Reviewed as recreational biker-

Path quality rates 4.5 stars, scenic value 2 stars

Hard stone dust very wide (12 foot) path with no puddles. Other than road crossings it is basically flat. Very safe to ride with small children. Completely flat means you pedal the whole way in both directions, not a burden but there is no fun coasting with the air blowing through your hair.

Path runs under a wide power line the whole way. Full sun. Even though it is an interesting hilly area, they dug through hilltops so you never see a view and filled in the low areas so you never see the streams below. There are a few farm fields near Quarryville but you are mostly on a wide path beneath power lines looking at the same treescape. A few interesting bridges as you go over busy roads. Goes through no towns. This is not scenic, as far as rail trails go.

Not overly crowded even on a beautiful Saturday in September. Only found one picnic table, at the West end where the trail is closed (why close so far from the scenic trestle instead of right at the bridge?). No Amish sightings.

Again, this is rated as a recreational (rail trail) biker. This trail is better suited to walkers or families not going far. Choose another section to bike for an scenic afternoon outing.

Enjoyed the ride. Nicely paved path. Not many people on trail. Would recommend this to anyone.

For parking set you GPS to 635 Chester Creek Rd. Brookhaven PA for one end of the trail. The published Knowlton parking address is incorrect. Parking at the other end can be found, as noted, at 426-436 Lenni Rd. Aston PA. There is also parking near Mt Alverna Rd and Iris Ln in Media PA.

Great short ride for a sixty year old rider like myself, not too many hills, pleasant surroundings and good people.

Had fun biking it, but didn’t expect the challenge. Rode the longer Little Jersey trail first, which was pretty smooth and flat. This trail is not smooth. Wife crashed 3 times. Not a rail trail. Gotta have some rough trail mountain biking experience to safely negotiate entire trail.

We loved this trail and will definitely ride it again.

A crucial part to the ongoing redevelopment of the Philadelphia waterfront, the Delaware River Trail takes cyclists and walkers past a variety of environments and attractions over its relatively short length.
As of Oct. 2020, the trail is comprised of 3 formal, designated segments, linked by sidewalks along Christopher Columbus Blvd. The sidewalk between Washington Ave. and Penn's Landing Road is currently being upgraded to a trail, with the portion from Penn's Landing to Spring Garden St. slated to follow in the next couple years. When finished, there will be a continuous, multi-use greenway extending from Fishtown south to Pier 68, forming part of the Circuit Network and linking Center City via the Spring Garden Street Greenway and Camden, NJ via the Ben Franklin Bridge.
The northern segment of the trail begins at Penn Treaty Park in the Fishtown neighborhood. Constructed on the site where city and PA founder William Penn signed a treaty with the Lenape Indians, this park is popular with locals in the warmer months of the year and is noted for its memorials to Penn and marking the site where the treaty was agreed to, as well as benches that offer breathtaking views of the Delaware River. Also note the abandoned power station located immediately north of the park. Although currently dilapidated and an example of urban decay, plans are underway to redevelop this property into a concert hall in the near future.
From Penn Treaty Park, the paved, asphalt trail heads south, passing an apartment complex currently being developed, and rounds the north, east and south sides of Rivers Casino. Here, the trail passes through lush gardens with colorful plants and numerous small animals and warbling birds. Pedestrians have the option of using a small, stone path that runs directly along the riverfront to take in panoramic views and observe the birds that frequently perch on an abandoned pipeline that sticks above the water.
Continuing south from River's Casino, the northern segment of the trail follows Sugarhouse Drive south past the towers of the Waterfront Square condo complex. Here, the trail divides into two, with pedestrians directed left onto a sidewalk, while cyclists are to use a specially designated asphalt lane to the right. Note the fountains in front of Waterfront Square and the views out toward the river, where a small estuary has been developed. This segment of the trail between Penn Treaty Park and Spring Garden Street is also part of the East Coast Greenway, the long distance megatrail currently being developed from downeast Maine to Key West, FL.
The middle segment of the trail begins about a mile to the south at the north end of Penn's Landing, and follows the River Promenade past a dog park, plazas and the Independence Seaport Museum. Here, trail users have the opportunity to learn about Philadelphia's heritage as a seaport and can also tour several of the decommissioned ships and a submarine. Immediately south of Penn's Landing, Spruce Street Harbor Park gives trail users the opportunity to leave a lock on the Philadelphia Hope Fence outside the Hilton Hotel or grab a bite to eat from several food vendors. The Korean War Memorial and the controversial monument to Christopher Columbus are also located here.
The trail again diverges from Christopher Columbus Blvd. across from the intersection with Washington Ave., just south of the Gloria Dei Church. This mile-long segment differs from the northern and middle sections by crossing through sections of abandoned waterfront that have been reclaimed by nature and transformed into open space. Check out a section of old parking lot that now has vegetation growing up between cracks in the pavement and is now designated a rain garden and marvel at the array of colorful plants on Pier 48, an old wharf that was covered with dirt and now supports a small woodland. This experimental nature preserve is intended to attract both land and water based flora and fauna and also includes a walkway off the southern part of the pier where people can observe the river or go fishing as well as a spiral stairway ascending to a small observation platform. From Pier 48, the trail passes a plaza that provides additional opportunities for fishing or observing the river and continues through a grove of trees and a meadow before dividing into a second "green boulevard" next to the Wal-Mart off Tasker Street. Trail users will be surprised by the serenity of this segment and will find it hard to believe they are in a major city.
The trail's southern terminus is at Pier 68, another former boat dock that has been transformed into a park. The giant loungers here provide a great place to rest at the end of your walk or bike ride.
With its detailed landscaping, a route that passes several historical and cultural sites and providing numerous opportunities for active and passive recreation, the Delaware River Trail is a great counterpart to the Schuylkill River Trail and another great link in the Circuit trail network. The only thing keeping this trail from getting a full five star rating is the graffiti on parts of the southern segment, which, although minor, nonetheless mars the look of an otherwise great example of urban renewal.

If you start this trail on Rose Valley Road , between Wallingford and Swarthmore , you can easily navigate it all of the way to Smedley park. Once you get there, there are other wooded trails that you can also try. Mostly off road , but you need to cross a couple of small roads and then Baltimore pike to get to Smedley park.

Nice mix of wooded and open trail, good views of the waterfront. Will do this ride again.

We enjoyed the trail on a beautiful October afternoon. Trail traffic was very light and the trail's new pavement made the ride very nice. It's about 12 miles round trip and the pier at Romancoke is a nice stop. Just wish the trail was a few miles longer or connected to the Cross Island Trail.