GUIDE TO
THE CONESTOGA TRAIL SYSTEM
SECTION A
North to South
Miles
0.00 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. ----Click here for inset map
----------The Horseshoe Trail runs along Pumping Station road at this point.
----------If using "MapQuest" for directions, use the address 80 Pumping Station Road, Lititz, Pa 17543
0.13 Bear right on Speedwell Forge Road.
0.23 Bear left past intersection with Dead End Road.
0.52 Cross under Pennsylvania Turnpike.
0.55 (Intersection of Speedwell Forge Rd. and Mountain rd) Turn left off road into high weeds woods beyond.
{This section is closed during deer hunting season.Continue along Speedwell Forge rd.to Intersection of Long Lane, turn left onto lLong Lane, Go past Acorn Lane.Pick up Trail again at A 2.15 ->}
0.61 Trail bears left, goes uphill, and crosses Hammer Creek.
0.66 Turn south directly away from Turnpike.
0.86 Continuing in woods, cross small brook.
1.19 Follow along edge of woods.
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 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 Corner of woods with blazed post; follow the edge of the field to the left and out to Long Lane.
2.15 Turn left onto paved road, Long Lane.
2.23 Turn right into borrow pit (road shale quarry) and enter woods on old dirt road above stream.
2.66 Cross stream, follow straight up hill.
3.17 Cross small brook.
3.20 Upper end of Speedwell Lake.
3.45 Turn right out of woods and walk along upper rim of steep embankment. (This is the driveway for Swiss Woods B&B.) Turn right on Blantz Rd.
3.51 Turn right on Brubaker Valley Road, cross bridge over Speedwell Forge Lake.
3.76 Turn left onto boating access road. Porta Potties(seasonal) and Parking. Then follow path in woods 60 feet from the lake.
4.3 Enter onto Zartman Mill Road. (Note! this section was Relocated on Dec.10/2004. It is now located in the narrow strip of land between the roadway and the lakeshore.)
4.41 Left onto dirt road entering boat launch.
4.50 Continue through boat access area, bearing right up and across grassy area.
4.62 Pass spillway of dam impounding Speedwell Lake. Trail follows Hammer Creek below dam.
4.85 Turn left on Old Pike, cross bridge, then turn right into meadow. Follow along left bank of the Hammerr Creek.
5.13 Climb to busy paved highway (Route 501),turn right, cross bridge, turn left and continue along right bank of Hammer Creek.
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 Remnants of old foot bridge. The old outlet stream has been filled in.Walk around post of electric fences to enter pasture. Keep the Mill race on your right. Walk around post of electric fence.
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.]
(This section was relocated off road in 2003) Turn Left onto Snavely Mill Road.Cross bridge over Hammer Creek. Turn Right into parking area for semi trailers. Follow along tree line until you return to the left bank of the Hammer Creek.
6.5 Turn left on stone driveway and ascend to Snavely Mill road. Turn right, Follow Road to------
6.66 Turn right at "T" intersection, Brunnerville Road, cross bridge and immediately turn left, descend to right bank of Hammer creek. (Note! Bridge was replaced in 2004. Blazes won't be repainted until Spring of 2005.)
6.96 At electric fence, turn right into the pasture. Keep the fence on your right until you come to Hack man rd.
7.23 Turn left on Hackman Road, Cross bridge and proceed about 100 ft. past the bridge( obey the no tresspassing signs!) Turn right and up the bank. Proceed along the east side of the treeline and the edge of the field. Turn right when you reach the farm lane. Proceed down to the left bank of the Hammer Creek.When you reach a patch of woods walk along the tree line and the edge of the field.
8.10 Emerge on Clay Road, turn right.
8.30 At bridge turn left and follow Hammer Creek on right bank through meadows.There are steps over the fence at the north end of the pasture. Crawl under the fence at the south end of the pasture.
8.80 Cross Lincoln Road, follow right bank of creek. Cross 2 small streams, then follow farm lane.
9.20 Cross Carpenter Road, continue along the right bank of Hammer Creek. After the created wetlands (there are signs there) reenter woods and use switchback to ascend to the ridge above the creek.
10.00 Emerge at Buch Mill Road and turn right (south).
10.20 Turn left at Pine Hill Road; staying on Buch Mill Road.
10.30 Turn left at telephone pole Climb the bank to the farm lane. Trail enters woods. Land owner doesn't allow blazes or cutting!! . ( Do NOT cut plants or put blazes on this part of the trail or we will be forced to move the trail.-August 2000)
Follow right bank of Hammer Creek until you come to a farm lane.Follow the lane until lane turns right.Proceed straight down into the little valley along right bank of creek until you reach the pasture land. Follow treeline/fence line to covered Bridge.
11.00 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 Left on Millway Road.
11.80 Turn right onto Meadow Valley Road
12.00 Left at Cocalico Road.
12.20 Hammer Creek empties into Cocalico Creek.
12.30 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 Turn right on Cocalico Creek Road.
14.60 Cross Newport Road with care (Route 772).
15.10 Turn right at Zooks Mill Road.
15.50 Right at Log Cabin Road, through Rosehill/Wengers/Zooks Mill Covered Bridge. Climb hill leaving Cocalico Creek.
[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 Turn left on Becker Road.
18.40 Left on Oregon Road.
18.50 Carefully cross busy Oregon Pike (Rte 272).
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.]
9.00 Arrive at traffic light at East King Street, Rte 462.
[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.
9.20 Turn left on Conestoga Drive and follow the Conestoga River.
11.10 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.]
11.20 Turn right where parking is available on the left.
11.30 Pass Indian Maiden View and turn left.
11.50 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.]
11.60 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.]
12.00 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.
12.60 Part way up the slope, turn left on path into woods to continue closer to the creek.
13.90 Pass farm house and continue along road.
14.10 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). Stay to the left and LOOK OUT FOR CARS!!! DANGEROUS HIGHWAY.
0.10 Cross Highway to turn right on Roslyn Ave.
0.20 Left turn on Conestoga Ave.
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.]
5.66Junction 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. 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.
8.22Watch 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 Sickman Mill Road.
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.( This is trestle is part of the "Low-Grade Line." At the present time the County is planning to take the property to Convert the line to a 26 mile rail trail.)
13.85 Uphill beside bridge abutment, then left, crossing Pequea Creek on Rte 324. Turn right onto River Road. Go past site of the former (Burned to the ground in 2003)Martic Forge Hotel. [The hotel was once a trolley station.] Turn right ,exit off the road between the mailboxes and the post and rail fence. Follow along left bank of the 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 Family 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.]
16.44Cross run, nature trail begins on the left.
16.49 Unpaved road lined with private cottages.
16.97 Reach Arrowhead Marina on Susquehanna Street. (Parking at public boat launch across bridge.)
End of Section C
SECTION D
North to South
Miles
0.00 Pequea Boat Club.(Susquehanna St. to Left on Maxwell Rd.)
0.10 Turn right on Ridge Road.
0.30 Turn left and climb hill through woods, soon descend to paved road, Cross Bridge Valley Road (can park 3 cars) and re-enter 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.(Connecting Trail to Lancaster County Conservancy's Reed Run Nature Preserve.)
2.45 Trail bears right and goes down hill.
2.67 Cross Reeds Run. (Connecting trail to Reed Run Nature Preserve)
[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. (This is Tucquan Creek nature Preserve.)
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.)
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. Lumber and coal were the chief goods transported on the canal.]
11.00 Southern terminus of trail. Parking. The Conestoga Trail System joins the blue-blazed Mason-Dixon Trail at this point.
End of Section D