Schuylkill River Trail leads contest for ‘best urban trail’

In a Reader’s Choice contest between 20 trail systems nationwide the Schuylkill River Trail is currently leading the contest for the top choice among USA Today readers.

Local runners and bicyclists can vote for their favorite urban trail once per day until polls close on Monday, July 20, at noon ET. Winners will be announced on Friday, July 24. The contest is online at USAToday.com.

The nominations for best urban trail include the American River Bike Trail in Sacramento, Calif.; the Atlanta BeltLine in Atlanta, Ga.; the Boulder Creek Path in Boulder, Colo.; the Buffalo Bayou Park in Houston, Texas; the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle, Wash.; the Forest Park Trails in Portland, Ore.; the Grand Rounds/Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis, Minn.; the Indianapolis Cultural Trail in Indianapolis, Indiana; the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail in Austin, Texas; the Lakefront Trail in Chicago, Ill.; the Griffith Park Trails in Los Angeles, Calif.; the Louisville Loop Trail in Louisville, Ken.; the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway in New York, N.Y.; the Minuteman Bikeway in Boston, Mass.; the MKT Nature and Fitness Trail in Columbia, Mo.; the Mount Vernon Trail in Virginia; the River Walk and Mission Trail in San Antonio, Texas; the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston, Mass.; and the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville, S.C.

The Schuylkill River Trail, which stretches from Philadelphia to Phoenixville for 26 miles, also has paved spur trails that bring the total mileage to more than 60 miles. That includes the 20-mile Perkiomen Trail, from Oaks to Green Lane in Montgomery County, and a six-mile Chester County spur from just outside Phoenixville in Cromby to Parkerford.

Ryan Conway, a founder of the Conshohocken Running Club, said the group attracts between 70 to 80 people for a Thursday night run on the trail.

“The reason the club became so popular is because there is a large population in Conshohocken that likes to use the trail,” said Conway, a salesman for the Conshohocken Brewing Company. “The trail is what makes the club so popular. We use it to run to Manayunk sometimes.”

The production brewery at 739 E. Elm St. has an attached taproom that is located next to the trail, Conway said.

“It is a boon for us. Our logo is a bicyclist holding a beer,” he said. “We get about half of

ADRIANNA HOFF — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The Conshohocken Running Club runs the Schuylkill River Trail on Thursday evening. The trail is among 20featured in a national competition.