Schuylkill River Trail Power Line Access

Follow the abandoned Reading Railroad embankment and utility corridors that parallel the Schuylkill River through Philadelphia’s industrial corridor. The route connects old rail yards in Manayunk with the East Falls power substation via overgrown maintenance roads and PECO utility access tracks. Key waypoints include the Girard Avenue Bridge underpass and the abandoned Laurel Hill Cemetery rail siding.

Moderate difficulty requiring high-clearance vehicles for loose ballast, mud holes, and steep utility road climbs. Best attempted during dry months when the river bottomland firms up. No permits needed but watch for active utility work. The reward is seeing Philadelphia’s industrial backbone from angles most residents never experience, plus surprisingly good river views from the elevated sections.