Schuylkill Canal

The Schuylkill Canal is a historic waterway stretching approximately 108 miles from Philadelphia to Port Carbon with 44 locks and several slack-water pools. The system follows the Schuylkill River and creates a continuous water route that once served transportation needs throughout the region.

The canal was chartered in 1815 and opened for operations in 1825 to transport anthracite coal from mines near Pottsville to Philadelphia. This waterway played a key role in the region's economic development throughout the 19th century.

The canal holds meaning as a link to Pennsylvania's industrial past and today serves visitors as a place for walking and observing nature along the water. People in the region see it as a connection to the work and effort that shaped their communities long ago.

The accessible area at Lock 60 in Mont Clare offers parking and is suitable for activities like boating and fishing in the water. The location is easy to reach on foot and visitors should expect muddy and slippery ground during wet weather.

Lock 60 is one of only two preserved sections of the original navigation system that still holds water and operates as a functioning lock today. This rare condition makes it an extraordinary remnant of an era when water transport shaped the region's prosperity.

Location: Pennsylvania

Inception: 1825

Architects: Thomas Oakes

GPS coordinates: 40.13250,-75.50264

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:54