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Print Friendly MapPhiladelphia's MLK Drive Trail offers a paved 4-mile route along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive that's popular for both transportation and recreation. The trail begins near the Philadelphia Art Museum and soon crosses the Schuylkill River Trail. From there, the MLK Drive Trail heads across the Schuylkill River and follows its tree-lined western bank.
Winding northward, the trail ends at the historical Falls Bridge, a 556-foot expanse dating back to 1895. Trail users can cross the bridge to meet up with the Schuylkill River Trail again and head south back to the art museum. This forms a pleasant trail loop of about 8 miles roundtrip.
On weekends from April through October, bicyclists can also safely use the paralleling roadway (Martin Luther King Jr. Drive) as it's closed to motorists during that period.
Two ample parking lots are available off Martin Luther King Jr. Drive just north and south of the Strawberry Mansion Bridge.
Magnificent tree lined trail from the art Museum through Fairmount Park. On weekends the road is closed to motorists which provides ample two lane flow for bikers. Trail enjoys lovely views of Center City, the Art Museum, Water Works, Boathouse Row, The Schuylkill River and numerous bridges notably the Amtrak Viaduct, Strawberry Mansion, Twin Bridges and the East Falls.
I love this trail, however, the tree roots coming through the paving are now painful and dangerous. From Sweetbriar to Montgomery the bumps in the asphalt are getting bigger and are painful for bike riders. I would imagine they are a tripping hazard for walkers. There are also sections with lots of tree roots from Montgomery to the Falls Bridge.
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