POTTSTOWN PA – The Schuylkill River has become the first, and for now the only, designated National Water Trail in Pennsylvania, the non-profit Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area announced Tuesday (June 9, 2026).
The designation will “expand opportunities for recreation, stewardship and exploration,” the organization says. It also helps “ensure future generations can experience the landscapes and waterways that make America extraordinary,” the Greenways adds.
Currently, there are 40 officially designated national water trails across the United States, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum approved the designation to mark this year’s observance, on June 6, of “Great Outdoors Month and National Trails Day.”
Burgum’s action included designating five new national recreation trails in five states. That added another 162.5 miles of nationally designated hiking, paddling, and outdoor recreation opportunities.
The Schuylkill River water trail is a 120-mile paddling route within the heritage area. It stretches from the river’s headwaters near Tuscarora to its confluence with the Delaware River.
Photo provided by the Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area
Flowing Through Five Counties
Flowing through five counties, the trail offers experiences that range from whitewater paddling to calm stretches suited for beginners. Environmental restoration efforts have transformed the river into a thriving recreational resource, the Greenways notes. It supports “a diverse fishery and abundant wildlife,” it says.
The designation arrives as the Greenways prepares to launch its 28th Schuylkill River Sojourn. The annual event attracts more than 250 enthusiasts who will paddle across all or part of the river’s 112 miles during seven days.
Greenways reports it began the application process to become a designated national water trail in 2024.
Its selection is based in part by verification of its recreational opportunities, as well as its education, restoration, maintenance, and planning efforts. It also was supported by recommendations from state agencies, municipal boat launch owners, and others with water trail interests.
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