As of late 2017, approximately 1 mile of the Pencoyd Trail has been completed. The paved, multi-use trail begins at Main Street and an on-street segment of the Schuylkill River Trail next to the UA Cinema complex at the south end of the Manayunk section of Philadelphia. It crosses the Schuylkill River on the south side of the Pencoyd Bridge, a restored iron truss bridge that once linked the city to an ironworks that was located on the opposite side of the river (the bridge itself now carries an access road that links Manayunk to the Royal Athena Apartments, now located on the site of the former ironworks).
After crossing into Montgomery County, the trail passes real estate offices and a park-like plaza with decorative gardens and metal sculptures resembling bicycles. Here, trail users have the option of turning onto Righters Ferry Road, which passes under both the Norfolk Southern rail line and Schuylkill Expressway, and linking up to the Cynwyd and Manayunk Bridge trails via West Laurel Hill Cemetery.
The trail itself continues up the southwest bank of the Schuylkill, past the Royal Athena Luxury Apartment Complex, and passing beneath a RR trestle. It currently dead ends at a creek just northwest of the trestle and next to the Schuylkill Expressway. The remnants of an old RR bridge over this creek are visible immediately beyond the western terminus of the trail, indicating that it follows the path of a line that probably once served the now defunct iron works.
Plans call for the trail to be extended beneath the Schuylkill Expressway and Norfolk Southern rail line, then climbing the hill to directly connect to the Cynwyd and Manayunk Bridge trails in the near future. It will then form an important link in The Circuit, the growing network of multi-use trails spanning southeast PA and western NJ.
Parking is available at the UA Cinema complex off Main Street in Manayunk's south end.
The limited access bridge provides another way to get over Schuylkill into Philly south of Manayunk near entrance to Wissahickon Valley trails. You can do a fun loop along Schuylkill River trail, take the Cynwyd trail bridge over river, continue on Cynwyd Trail and cut through cemetery (the signage is great) back to Pencoyd Bridge.
This trail does not have any events yet.
Be the first to add one!
Southeastern Pennsylvania’s Schuylkill River Trail forms the spine of the Schuylkill River National Heritage Area, a five-county expanse between...
The Lincoln Drive Trail bridges the gap between two of Philadelphia’s very popular trails. At its southern endpoint, the mouth of the Wissahickon...
The Cynwyd Heritage Trail is a 2-mile linear park and rail-trail that connects Lower Merion Township to the Manayunk Bridge over the Schuylkill River...
The Manayunk Bridge Trail opened in late 2015 to great fanfare, and for good reason: the trail, which crosses the Schuylkill River, Schuylkill...
Philadelphia's MLK Drive Trail offers a paved 4-mile route along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive that's popular for both transportation and recreation....
TRAIL ALERT: As of May 2018, The Wissahickon/ Green Ribbon Trail has been closed until further notice due to flooding, mud and debris. Once the water...
Cobbs Creek Trail runs through the borough of Lansdowne, just west of Philadelphia. The paved pathway offers a scenic route along its tree-lined...
Philadelphia’s Rail Park is an exciting project developing across Center City, which will connect several neighborhoods and provide access to...
The Tacony Creek Trail is a winding paved path along its namesake creek in the Juniata Park and East Oak Lane neighborhoods of Northeast Philadelphia....
The historical Ben Franklin Bridge, opened in 1926, offers expansive city skyline views and is itself a stunning structure. The iconic suspension...
The Delaware River Trail hugs the Philadelphia waterfront proving access to parks and recreational amenities. It's part of a larger effort called The...
Although just 1.4 miles long, the 58th Street Greenway is an important connector in the southwestern Philadelphia neighborhood of Kingsessing....
Download the TrailLink mobile app and take TrailLink with you!
Get Your 2018 RTC TrailNation Jersey!
Donate and Get a FREE 2018 RTC Guidebook!
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
