——-in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.——-

Welcome to our website.

 KTA to Host Susquehanna Super Hike

Susquehanna Super Hike, to be held September 12 along both sides of the Susquehanna River in York and Lancaster counties. This daunting 25-mile hike on the Ma-son-Dixon and Conestoga Trails alter-nates breathtaking vistas with steep descents into dark, scenic hollows fol-lowed by strenuous climbs to the next vista.

Interested hikers can find a link to reg-istration and more detailed information about the event and the route on the KTA website (www.kta-hike.org).

WHEN & WHERE WE HIKE…

(ALSO CLICK ON THE MONTHS –>–>)

Lancaster Hiking Club offers hikes of 5-7 miles Sundays, most leaving at 1:15 p.m. as you can see on our SCHEDULE link on the right.  At the same time and place, folks wanting an easier hike or walk or a more challenging hike can come with ideas of where they want to hike and see if others will join them. Both groups of hikers meet about 1 p.m. at Buchanan Park on the corner of Buchanan and North West End Avenues in Lancaster PA (Mapquest: 899 Buchanan Av 17603) to carpool at 1:15.) You might like to join other hikers to eat out after the hikes.

We also have walks of 4-6 miles in or near town on Thursday evenings at 6:30, meeting wherever we will walk. (Mapquest addresses given on SCHEDULE. Its link is at the right side of this page.) Sometimes hikers are ready for supper or dessert out after the walk.

In warm weather, we have ice cream hikes on Saturday evenings. Sometime, usually after the hike, we go for ice cream mmmm. 

And all year round we offer daytime Saturday hikes when a leader steps forward and chooses a time and place to go.

Occasionally we have longer hikes of 10-20 miles on Saturdays or Sundays. Long hikes carpool from Buchanan Park along Race Avenue close to Buchanan Ave, and we leave about 7 or 8 a.m. depending on how far we’ll drive and how long we’ll hike. Generally not back till after dining out on the route home. No long hikes in July or August.

Occasionally we go off for a weekend outing to hike. We’ll stay at a campground or cabin or, once in a while, a motel if that’s close to the chosen trail. Some of these outings are for members only.

Then too we have trail care which requires a bit of hiking also.  In the summer we try to go out every Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.– usually, though not always, carpooling from the end of North West End Av; and spring through fall, we go on some Saturday mornings at 8 or 9 a.m. –carpooling* from whatever place is named. We always seem to need more help keeping up with this 63 mile project…so come on along.  Painting blazes along roads or in woods is easy enough for most folks to do, and wrestling chain saws to House Rock or Cold Cave is challenging enough for others.

For meeting place and MapQuest DRIVING DIRECTIONS plug in the address at end of the hike description on the SCHEDULES.

Our hike descriptions on the website are limited in hopes that more viewers will support the club by joining it.  Members receive newsletters with more information about the hikes than appear on the web, plus information about events for members only.

THE CONESTOGA TRAIL SYSTEM

Topo and profile maps for Sections A and D now available on the Gallery page!

The club maintains the Conestoga Trail, open to hikers only. It is over 60 miles long and runs from the north end of the county where it links with The Horseshoe Trail to the southwest where it crosses the Susquehanna River to link with The Mason Dixon Trail.

We are looking for more volunteers to help with maintenance, which must be coordinated according to the wishes of the land owners.

To see maps and guidebook, click links for CTS in the right-hand column and print them out.  Zip-lock bags might protect your print-outs while you are hiking.

 SUPPORT THE CLUB

The club welcomes financial gifts to help cover the cost of tools, paint, and signs for maintaining the Conestoga Trail System.  If you are willing to work towards the safe construction of a 40 foot long bridge near Martic Forge, please let Ken know. The work involves getting permits, plans, funds, and volunteers.

MEMBERSHIP — Please Join…

Members receive a complete schedule of our events, including those not open to the public.

Membership is $8.00 per calendar year.  Any payment made after October 1, covers dues to the end of the following year. Along with your form from the Join! link on the right, send payment marked DUES to Lancaster Hiking Club, Box 7922, Lancaster PA 17604. Feel free to add a financial gift for the Conestoga Trail too.

STATE ASSOCIATION FOR HIKING TRAILS

Keystone Trails Association is a state wide gathering of hiking clubs and of hiking persons and can help you find hikes, trails, and clubs all over Pennsylvania.  They are at www.kta-hike.org

LOCAL CONTACTS

johhamilton@comcast.net    

joan17603@yahoo.com    

kenfil@ptd.net

                                            The Lancaster Hiking Club                                  

 PO Box 7922

Lancaster PA 17604

                                   United States of America.                                

            WISHING YOU HAPPY HIKING,               

                    THE LANCASTER HIKING CLUB                

Trail notes!

Norman Wood Bridge over Susquehanna River.

Construction and Painting In Progress!!

Deck rehab and painting of the Bridge (RTE 372) may involve lane closures, flag men, etc.  Hikers who use this bridge to go from the Conestoga trail (Lancaster County) to the Mason Dixon trail (York County)may experience delays.  This will be a work in progress through 2009