December 2, 2023
No time is ever wasted when it's spent on two
wheels.
- Unknown
Considered one of the most scenic trails in the region, the John Bartram Trail is a section of the Schuylkill River Trail that extends northward along the river from Hamburg in Berks County. Recently a bridge and ramp system was completed to connect two sections of the SRT, extending it into Auburn, Schuylkill County. The approximately 8.5 mile long trail follows the old Pennsylvania Railroad line and is planned to eventually end in Pottsville, Schuylkill County.
We took our first ride on the trail during the pandemic back in August of 2020 when the trail was only 6 miles long. It's a scenic and very level trail with only a slight uphill grade heading north. Since that first time, we've returned a couple of times with family and again after each new section of the trail was completed. Some of the photos below are from prior rides along the trail.
Although the Bartram section of the SRT starts at West State Street in Hamburg, we have always parked at the Kernsville Desilting Bed Trailhead and started from there due to the ongoing construction beneath the Route 78 bridge.
The trail from here leads off on a gravel, tree lined path above the Schuylkill River and crosses the currently used railbed over an old iron truss bridge before passing under Route 61.
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 | | August 2020 |
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 | | August 2020 |
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 | | Route 61 underpass - August 2020 |
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As the trail continues on it passes through a cut between high rock walls before arriving high above the Port Clinton railroad station, a stop on the Blue Mountain & Reading Railroad. Here the Appalachian Trail crosses over the rail trail and heads down into Port Clinton before climbing back up again on the other side of Route 61. The rail trail, however, continues on through rocky cuts in the hillside as it heads north toward Auburn.
 | | August 2020 |
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 | | Port Clinton RR Station - August 2020 |
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 | | August 2020 |
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During the summer of 2021, the long awaited bridge crossing over the Schuylkill River was finally completed and opened, bringing the length of the trail at that time to about 6.25 miles.
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 | | Bridge over the river (August 2021) |
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 | | View north from the bridge (August 2021) |
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 | | View south from the bridge (August 2021) |
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The last portion of the John Bartram Trail was completed and opened in early
November of 2023 and the weather on December 2 was perfect for a ride. The extension begins at the end of the bridge completed in 2021 and includes a dogleg ramp from the end of the bridge, taking users downward to connect with River Road. At that point trail users need to follow the lightly trafficked road to the right and up a small hill before reconnecting with the Schuylkill River Trail. This section of the trail ends at the Auburn Trailhead on the other side of the Route 895 bridge over the river. The new addition allowed us to extend our ride to a total of 7.5 miles, one way, for a total of 15 miles round trip.
 | The path turns left at the end of the 2021 bridge just before
the blocked off entrance to a disused railroad bridge |
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 | | The new ramp doglegs past the old railroad bridge and goes down the side of it. |
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 | | Looking back at the new path to the ramp up to the bridge |
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 | | Trail's end |
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The John Bartram section of the Schuykill River Trail is a pleasant ride. Not shown in the photos is a stretch of trail past a long patch of rhododendrons in the area near Port Clinton. We'll have to return sometime when they are in bloom!
* All Photos and videos are the property of the authors except where otherwise noted. *
