The Schuylkill River Trail Through Center City: Access Points, Sections and What's Next

The Schuylkill River Trail through Center City is a paved path along the east bank of the river, running from the Fairmount Water Works south past the Walnut Street Bridge, over the Boardwalk to South Street and on to Grays Ferry Crescent at the 34th Street Bridge, a link that opened in May 2025. You can get on at about ten points between Race Street and 34th Street. The next big piece, the Schuylkill Crossing swing bridge toward Bartram's Garden, is under construction with a projected fall 2026 opening as of October 2026, according to the Schuylkill River Development Corporation (SRDC), which builds and runs this stretch, known as Schuylkill Banks.

Where Can You Get on the Trail in Center City?

Every few blocks between Race Street and South Street. SRDC counts eight access points along the mile-long Center City segment as of October 2026, and the South Street Bridge adds a ramp and stairs at the south end. Here they are, north to south, from SRDC's trail map.

Race Street is an at-grade railroad crossing around 24th and Race. If a train is blocking it, SRDC points you to MLK Jr. Drive or JFK Boulevard instead.

The JFK Boulevard stairs are the exception right now. They closed for repairs on September 2, 2026 as part of PennDOT's Market Street Bridge project, and SRDC's September 14 update added overnight closures at JFK from about 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for several weeks. Check before you count on them.

Market Street and Chestnut Street both have ramps. Walnut Street has two stair towers, on the northeast and southeast corners of the bridge, with restrooms and the boat dock nearby. Locust Street is another at-grade rail crossing, at 25th and Locust. Train in the way? Use the Schuylkill River Parks Connector Bridge near Spruce Street, and walk your bike across. At South Street, an ADA accessible ramp on the northeast side of the bridge drops you onto the Boardwalk. Further south, the CHOP Bridge near Bainbridge Street and a ramp at the 34th Street Bridge cover the newer sections.

The Sections, North to South

Head north and the trail passes the Fairmount Water Works to meet Kelly Drive at Lloyd Hall and Boathouse Row, the start of the classic eight-mile loop to the East Falls Bridge and back. The full Schuylkill River Trail keeps going well past the city.

The Center City segment opened in 2000: about a mile with nine acres of green space, rain gardens, tree groves and public art. The Boardwalk followed in October 2014, a 2,000 foot concrete path, 15 feet wide, built out over the river from Locust Street to the South Street Bridge. It feels like walking on the river, because you basically are. South to Christian added 1,400 more feet in January 2018.

Then the newest piece. Christian to Crescent opened in May 2025 and filled a 2,812 foot gap with a 650 foot cable-stayed bridge, trail lighting and a tunnel into Grays Ferry Crescent, a three-quarter mile stretch with meadows, fishing spots and a skate park. SRDC says that created an entirely off-road route from the Crescent to nearly seven trail miles north. A sinkhole near the 34th Street Bridge closed part of the Crescent path this summer, and SRDC reported it fixed on July 10, 2026.

What's Next for the Trail?

The big one is the Schuylkill Crossing, which SRDC lists as under construction with a projected opening in fall 2026. It's a new ADA accessible swing bridge just south of the Grays Ferry Avenue Bridge that will link Grays Ferry Crescent to Bartram's Mile on the west bank. Truss accent lighting was installed by June 2026. Fall 2026 is a target, not a date, so check SRDC before you plan a ride to Bartram's Garden.

Across the river, Bartram's Mile runs from Grays Ferry Avenue to 56th Street. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation led that segment, which opened in April 2017. Bartram's to 61st Street followed in November 2021. SRDC lists 61st Street to the Passyunk Avenue Bridge as in engineering and design, with a Navy Yard spur and a Passyunk Point to Fort Mifflin segment proposed.

Closer to Center City, the work is overhead. SRDC's September 2026 update says PennDOT's multiyear Market Street Bridge project keeps the trail under Market open but under construction, including river wall repairs from Market to south of Walnut. University Avenue Bridge repairs are expected to run through December 2026, with no trail impacts anticipated.

What This Means for Owning or Renting Nearby

Near Walnut and Locust, condo and apartment towers sit close to the river, with brick rowhomes on the small streets just east. South of South Street the blocks are mostly two and three story rowhomes, many of them renovated. Near the Art Museum end it's rowhomes again plus a few larger apartment buildings. One thing to know: an active rail line runs between the city side and the trail, with street-level crossings at Race and Locust, and the bridge work adds construction noise for now.

As of September 2026, Zillow's Home Value Index put the typical home in ZIP code 19103 at about $474,000, up 3.9% from a year earlier, and in ZIP code 19146 at about $393,000, up 3.4%, according to Zillow Research. Those are ZIP-wide numbers, not a premium for a river view.

When a client is weighing a place near the river, Max maps the real walk to the nearest open access point, not the straight line, since the rail line means two buildings a block apart can have very different routes down. He checks open permits and bridge projects nearby, and for condos he reads what the association plans to spend next. The condo buying guide and five questions before you rent in Center City go deeper, the Rittenhouse, Fairmount and Graduate Hospital guides cover the neighborhoods and Max's process is on the buy page and the rent page.

Maximize Your Mornings.

Official Sources

• Schuylkill River Development Corporation: Schuylkill Banks

• Schuylkill River Development Corporation: Trail Map, Access Points and Amenities

• Schuylkill River Development Corporation: Development Projects

• Schuylkill River Development Corporation: Schuylkill Crossing

• Schuylkill River Development Corporation: Christian to Crescent

• Schuylkill River Development Corporation: Bartram's Mile

• Schuylkill River Development Corporation: Upcoming Bridge Maintenance Along Schuylkill Banks (updated September 14, 2026)

• Philadelphia Parks and Recreation

• Schuylkill River Greenways: Schuylkill River Trail

• Zillow Research: Zillow Home Value Index, ZIP codes 19103 and 19146 (September 2026)

• Cover photo: Michael Stokes, CC BY 2.0

FAQ

Where can you access the Schuylkill River Trail in Center City?

Between Race Street and South Street, as of October 2026. The Schuylkill River Development Corporation lists access at the Race Street crossing, JFK Boulevard stairs, Market and Chestnut street ramps, Walnut Street stairs, the Locust Street crossing, the Schuylkill River Parks Connector Bridge near Spruce Street and a ramp and stairs at the South Street Bridge.

Does the Schuylkill River Trail connect to Bartram's Garden yet?

Not yet, as of October 2026. The Schuylkill Crossing swing bridge, which will link Grays Ferry Crescent to Bartram's Mile just south of the Grays Ferry Avenue Bridge, is under construction with a projected fall 2026 opening, according to the Schuylkill River Development Corporation. Bartram's Mile has its own west bank access points meanwhile.

Is the JFK Boulevard entrance to the Schuylkill River Trail open?

No, not as of the Schuylkill River Development Corporation's September 14, 2026 update. The JFK Boulevard stairs closed for repairs starting September 2, 2026, as part of PennDOT's Market Street Bridge project, with overnight closures there from about 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Use the Race Street crossing or Market Street ramp instead.

How long is the Schuylkill Banks section of the trail?

Schuylkill Banks has about 4.5 trail miles and 29 acres of open space, according to the Schuylkill River Development Corporation as of October 2026. Schuylkill Banks covers the southernmost eight miles of the river, from the Fairmount Dam to the Delaware River, and new segments are still extending the trail south.

Are there restrooms on the Schuylkill River Trail in Center City?

Yes. As of October 2026, the Schuylkill River Development Corporation lists restrooms at Walnut Street, at Lloyd Hall on Kelly Drive and at the Markward Recreation Center in Schuylkill River Park. Water fountains are listed at Locust Street and Lloyd Hall, and there's an Indego bike share station along the trail.