Pedal to the Past

A series of trail tours along the Schuylkill River begins Sept. 22.

One of the hallmarks of the "Trail Town" strategy  outlined a few years ago at the Schuylkill River Heritage Area's Town Trail Conference held here in Pottstown, is that towns along the Schuylkill River Trail must link their local history to the trail

An effort to do just that gets started this fall, when the Schuylkill River Trail Bike Tour Series gets underway.

The first of the three-ride series will be held Sept. 22 and will be a round-trip ride from Pottstown to Birdsboro

Much of that portion of the trail is built upon the old Pennsylvania Railroad bed and the trip will include a presentation about the railroad  along with optional visits to three villages along the route.

The Mons Jones House in Morlatton Village.

Riders can take a nine-mile, 18-mile or 20-mile ride with options to take a guided walking tour of Birdsboro or historic Morlatton Village’s four 18th Century buildings in Douglassville. Brochures will be available for participants who also want to take a self-guided walking tour of Pottstown.

According to the Schuylkill River Hertiage Area, which is sponsoring the tour, this is the first ride in  a new multi-year series. "Each event will feature a unique combination of biking and history.

Those who register by Sept. 5 will get a free T-shirt and pay $25 per person

Tickets are $20 for heritage area members, and $15 children between the ages of 11 and 15. Children age 10 and younger are free.

A Pennsylvania Railroad engine in Pottstown.

Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. Welcome and Pennsylvania Railroad presentation begin at 8:30 a.m. and the rides start at 9 a.m.

You can register by clicking here.

Refreshments will be provided in Pottstown and Birdsboro. Ride support and complimentary pre-ride bicycle safety checks provided by TriCounty Bicycles of Pottstown.


Helmets are required. Due to the width of the trail, no bicycle trailers are permitted.

According to a report in the Sanatoga Post, other tours in the works include:

• A 2013 “Cycles and Cemeteries Ride” that will take participants along the trail from Norristown to East Falls, with stops at two cemeteries where Civil War generals are buried; and
• A 2014 “National Parks of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area Ride,” which will feature a two-day ride taking cyclists to three national parks: Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, Valley Forge National Historical Park and Independence National Historical Park.