CTS Guidebook to the Conestoga Trail System
10/3/04
GUIDE to THE CONESTOGA TRAIL SYSTEM
SECTION A
North to South
Miles
0.00 0.0 Northern terminus of trail on Pumping Station Road at monument to Peter Grubb’s Upper Hopewell Iron Forge (1742). Reach this monument from PA route 501 by driving west on PA route 322 about 2.2 miles then turning south on Pumping Station Road about 1000′ and parking in the lot on the east side of the road.
Pumping Station Rd intersects with The Horseshoe Trail about 600′ north of this monument.
0.13 .13 Bear right on Speedwell Forge Road.
0.23 .23 Bear left past intersection with Dead End Road.
0.52 .50 Cross under Pennsylvania Turnpike.
0.55 .52Turn left off road into high weeds woods beyond except on hunting days stay on the road and turn left on Long Lane. See A 2.15 –>
0.61 .61 Trail bears left, goes uphill, and crosses Hammer Creek.
0.66 .66 Turn south directly away from Turnpike.
0.86 .86 Continuing in woods, cross small brook.
1.19 1.19 Follow along edge of woods.
1.36 1.36 Turn left across end of cultivated field.
[Piles of rock just inside woods are remnant boulders of an igneous dike, intruded into maroon-red sandstone and conglomerate rock. This type of rock dominates the northern end of the trail.]
1.56 1.56 Turn right out of woods and follow edge of field; blazes on rocks along edge of field may be difficult to see due to weed growth.
1.67 1.67 Corner of woods with blazed post; follow the edge of the field to the left and out to Long Lane.
2.15 1.94 Turn left onto paved road, Long Lane.
2.23 2.10 Turn right into borrow pit (road shale quarry) and enter woods on old dirt road above stream.
2.66 2.55 Cross stream, follow straight up hill.
3.17 2.95 Cross small brook.
3.20 3.2 Upper end of Speedwell Lake.
3.45 3.37 Turn right out of woods and walk along upper rim of steep embankment. (This is the stone driveway for Swiss Woods Bed & Breakfast, 717-627-3358, 500 Blantz Rd, Lititz 17543) 3.41 Turn Right on Blantz Rd.
3.51 3.45 Turn right on Brubaker Valley Road, cross bridge over Speedwell Lake.
3.76 4.06 Turn left onto boating access road. Porta Potties (seasonal) and Parking. Then follow path in woods 60 feet from the lake.
4.35 4.41 Left (walk up ramp) onto dirt road entrance to boat launch area. (Parking available)
4.50 4.5 Continue through boat access area, bearing right up and across grassy area.
4.62 4.62 Pass spillway of dam impounding Speedwell Lake. Trail follows Hammer Creek below dam.
4.85 4.73 Turn left on Old Pike to cross bridge, then right and follow along left bank of Hammer creek
5.13 5.05 Climb to busy paved highway (Route 501), cross bridge, turn left and go down roadway embankment and continue along right bank of Creek.
5.42 5.42 Cross mill race dam to left, then go right and follow the high ground between the mill race and the stream bed.
5.69 Continue along left bank of Millrace.
6.01 Snavely’s Mill.[Originally Willow Bank Mill, the first mill was built in 1746 and destroyed by fire in 1850. The new mill was built on the opposite side of the stream. In 1985 this mill also burned.)
6.01 Turn left on Snavely Mill Road. Cross Hammer Creek. Turn right into semi Trailer parking area. Keep the tree line on your right until you return to the left bank of the Hammer Creek.
6.5 6.71 Turn left, proceed up stone roadway to Snavely Mill Rd. Turn right and follow Snavely Mill Rd. to intersection of Brunnerville rd.
6.66 6.86 Turn right at Brunnerville Road, cross bridge and immediately turn left descend to creek bank, ascend hill, walk along wooded section along the ridge.
7.06 CAUTION!!!! ELECTRIC FENCE at end of woods!!!!! Crawl under fence,turn right,( This is pasture land watch out for cow patties!!!) proceed to the next fence and turn left. follow fenceline until it turns right. Proceed towards the small concrete bridge then proceed to the roadway bridge over the Hammer creek. Walk up the wing wall of the bridge to get over the electric fence
6.96 7.32 Turn left on Hackman Road, cross bridge, turn right and continue along the tree line.
7.52 Proceed to 4×4 post with blazes. Turn hard right on farm lane. Continue down to the left bank of Hammer Creek.(mile 7.62)
8.10 8.19 Emerge on Clay Road, turn right.
8.30 8.21 At bridge turn left and follow Hammer Creek on right bank through meadows.
8.33Climb Stile over fence, enter into pasture land. Crawl under fence,
8.54 exit from pasture. Follow along right bank of Hammer creek.
8.78 Cross Lincoln Road, follow along right bank of creek, then follow farm lane
9.20 9.15 Cross Carpenter Road, continue along the right bank of Hammer Creek.
9.67 Pass created wetlands.
9.72 ascend to ridge above creek
9.90 Emerge at Buch Mill Road and turn right (south).
10.20 10.2Turn left at Pine Hill Road.
10.30 10.26 Turn left off of roadway onto farm lane. keep fence line on your left.
10 10.48 enter woods along right bank of Hammer Creek. (Do NOT cut plants or put blazes on the woods in this part of the trail or we will be forced to move the trail.–August 2000)
10.85 Exit woods into pasture land
11.00 11.06 Erb’s Bridge Road and Erb’s Covered Bridge, turn right–NOT thru covered bridge.
[Erb’s Covered Bridge was built in 1887, is 80 feet long and spans Hammer Creek.]
11.20 11.25Left on Millway Road.(Warwick Township)
11.80 11.8 Turn right onto Meadow Valley Road
12.00 11.99 Left at Cocalico Road.
12.20 Hammer Creek empties into Cocalico Creek.
12.30 12.58 Left on Rothsville Road, cross bridge and turn right on Millway Road.
[Just beyond intersection notice waterwheel in creek. It pumps well water at the house.]
13.90 13.99 Turn right on Cocalico Creek Road.
14.60 14.61 Cross Newport Road with care (Route 772).
15.10 15.18 Turn right at Rose hill road..
15.50 15.51 Right at Log Cabin Road, through Rosehill/Wengers/Zooks Mill Covered Bridge. Climb hill leaving Cocalico Creek.
NOTE!!! RELOCATION– THE COVERED BRIDGE IS CLOSED!!! due to structural problems.
Follow Rose hill road to
mile .54 turn right on Oregon Pike (rte 272)
mile 1.34 Turn left on Bushong Road. End of Section "A".
[This covered bridge is referred to locally as The Log Cabin Covered Bridge. Built in 1849, it is the oldest covered bridge on the CTS. It spans the Cocalico Creek and is 89 feet long.]
16.90 16.50 Turn left on Becker Road.
18.40 18.61 Left on Oregon Road.
18.50 18.67 Carefully cross busy Oregon Pike (Rte 272).Continue along short segment of Oregon Road.
18.74 18.74 Turn right on Bushong Road. End of Section "A".
End of Section A
SECTION B
North to South
Miles
0.00 At intersection of Rtes 272 and 722 (Oregon Pike and Oregon Road) near a mini market, head south on Bushong Road. Turn right and cross bridge over Rte 222.
0.40 Turn right on Pinetown Road.
0.90 Turn left on Bridge Road and go through Pinetown Road/Bushongs Mill Covered Bridge.
[Built in 1867, it is 132 feet across and spans the Conestoga Creek. In 1972 Hurricane Agnes heavily damaged the bridge, necessitating repairs.]
1.50 Turn right at stop sign onto Mondale Road.
2.60 Turn right on Hunsecker Road.
2.90 Cross Hunsecker’s Mill Covered Bridge.
[Built in 1848, this bridge was washed off its foundation by Agnes in 1972 and was repaired and replaced. 180 feet long, it crosses the Conestoga.]
3.50 Turn left onto Butter Road.
4.30 Turn left on Landis Valley Road.
4.90 Turn left on unnamed road.
5.00 Turn left on Route 23.
5.30 Cross Iron Bridge over Conestoga River and turn right on Willow Road. Climb hill and wind through residential area.
5.60 Turn right on Pine Drive.
6.00 Turn left on Millcross Road and pass (or stop at) East of Eden Pub.
7.30 Turn right on Pitney Road. [Notice at left the dirt hill. It buries a concrete highway which was supposed to be a new Rte 23.]
Through mile 7.82 Road work, utility work and sidewalk construction for apartment complex on west side of road, and for a new Lowe’s store on the east side in progress through 2009.
8.44 Turn right at end of guard rail , and proceed north towards the railroad tracks. Stay on the Grass!.
8.52 Turn left , walk parrallel to the Amtrak line. Avoid user conflicts DO NOT use the PAVED PARKING AREA!! Stay on the grass until you come to the dirt roadway.
9.06 Turn left and follow along the wooded left bank of the Conestoga River. Scenic view of the Stone arch Amtrak Viaduct on your right.
9.44 turn left follow along drainage ditch.
9.53 Cross Drainage ditch and ascend to parking area.
9.55 Emerge to parking lot. Use Caution Truck traffic in paved area!
9.6 Cross over to the Corner of the building with the BIG number 3 at the corner, proceed to Pitney road.
9.64 Turn right on PItney Road.
10.11 Arrive at traffic light at East King Street, Rte 462.9
[Route 462 was the first U.S. turnpike. Built in 1792, it ran from Lancaster to Philadelphia. The first tollgate was located at Witmer’s Bridge in Bridgeport.]
Turn right and cross the Conestoga River on Witmer’s Bridge.
10.31 Turn left on Conestoga Drive and follow the Conestoga River.
12.20 Turn left at bridge, cross the Conestoga on South Duke St. Cross South Duke Street and enter Lancaster County Central park.
[The park is centrally located within the county along the banks of the Conestoga River and Mill Creek. There are approximately 550 acres of park which adjoin the Rock Ford Historic Site. Rock Ford is the restored home of General Edward Hand.]
[A primitive camping area is located in the park. Reservations are needed and a fee is charged. For information on camping, call 717-299-8215 or write Lancaster County Central park, 1050 Rockford Road, Lancaster PA 17602.]
12.30 Turn right where parking is available on the left.
12.40 Pass Indian Maiden View and turn left.
12.60 Side trail to Rock Ford Historic Site. Emerge from woods and turn left onto Gen. Hand Road.
[Rock Ford was built in 1795 and served as the home of General Edward Hand. General Hand was a physician and served as adjunct general to George Washington during the Revolutionary War. The house and barn have been restored, and are open to the public.]
12.70 Water and toilets are ahead. Turn right off the macadam then quickly turn left.
[An Indian grave site is 1/8 mile to the right at a marker.]
13.10 Cross Golf Road; turn left and merge with Scout Trail. At the bottom of a hill, turn right to follow the blacktop along Mill Creek. (Left about a half mile goes to the camping area)
13.70 Part way up the slope, turn left on path into woods to continue closer to the creek.
15.00 Pass farm house and continue along road.
15.20 Turn left on Golf Road and continue 0.7 mile to its end.
End of Section B
SECTION C
North to South
Miles
0.00 From Golf Road, go left on Willow Street Pike (Rte 272) 0.1 mi. Stay to the left and LOOK OUT FOR CARS!!! DANGEROUS HIGHWAY.
0.10 Cross highway to turn right on Roslyn Av.
0.20 Left turn on Conestoga Av.
0.80 Turn right on Eckman Rd.
1.65 Turn left on Brenneman Road.
2.00 Go straight on Millwood Road.
2.25 Turn right on Schultz Road.
3.35 Turn right on Newswanger Road.
3.45 Turn left on New Danville Pike.
3.55 CROSS RTE 741 WITH CARE!!! Pass mini market.
3.80 Turn right on Long Lane.
4.25 Pass Cherry Hill Orchards.
4.85 View across valley of Millersville University.
[Millersville University has the distinction of being Pennsylvania’s first state-owned university. It was founded in 1855 as a normal school, which was used to train teachers for the country’s fast-growing public schools.]
5.66 Junction with Stehman Road, which leads to Millersville. Continue straight ahead on Long Lane.
6.18 Historic marker on right, Postlethwaits Tavern.
Served as the Seat of Justice of Lancaster County, 1729-1730. Then it consisted of a Log Courthouse and Jail.
6.88 Dangerous curve! Be very careful.
6.96 Pass Rock Hill Hotel–or stop for a sandwich. Bear left on Conestoga Blvd.
7.95 Left into woods. Follow along left side of small creek. Just beyond the waterfall, cross the stream to a concrete foundation.
8.22 Watch for right turn uphill and away from stream.
8.36 Cross a small stream. Trail bears right up hill.
8.66 Come out of the woods and cross the lawn west of Mount Zion Cemetery then descend to turn left on Main St.
9.39 At River Corner Road, turn right.
9.56 Turn left on Hilltop Road.
9.98 Now you are “way down in the country”.
10.48 Bear left on Meadow Lane.
10.65 Right on Sickmans Mill Road. (For camping, left on Sickmans Mill Rd 1.2 miles, 717-872-5951)
10.78 Cross creek, left on Pequea Creek Road.
11.27 First views of Pequea Creek on left.
11.89 Bear right on Pequea Creek Road turning away from Pequea Creek.
12.85 Left on short section of unnamed road, then left again on River Road.
13.45 Be attentive for left turn off road into woods, trail down by creek.
13.70 Pass under steel girder railroad bridge.
13.85 Uphill beside bridge abutment, then left over bridge. Cross Rte 324 and turn right on River Rd for 250′ passing the site of the Martic Forge Hotel [burned in 2004 and once a trolley station.] Near the mailboxes turn right again to continue hiking along Pequea Creek.
15.03 Trail crosses a small stream. Go up stream a piece for a safer crossing.
15.41 Pass Colemanville/Martic Forge Covered Bridge.
[Built in 1856, the bridge is 183 feet long and crosses the Pequea Creek. The bridge had to be repaired after Tropical Storm Agnes.]
15.66 Pass Pequea Creek Recreation, a campground.
[Park Office, grocery store, pavilion and restrooms are seasonal. Camping is available by calling 717-284-4587. Reservations may be required during the summer months. A fee is charged.]
16.44 Cross run, nature trail begins on the left.
16.49 Unpaved road lined with private cottages.
16.97 Reach River Rd along Susquehanna River at Arrowhead Marina. (Parking at public boat launch across bridge.)
End of Section C
SECTION D
North to South
Miles
0.00 Facing Arrowhead Marina, turn left on Susquehanna Rd, and immediately turn left again on Maxwell road to go uphill.
0.10 Turn right on Ridge Road.
0.30 Turn left off road and climb hill through woods, soon descend to paved road, cross Bridge Valley Road (can park 3 cars) into more woods.
0.71 Cross stream at old spring house and climb hill.
1.12 Pass entrance to Wind Cave. Trail zig-zags through rocks before going uphill land bearing right.
[Wind Cave is one of the largest tectonic caves in the Eastern United States. Tectonic caves are formed by the actual movement of masses of bedrock. The strong air current that blows through the cave gives it one of its names. The temperature here is much cooler than in other Pennsylvania caves. Most of the passages are untraversable at their ends.]
1.50 Cross House Rock Run; proceed through fat pack squeeze, climb to House Rock Vista.
1.93 Cross Brubaker Run.
2.45 Trail bears right and goes down hill.
2.67 Cross Reeds Run.
[Camping area. Blue blazes lead to spring 540 feet away to the left.]
2.83 View of Susquehanna River from rock–best without leaves on trees.
3.04 Bear right and enter Nature Preserve. NO CAMPING IN THE NATURE PRESERVE AREA approximately next 1 mile.
3.14 Excellent views of the river, good siesta area.
3.52 Cross dirt road (? Douts Hill Road?), straight ahead for a short distance, cross Tucquan Creek and bear right, follow stream. (To camp at Tucquan Park 717-284-2156, do not turn right but turn left and follow Tucquan Creek upstream a half mile; at River Rd turn right about 200′, then left on Tucquan Rd about a block to the campground.
4.00 At railroad tracks, turn left and go uphill.
4.84 Turn left onto grass covered road, in short distance, turn right.
4.97 Reach rock overhang shelter and seasonal spring (not tested) just beyond, trail starts uphill.
5.13 Turn right on wide trail and follow only a short distance; turn right again on narrow path.
5.24 Reach lower rock vista, another good place for a siesta or lunch. Just uphill is a picnic area and Pinnacle Vista. Seasonal water and restrooms. Parking. Trail bears right on wagon road after reaching the top.
5.72 Turn right off wagon road and descend hill.
5.91 Cross gas pipeline clear cut, view of Holtwood power plant and Norman Wood Bridge. Re-enter woods, and in short distance, turn right on dirt road.
6.01 Turn left to rocks (vista) then descend to Kelly’s Run Trail. Turn left and follow upstream. The trail here can be slippery so use extreme caution.
[Beautiful combination of water, rocks, hemlocks and rhododendrons. This is a good area to spend a little time for rest and relaxation. There is NO CAMPING.]
6.87 Turn right at juncture of two creeks, cross both creeks and follow the second creek for a short distance, then go up hill.
7.34 Cross under power line.
7.61 Turn right at Gateway to Holtwood Recreation Park. Seasonal restrooms and water. Picnic area and parking.
7.77 Cross arboretum on diagonal. Cross paved road to woods.
8.00 Cross under power lines and enter woods.
8.23 Cross power line and bear left soon re-entering woods.
8.35 Cross road and climb staircase.
8.63 Face Rock Observatory. Parking on (?Holtwood) Rd. Bear left across grass field and under power line.
[Face Rock Observatory has views of Holtwood Dam and Holtwood power Plant. The Norman Wood Bridge is visible to the left.]
8.90 Mar-Lee Falls.
9.31 Down to the stream, bear left.
9.45 Turn right across stream, then steeply uphill to RTE 372. Turn right and cross the Susquehanna River on the Norman Wood Bridge. (Park several cars on south side of 372.) (For camping at Muddy Run Recreation Area, Holtwood, 717-284-4325, turn left on RTE 372 for 1.5 miles, then bear right on Bethesda Church Rd another mile.)
10.30 At dirt road make a right, then right quickly again into and across parking area. Seasonal restrooms and picnic area. Parking.
10.87 Cross Anderson Run on footbridge, 40 feet beyond walk along Lock 12.
[Lock 12 was part of the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal, a privately owned canal system. The system stretched 45 miles from Wrightsville to Havre de Grace, Maryland. The canal opened in 1839.
