The Blue Marsh Lake Multi-Use Trail loops around a manmade reservoir just outside of Reading in southeastern Pennsylvania. The trail has a mixture of surfaces (hard-packed dirt, grass, gravel and abandoned roads) with some single-tracking and climbs that make it best suited for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
You'll travel through open fields and woodlands and enjoy spectacular views of the lake. Bird watching is popular on the trail, especially during the fall's hawk migration. As a recreational hotspot, you'll also find many amenities, including picnic areas, food concession stands, a small beach (swimming allowed) and boat launches; restrooms can be found at the lake's visitor's center.
On the eastern end of the lake, just off Palisade Drive, a connection to the 6-mile
Union Canal Trail can take travelers into the city. Or trail-goers can opt to hop on an on-road section of the
Schuylkill River Trail from here, which will eventually stretch nearly 130 miles from Pottsville to Philadelphia.
A gravel parking area is available at the Blue Marsh Lake Visitor Center (1268 Palisades Drive) and there are additional parking areas all along the trail.
Mostly on Army Corps of Engineers and PA Game Commission lands, the trails surrounding the lakes are varied. Some sections are along miles of fields, some along the lake and some through young forests. Some are relatively flat but most have a bit of contour. ...