The Schuylkill River Greenways map is divided by Trailheads, Trail Towns and Places to Visit.
Founded by William Bird, who established an iron forge along Hay Creek in 1740, Birdsboro became an important steel town. His son, Marcus Bird, later built Hopewell Furnace, the largest iron producer in America during the Revolutionary War. Hopewell Furnace National Historical Site and neighboring French Creek State Park offer history and trails within a 15,000-acre old growth forest known as the Hopewell Big Woods. The 3.6 mile on-road Schuylkill River Trail piece leaves Birdsboro on the quiet Schuylkill Road along the river, and crosses the busy Rt. 724 to Old River Road on its way to Gibraltar. Once at Gibraltar, the trail is again off-road to Reading. Trail users can access several eateries, convenience stores and water ice in Birdsboro, and an ice cream shop in Gibraltar.