expect considering the proximity. It gets pretty busy when it's nice out but so does everywhere else. There's more bike riders/runners/joggers than walkers but everyone gets to enjoy. And of course it looks like if you have a dog? This is the place to be. Note: it does get pretty windy over here compared to other areas along the river...so be prepared on cooler days. If you get bored of just the trail? You can head on up any of the ramps/stairs or street openings available and wander the city instead. read more

Cool new addition expands the length of the trail and takes it out over the water for really interesting overlooks (I was surprising fond of the dog park when viewed from above, so entertaining!) They take good care of the park, hardly any litter or graffiti. read more

Schuylkill Banks - Cool new addition expands the length of the trail and takes it out over the water for really interesting overlooks. - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

When it comes to new-to-me places, I can be as bashful as a child, refusing to go it alone for the first time, hiding behind my mom's pant leg while I assess the situation. Even though I've been living in the city for almost six months, it took that long for me to check out the Schuylkill River Trail. Friends promised a safe and scenic place to run outside, but I just kept going to the gym. That, or - get this - driving to Jersey where my courses were plotted and I felt comfortable with where I was going and what to expect. Finally, my boyfriend and I decided to take a walk, and to the Trail we went. Shocked was I at how well-maintained and well-populated the area actually was. I felt like I had made this amazing discovery, and I couldn't stop talking about how glad I was that we had finally taken that walk. Yesterday, I enjoyed my first of what will likely be many solo runs on the Trail. read more

What a difference six years makes! I remember this trail when it was a lowly gravel aforethought. Now it's a real running/walking/biking river trail with lovely landscaping, benches-a-plenty, boat and kayak tours (oh my) and it connects around Fairmount Water Works to Fairmount Park and it's still growing South! I love to walk from the current entrance at Locust Street and make my way up to Boathouse row. On the left, you get an industrial view of 30th Street Station, the Post office and the Cirra Center and on the right, the downtown and the skyscrapers unfold before you. On a nice breezy day, if you squint hard enough it's almost like you're walking by the quais of the Seine - except with more trees, and rollerbladers, and serious cyclists that warn pedestrians "Left!". read more

You can always me or my family here for a good workout. The stretches for miles and miles and there's always some type of event going on when the weather breaks. This place is kid friendly and has public restrooms. If you can't swim stay on the path and away from the water. read more

Schuylkill Banks - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In my natural habitat of Southern California I've developed a sometimes-compulsive need to run outdoors, so when I came to Philly I was eager to find a way to support my addiction. This metropolis doesn't really lend itself to a ton of road running, so the Schuylkill Banks are an absolute GODSEND! I love how it runs right through the city, so it's very accessible, but it also leads you right out of it (physically, mentally, spiritually...), rendering it a real escape. The Schuylkill Banks are just miles and miles of paved trails (and in some places, a parallel dirt path), flanked by Fairmount Park and the river. So all around, there's a lot of nature to keep you country girls and boys happy. If you're really hardcore, you can't complain about the trail ending because I'm convinced it doesn't. And if you're that awesome one-two punch of distance runner with a bad sense of direction, this is your Shangri-La because you can't get lost! You're either going upriver or downriver... I also really recommend Boathouse Row, which totally reminds me of Amsterdam (and I was sober, people!). I also recently discovered the brand new Sculpture Garden located where the banks meet the Philadelphia Museum of Art. A word of caution - watch out for the goose scat. And some sections of the trails (closer to the city) tend to partake in rush hour, so make sure you don't make any unprotected turns or sudden stops. The best time to come though, in my opinion, is definitely early morning or late afternoon when the crew teams have practice! Mmm athletes... And the coaches following along in the mini speedboats actually have some pretty motivational things to share on their bullhorns, like "Don't let your shoulders give in! Get that energy up!" Totally thought they were yelling at me. Oh so THAT's what it feels like to have a personal trainer... read more

Free entertainment that can't be beat. Especially now with social distancing. Good place to take the whole family to unwind and get a break in nature. Vtrainers personal training studio read more

Great place to go for a morning run or just hang out on a weekend. I used to run a 4 mile route that begins around 30th Street Station and continues past Boathouse Row and the like. Back in the day, a couple of ROTC buddies and I used to gear up and jog the route, which I assure you was quite the workout. It's a great place to be on the weekends as well, as you'll see tons of couples, kids, pets, and just folks running, biking, and walking. Several areas have these grassy knolls where folks tend to kick back and lie down or sunbathe. No matter what you're looking to do, as long as you want to spend some time in the great outdoors, somewhere along the Schuylkill Banks, you'll find the right place for you. read more

The boat tour is great! It's about an hour. The view of the waterworks is fantastic from there, and the guide was well-informed. When you turn around and head away from the museum, in no time you're surrounded by trees- although university city is just beyond them. You can't even see the city anymore. Who knew?! Plus there was a bar in the back of the boat, whoohooo! :) It was great. read more

This is a great place to run or bike outdoors! Even in the cold, snowy weather, they plow the path, so you can literally run in any season. I find this one of the safest places to run in the city where there are always other people running from early in the morning until early evening. The parts of the path near the art museum are beautiful with fountains, statues, and views of the museum and boathouses. The trail doesn't go very far South in the city (a little past Locust Street right now), but they are currently adding on to the path so that it will connect to the South St. bridge. read more

Philly has done such a fantastic job with the Schullykill, and I don't think it's any secret. But I do think less people know about the boardwalk southern end since it is newer. It's a bit wider and flatter than the northern parts of the trail, and has a wonderful view of the water. read more

Schuylkill Banks - View of the boardwalk from the South street ramp entrance - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This is by by far my favorite place to run. Even when I feel too tired after a long day of work, my adrenaline gets going when I get to the trail. I love how the vibe and view changes as you run along the trail. From center city, to Schuylkill Expressway traffic, to skate boarders, to the Art Museum, to flower gardens, and statues. I can run for miles without getting bored at all. Running is pretty much always a breeze except for the occasional inconsiderate biker going way too fast and cutting it way too close to runners. I have almost taken a handle bar to the gut on several occasions. As a timid biker, I only bike here at odd hours. The inconsiderate bikers mentioned above seem to get a thrill out of (almost) running weaker bikers off the track. read more

What a hidden gem from the hustle and bustle of Philadelphia city life. This is a great place to unwind, relax and enjoy your run, bike and walk along the riverbanks of the Schuylkill river. It is litter free, clean and maintained. The trail is wide enough for people to use. You will be able to use your artistic expression and grab a few great shots along the way. I walked from the Schuylkill Park on 25th and Spruce went down to the trail and took it all the way to the Art Museum. I would definitely recommend this trail to everyone out there. There are several exits off the trail leading up to South Street, Walnut Street, Market Street to either grab a bite to eat or use the restroom. The restrooms along the trail are not always available for use and are locked at times. read more

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My favorite place to run in the city, snow or shine! You can count on this running path to be completely cleared no matter what weather. We got ALOT of snow this summer and the entire path was plowed and running-ready. There are always people running this path morning through the night. The path is well lights and they sometimes have cops on bikes patrol it. Of course if you do run it during the night be extra careful you never know! I mostly run it during the day and its perfect. You get a nice view of the city sky line as you're running and not to mention the art museum. Usually its crowded with bikers/runners/walkers. Oh i almost forgot to mention, this is actually an excellent spot to sit on the grass and watch the 4th of july fireworks or any concert that is happening at the art museum! read more

Free movie nights outside! Bring some wine and snacks and this is the perfect date night. Right alone the river. The ambiance is perfection. read more

Schuylkill Banks - My first time here. Free movie nights! Can't beat it. Bring some wine and snacks and this is the perfect date night! - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I love running on the path along the Schuylkill. I love the girls in bikinis laying out from May to September. 1 1/2 miles of smooth trail from the trail's start to Lloyd Hall at the beginning of Boathouse row is beautiful at sunset or in the early AM. I DO NOT like the smell of rotting garbage from the CSX trains that park alongside the path and cause me to throw up a little in my mouth when I'm really breathing heavily at the end of a hard run. Can't wait for the path extension-hope it gets done. read more

For some reason I couldn't find this on Yelp when I was trying to check in on 7/23/16. The boardwalk is really nice. You see the city skyline once you walk up the steps. You also see the Schuykill River. It's connected to the park which is ok but it's relaxing for the most part. read more

Schuylkill Banks - 7/23/16 - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I love this place!! I walk there sometimes on my lunch hour. There is nothing better to make you forget about office things then dogs at the dog run! Sometimes the local school makes the kids run the walkway around the park. I also take the path up the river go up to the waterworks and come back for a nice walk. The only thing I don't like is when the train parks on the tracks and blocks the crossing near Spruce. Hopefully with the new extension of the park, they will be fixing that. read more

Nice area with a wonderful new path added ON the river but the best views of the skyline are up on the ramp heading back to Schuylkill Park. Overall, it's a clean and relaxing place for a walk or jog away from the downtown area. Wouldn't recommend it as a must-do for tourists though as there's really not much to see. read more

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I run on this alllllllllllll the time.. such a great addition. They are building two new pedestrian bridges over the RR tracks.. also I hear plans are to extend it to Bartrams Garden. Green, Exercise, Yay. Yes, I run this all winter too.. cool to see the river frozen over! read more

A great trail for working out or taking walks whether you go during the day or at night (but run with a friend if you're going at night, there are sometimes muggings). The banks stretch from the South Street bridge up until Wissahickon park. There are always tons of people on that stretch (during the day), but it's still relatively calm/relaxing, not at all like the crowds in center city where people are all rushing to be somewhere. The trail runs along the river and is beautiful during the day, and just as beautiful at night when the city is all lit up. A great place to find some calm and beauty in the heart of Philly! read more

What an amazing asset Schuylkill Banks is to Philadelphia. This park along the eastern side of the Schuylkill River, with views of the University City skyline and 30th Street Station, is an amazing place to relax in the middle of the city. You can rest in the green space that goes right to the river, you can take your dog to the dog parks (one for big dogs and one for small dogs), or you can ride your bike or jog along the Schuylkill River Trail that runs through the banks. You do have to enter the park at certain points, since an active freight train line runs between the neighborhood and the park, but the city deserves credit for figuring out a creative solution to get the park built with that line there in the first place. This is definitely one of my favorite urban public spaces in a city full of them. read more

Instead of blowing our hard-earned cash on a night out on the town, we blew off some steam last night and biked up the Schuykill Banks. On one of the hottest nights of the year, this was a romantic, peaceful and somewhat cooler place to hang out, eat a romantic evening picnic. Seriously, I spent about One-Tenth the amount I would have! And my boyfriend keeps noting (with kisses) what a nice time he had. The best of all was that I was coming from work, and almost went and splurged on a brand new shirt (I was coming from work and had nothing) and there at the Schuylkill, I felt completely stylish in the dark, and happy to have saved my bucks for when they really count - like donating to a good cause or something like that! Anyway, the only downside is that the closer you get to to the river, the more you can smell the not so fragrant river.... luckily, there are lots of benches a little higher up. There is a lot of traffic near the city in the summer, but not too terribly much, and it makes it very safe at night. read more

Thanks, Schuylkill Banks, for being a good respite for me while I was in town for the week on business. I was staying nearby in University City, and rather than succumb to the hotel treadmill, I took up a recommendation to come here for my evening run. I covered only a mere 4 miles round-trip on the banks, but I understand that it extends much further beyond... I would have loved to go for a long run, but wasn't keen on getting stuck down there after sundown. However, I appreciated the easy, straightforward, and somewhat scenic bike/jogging trail, and loved that there were so many other runners out and about on the trail because I tend to freak myself out when I run alone on an abandoned trail... and you guys kept passing me like road kill. Wow, you Philly runners must be way faster than I am, or I must be too much of a slowpoke, spending too much time looking at the sights. I even got distracted by pretty flowers and ended up detouring up the hill toward what I found out was the Museum of Art. Sightseeing on my evening runs - hooray for efficiency. I ended up coming back a couple days later with friends just for a leisurely walk around Boathouse Row. It was a nice just for a stroll, as well. I really appreciated the proximity to the city - this place was so accessible. I used the stairway from the bridge on Walnut, just about a mile from my hotel. From where I'm from in downtown Los Angeles, I regularly drive 20 miles one-way just to get to my preferred long-run stomping grounds... so the convenience of having such a trail so close is a huge plus in my book. Can we please move the Schuykill River next to downtown LA? You can have our river in return. read more

Absolutely the BEST place for a long (or short) run in Philly! It is clean, safe, roomy, and long. Plus after running there for almost two years every week...i still don't get bored! It's a great place to run, people watch and sit along the river. If you go during the peak times (before big Philly runs, when it's nice out, or between 5-7) it actually feels like you're running the Broad Street Run with your friends. Also, no matter what time you go there is always at least some people there so you don't feel alone. Even the homeless people that are sometimes there are not even that scary! PLUS...there are always tons of geese...for any geese people out there. Off to there now! read more