New Auburn Bridge expands the Schuylkill River Trail

Biking on trails in Pennsylvania during the fall season is a real treat to be surrounded by fall foliage at its peak. You might get so immersed in the beauty that you forget you’re getting good exercise along the way.

Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area recently completed a new section of the Schuylkill River Trail from Hamburg, Berks County, to Auburn, Schuylkill County, that will give you 9.5 consecutive miles to explore.

“Completing this section of the SRT is an exciting and important step toward completing the entire trail,” said Elaine Schaefer, executive director of Schuylkill River Greenways.

“When finished, the SRT will be 120 miles along the Schuylkill River, connecting Philadelphia to Schuylkill County and running through five counties and it will have an enormous, positive economic impact on the entire region.”

Closing the Auburn gap

In the past, the Bartram section of the SRT ended at the river. Closing the Auburn “gap” with the bridge’s completion creates a continuous trail section from Hamburg to Auburn.

“On Thursday that fence will be gone,” said Rosemary Keane, SRG’s communications director, who was referring to Thursday, November 9 when a ribbon cutting will take place.

“It’s such a beautiful section of the trail and the style of the new bridge really suits the area.”

SRG’s partners, funders and the public will be on hand to cut the ribbon on this major project.

Senator Argall, DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn, Representative Barton, Schuylkill County Commissioners, staff and other state and local officials will be in attendance. Secretary Dunn is scheduled to speak.

The Schuylkill River Trail’s Auburn Bridge gives you easy access to Port Clinton, which is where the SRT and the Appalachian Trail intersect.

“It’s a quaint, old railroad town,” said Keane. “There’s a candy shop there called the Port Clinton Peanut Shop, and the town is a big stop for Appalachian Trail hikers with a barber shop where they all get their hair cut.”

Break for lunch and exploring

If you want to take a break for lunch on your ride before exploring the area, Keane recommends having lunch at the Port Clinton Hotel restaurant and bar on Centre Street.

“This restaurant is a big draw and you’ll often see hiker’s backpacks on the porch outside who use it as a pit stop on their journey,” she said.

When you set out on the Bartram section of the trail you have the option to bike, walk or horseback ride.

“Everyone in Schuylkill County is very excited about the bridge opening because it creates a larger section of finished trail,” Keane said.

Kernsville Dam Recreation Area Trailhead

From Pottstown, it will be closest for you to access the SRT at the Kernsville Dam Recreation Area Trailhead parking area in Hamburg, located about a mile and a half from Cabela’s sporting goods and outdoor store.

“There’s a nice parking area right there for thirty cars and the area is maintained as a wildlife sanctuary by Blue Mountain Wildlife,” she said.

SRG consistently works on projects to expand and maintain the SRT.

“We always have several projects going on at once at varying stages,” Keane said. “We just finished the feasibility study for the Reading to Hamburg portion of the trail and the next stage is engineering.”

Schuylkill River Greenways, NHA is a non-profit organization that promotes the Schuylkill River, its watershed and the Schuylkill River Trail. Their mission is to connect residents, visitors and communities to the River and the Trail by serving as a catalyst for civic engagement and economic development in order to foster stewardship of the watershed and its heritage. To view Schuylkill River Greenway’s interactive map to plan your trip to the new SRT Auburn Bridge, visit: www.schuylkillriver.org/map