Philadelphia Schuylkill Run to the Rocky Steps and a Sweat Fitness Day Pass
Updated October 3, 2026
From Sweat Fitness in Queen Village, run west on Pine Street to the Schuylkill River Trail, follow the river north past the Water Works and climb the Rocky steps before looping home through Rittenhouse Square.
Every runner who comes to Philadelphia wants to climb the seventy two steps from the movies, and the Schuylkill River Trail is the way there. The route crosses Center City on Pine Street, takes a footbridge over the rail tracks and follows the riverbank north under the city's bridges. Past the Greek revival Fairmount Water Works, you reach the back of the art museum and its famous staircase. Sweat Fitness in Queen Village sells guest access by the day. Your bag can usually go in a Sweat locker, but ask at the front desk before you set off, since some gyms sell a single entry and may not let you back in after the run.
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The run: Queen Village to the Rocky steps on the Schuylkill River Trail
It climbs the city's most famous steps at about the halfway point, stays almost entirely flat and has long car-free stretches along the river.
- Distance
- 10.8 km (6.7 mi)
- Start
- Sweat Fitness Queen Village
Leave the gym, jog west on Bainbridge Street and north on 8th Street to Pine Street, then run west across Broad Street to 25th Street. Cut through Schuylkill River Park, cross the rail tracks on the Schuylkill River Parks Connector Bridge beside the dog run and join the trail near Locust Street. Turn north and run upriver beneath the Walnut, Chestnut and Market Street bridges, past the Fairmount Water Works, to the rear of the art museum. Run around to the front and climb the steps. Come back down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Logan Square, south on 20th Street to Rittenhouse Square, then east on Spruce Street, south on 7th Street and through the Queen Village side streets to the gym. For the floating boardwalk, add an out-and-back from Locust Street south to the South Street Bridge, about 1.2 km extra.
Open the route mapGuest access covers a strength floor, two levels of cardio machines, a Spinning studio and group exercise; the club does not advertise showers, so plan to clean up elsewhere.
- Price
- As of October 2026, daily guest access is $20, photo ID required
- Showers
- No
- Hours
- Mon to Thu 5:30 am to 10 pm, Fri 5:30 am to 9 pm, Sat 7:30 am to 5 pm, Sun 8 am to 4 pm
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