Ontelaunee Wetlands Preserve

Buried beneath our feet, we stand upon a section of the once bustling Schuylkill Navigation system, often known as the Schuylkill Canal.  

In its heyday in the mid-1800s, the Navigation could deliver as much as 2 million tons of coal downstream in a single year but by 1927, the U.S. Army Corps estimated that the Schuylkill River was choking on 38 million tons of coal waste, triggering a national effort to restore the river. 

This historic, 31-acre property came to Berks Nature in 1977 as a land donation from the Wyomissing Foundation. In 2022, a grant awarded by the Schuylkill Highlands Conservation Landscape Initiative funded activities to convert the property into a public nature preserve. 

Now filled, trees have taken root over top the former canal. Native wildflowers have also returned, supporting local pollinators and improving the ecological resiliency of the watershed. Two trails and educational signage invite visitors to engage with the land’s history, visit the now recovering Schuylkill River, and stroll through a recently replanted riparian forest. 

• Park open dawn until dusk. 
• There are no restroom facilities, drinking water stations, or telephones available, so please plan your trip accordingly. 
• Leave no trace while enjoying the park. Respect the land, water, and wildlife by staying on designated trails, carrying out all trash, and leaving vegetation and wildlife undisturbed. Cutting of trees and plants, alive or dead, is prohibited. 
• Dogs are welcome! For everyone’s enjoyment and safety, please keep your dog leashed at all times and dispose of dog waste properly. 
• Share the trail as bikers and pedestrians are both permitted. Remember, pedestrians have the right of way.  
• For the safety of all trail users, all motor vehicles are prohibited. 
• No alcohol. 
• No fires. 
• No swimming.  
• No hunting. 
• Overnight camping is prohibited.