After a decade of planning, Montgomery County has opened a new 0.9-mile Schuylkill River Trail connector near Pottstown that closes a longstanding gap and creates an unbroken 70-mile paved cycling route from Philadelphia to Reading. The connector replaces a spot where riders previously had to stop at a gate and choose a risky alternate route. Trail advocates like Schuylkill River Greenways' Elaine Paul Schaefer call it "a really, really big deal" that could boost cycling tourism and economic activity in towns like Pottstown, since the route is now long enough for multi-day trips, food and lodging stops. The $1.28 million connector links riders to the Cross County and Perkiomen trails and fits into the broader 850-mile Circuit Trails network. When the full Schuylkill River Trail is complete, it will span about 120 miles from Philadelphia to Frackville, Schuylkill County.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 8/27/2026