Gring's Mill and the Union Canal Trail: A Visitor Guide

Gring's Mill Recreation Area sits at 2083 Tulpehocken Road in Wyomissing, and the Union Canal Bicycle and Walking Trail runs through it along the Tulpehocken Creek. This guide covers how to get there, where to park, the hours, what is on the grounds, the trail itself, and the rule that catches many first-time visitors: no pets on the trail.

Gring's Mill is a Berks County park, run by the Berks County Parks and Recreation Department. It is separate from Blue Marsh Lake, the federal lake northwest of Reading with the swim beach and boat launches. For that one, see our Blue Marsh Lake guide.

Where it is and how to get there

Gring's Mill Recreation Area is at 2083 Tulpehocken Road, Wyomissing, PA 19610, west of Reading along the Tulpehocken Creek. The park covers about 33 acres and is the hub of the county park system. The county's parks administration and maintenance offices are on the grounds, in the historic mill buildings.

There is a parking lot on site. The Union Canal trail also has parking at every county park along its route, so you do not have to start at Gring's Mill. The parks with trail parking are Stonecliffe Recreation Area, Berks Leisure Area, Red Bridge Recreation Area, Gring's Mill, and the Berks County Heritage Center.

Restrooms at Gring's Mill are open year-round, in the barn next to the mill.

Hours

The county parks open at 8:00 a.m. every day. Closing time changes month to month with the daylight:

• January: 5:30 p.m.
• February: 6:00 p.m.
• March: 7:00 p.m.
• April: 8:00 p.m.
• May: 8:30 p.m.
• June and July: 9:00 p.m.
• August: 8:30 p.m.
• September: 8:00 p.m.
• October: 7:00 p.m.
• November: 5:00 p.m.
• December: 4:30 p.m.

The Union Canal trail is open daily, year-round, and follows the same park hours, posted at each park.

The pets rule

Dogs and other pets are not allowed on the Union Canal trail or at Gring's Mill. Across the whole county park system, pets are permitted at only one park, Antietam Lake Park. Service animals are allowed everywhere. If you want a trail you can walk a dog on, Antietam Lake is the county's option. For the county license your dog needs, see our dog license guide.

What is at Gring's Mill

The recreation facilities include six tennis courts, a softball field, an eighteen-station exercise course, one sand volleyball court, and a ranch-theme children's play area. A separate game court area has volleyball and shuffleboard courts, quoits, and horseshoe pits.

Historic buildings sit on the grounds. The adjoining barn holds an information center, group meeting space, and restrooms, and it has an outdoor amphitheater used for events. Picnic tables and grills are available, and the pavilion and the barn's second floor can be reserved in season.

The Union Canal Bicycle and Walking Trail

The trail is a 4.5-mile crushed-stone path that follows the Tulpehocken Creek between Stonecliffe Recreation Area and Reber's Bridge Road. It links Gring's Mill and the Berks County Heritage Center along the way. A 1.8-mile connector joins it to the Blue Marsh Lake trail system at Reber's Bridge Road.

Biking and walking are both allowed on the crushed-stone surface. Numbered markers along the way point out features of the old Union Canal, which operated from 1828 to 1885 and once ran about 80 miles from Reading to Middletown. The county also notes the trail can be used for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter.

Year-round restrooms are at Gring's Mill and the Heritage Center. Restrooms at Stonecliffe, Red Bridge, and the Berks Leisure Area are seasonal, open spring through fall.

Events at Gring's Mill

Gring's Mill hosts a Summer Concert Series at the outdoor amphitheater on Sunday evenings, Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. In December, the park runs a Holiday Lights Program. The county does not post a fixed schedule of performers or dates far ahead, so check the Gring's Mill park page or call the parks office for the current lineup and times before you go.

Reserving a pavilion at Gring's Mill

The Gring's Mill pavilion and the barn's second floor can be reserved from April 15 through the last weekend in October, booked online through the county's RecDesk system. The online request window opens January 1. A group of 24 or fewer does not need a reservation and can use any unreserved table first-come, first-served. A group of 25 or more needs a permit. To reserve:

1. Go to the county's RecDesk reservation portal.
2. Create a free account or log in.
3. Pick the Gring's Mill pavilion or the barn's second floor and choose your date and times.
4. Submit the request and pay the invoice by the due date.

Weddings, walks, races, and other special events cannot be booked online and need a call to the parks office. For the full fee table, the barn rules, and wedding and special-event permits, see our pavilion rental guide. For what every county park offers, see our Berks County parks overview.

FAQ

Can you bike the Union Canal trail?

Yes. The Union Canal Bicycle and Walking Trail is a 4.5-mile crushed-stone path open to both biking and walking, running between Stonecliffe Recreation Area and Reber's Bridge Road and through Gring's Mill.

Is there parking at Gring's Mill?

Yes. Gring's Mill has a parking lot on site at 2083 Tulpehocken Road, Wyomissing. The trail also has parking at the other county parks along it: Stonecliffe, Berks Leisure Area, Red Bridge, and the Heritage Center.

Are dogs allowed on the Union Canal trail?

No. Pets are not permitted on the Union Canal trail or at Gring's Mill. Antietam Lake Park is the only Berks County park where dogs are allowed. Service animals are permitted everywhere.

What events are held at Gring's Mill?

A Summer Concert Series runs at the outdoor amphitheater on Sunday evenings from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend, and a Holiday Lights Program runs in December. Check the county park page or call the parks office for current dates and times.

Is Gring's Mill the same as Blue Marsh Lake?

No. Gring's Mill is a Berks County park, and Blue Marsh Lake is a federal lake run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A 1.8-mile connector trail links the Union Canal trail to the Blue Marsh trail system, but the two are run by different governments. See our Blue Marsh Lake guide.

Sources and contact

• Berks County Parks and Recreation Department
• Berks County Parks, list and directions
• Gring's Mill Recreation Area
• Union Canal Bicycle and Walking Trail
• Berks County Parks Rules and Regulations
• Reserve a Facility and Park Reservation Form

Berks County Parks and Recreation, 2083 Tulpehocken Rd., Wyomissing PA 19610. Phone 610-372-8939. Park ranger on duty 484-256-5530. Office hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Director Brendan Lederer.

For a broader look at what the county handles, see our guide to how Berks County government works.