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Columbia, PA

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Chickies Rock County Park

4.6 (13 reviews)

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Janice T.

This a beautiful view of the Susquehanna River! It has such a rewarding view for such a short hike. There are two routes that both lead to the same two view points. One trail veers to the left the other high & to the right. There's no elevation gain on the left trail, which half of us took & the other half decided they wanted to slightly challenge themselves & took the trail to the right. The trails were muddy & slippery from the rain. Just keep that in mind should you decide to check out these trails for the view, if it's previously rained. If hiking to the higher view point, it requires descending some jagged rocks. There's a slight scramble (the same rocks you descended)once you leave the higher view point. Take this into consideration if you have ankle issues or just not very coordinated or mobile. You will see huge signs that look like you shouldn't enter but once you walk closer, it actually indicates to stay away from the cliff & to not throw objects below as people are down below. If you want to avoid descending rocks & scrambling, you may want to go to the first viewpoint which requires no scramble . There is a gravel parking lot located near a bend, which can be dicey enter & leaving the lot as the bend creates a blind spot. These trails are located close to the Turkey Hill Experience , so if you're looking for additional things to do nearby, this overlook is a great option for an easy short hike.

Dane S.

The perfect beginner's hiking trail for anyone of almost any age. With one of the most beautiful overlooks at the end of the trail. Very dog friendly with mostly a flat walking path for their paws. Plenty of shade for those hot days and the overlook is completely in the shade so it's a perfect spot to take a rest and take in the breathtaking view. The parking area isn't very big so you might be out of luck if it's a busy day.

Taina R.

Very nice clean walk! Only complaint is no trash cans at the parking lot. Very quiet ! Kid friendly

Belle A.

Breathtaking views of the Susquehanna River! It was an easy trek to and from the parking lot along the interstate. We took in the views from different vantage points and could see parts of the railroad and homes across the way, along the river. Worth the stop!! Highly recommend it!!

Carissa K.

Chickies Rock County Park (CRCP) is located in Lancaster County, and the county's second largest regional park. Because of that, and because it has several different entrances, it took me a while to explore the whole thing (well, most of it anyway). CRCP has 422-acres, includes two creeks and a river, a massive outcropping of quartzite rock (220 foot vertical wall which makes for a rock climber's paradise), breathtaking views and is part of the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail. Here's what you need to know: *CRCP got its name derived from the American Indian word Chiquesalunga, which means "place of the crayfish." The area where CRCP is located used to be one of the largest Indian villages discovered in Lancaster County. *There are 3 different parking areas for CRCP: Breezeview Overlook, Chickies Rock Overlook and Furnace Road Day-Use Area. *Breezeview Overlook has a gazeebo, picnic tables and beautiful vistas. There is also the Heritage Trail that will take you down to Northwest River Trail. It's only .3-mile but it is quite steep. I've also read that the Heritage Trail will take you to Chickies Rock. I haven't figured it out yet but if you have, let me know! *Chickies Rock Overlook has two parking lots on both sides of the road. One side of the road will take you to the overlook at the Rock. It has lovely views and some small trails. The other side has a wonderful, steep hiking trail and connects with some horse trails. *Chickies Rock has the largest exposed Anticline on the east coast. Anticline "is a type of fold that is an arch-like shape and has its oldest beds at its core" (wikipedia.org). *The parking lot at Furnace Road Day-Use Area has portable toilets--and that's about it! You park here and then bike or walk to the trail. I believe there is a boat launch just up the road, but I haven't checked it out since I no longer have a kayak. *Park on Furnace Road, and then take a left out of the lot, you will connect to Northwest River Trail. That part of the trail has some picnic tables, trashcans at the trailhead, a bridge over Donegal Creek and almost all of it is in shade. I believe the parking lot to the bottom of Heritage Trail (which will take you up to Breezeview Overlook) is about 1.5-miles. If you continue another 1.2-miles, it will take you to Columbia. It's a wonderful walk for my dogs and popular for bikers. Honestly, I'm still completely confused about this park. It has so many pieces and I find the map very difficult to follow. But, it's growing on me, and it's becoming my favorite park in the area. As I become more familiar with the area, I will update my review.

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Review Highlights - Chickies Rock County Park

“There are multiple small trails in the park and an amazing view of the Susquehanna River.”

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Tucquan Glen Nature Preserve

Tucquan Glen Nature Preserve

4.8(8 reviews)
15.8 mi

This loop hike is absolutely one of the best hiking experiences I've had. We had two children ages…read more6 and 9, and they were beside themselves with excitement the whole time! Be prepared to climb rocks, hoist yourself over tree trunks and get a little wet! It is a fairly difficult trail at some points- please beware of slippery rocks and other obstacles! If you have balance issues this may not be the trail for you. Bring a camera- there are beautiful water falls on the second half of the trip! *Tip: Pack an extra set of clothing and some water shoes! There are great places to splash around when you reach the midway mark in the trail!

This is one of my new favorite hiking spots. Private parking spot (small) but your car is safe away…read morefrom the road. They have four trails, blue, yellow, white and orange (which is the Conestoga Trail). We hiked the yellow and blue. Each is on either side of the creek. The trails follow the creek out to the Susquehanna. When you are nonspot hiking takes between 1-2 hours to finish the whole thing. It is so beautiful here. The path directly follows the river and it varies in difficulty from flat ground to stepping over rocks to boulder climbing. It is fantastic! You can cross various fallen trees to get to the other side of the creek (it is safe the trees are stable and huge). So peaceful and quiet, until you hear the many waterfalls and rapids! Definitely going back to cheek out more trails. Only downside is limited parking. Went on a cloudy day.

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Tucquan Glen Nature Preserve
Tucquan Glen Nature Preserve
Tucquan Glen Nature Preserve

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Grubb Lake - Lacey

Grubb Lake

4.1(12 reviews)
3.6 mi

I didn't know this 54-acre park existed until I went searching for parks around Lancaster…read moreyesterday. I'm so glad I decided to visit on my day off: a beautiful oasis close to where I live. Lake Grubb (13-acre) is a manmade lake in the ore pit of the old iron mine excavated on the site in the 1800s. At one time, it was used as a water supply but that stopped around 2000, and in July 2003, it was turned into Lake Grubb Nature Park (LGNP). Here are some amenities: * There is a one-mile trail around the lake. It is well-maintained but I've read that it can be muddy at times. The trail is almost all shaded and a fairly, easy hike. There are a couple of spots where there is an incline. * Lots of benches * 2 Pavilions with electrical outlets and can hold up to 100 people for events * Restrooms * Fishing is allowed. * No dogs/pets allowed, swimming or boating. * Lake Grubb has some spots as deep as 180-feet deep. * The website says there is a playground but I didn't see one? For me, I rate places based on solitude. LGNP was perfect for me. I was there on a Monday morning and I did see people while I was hiking but most of the time, I was alone. It was quiet except for the birds tweeting and the cicadas chirping. I was delighted to see a Green Heron at the water's edge. It let me take several photos. I also saw an American Goldfinch on the trail. At one point, there was a "butterfly bush" and lots of butterflies flying around. Great for photographers. I will definitely be back. :)

I like this park. It is peaceful and there is plenty of parking. There is a monster hill. So beware…read moreif you are not in shape. My only issue with this park is that it prohibits dogs. It isn't just dogs not on leashes. I was so sad to read the signs for no dogs at all. I also read that there have been some geese that are very territorial at this park. That is a more recent situation.

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Grubb Lake - American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch

Grubb Lake - Use rocks for checkers

Use rocks for checkers

Grubb Lake

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Northwest Lancaster County River Trail

Northwest Lancaster County River Trail

4.4(8 reviews)
4.4 mi

We biked from Koser Park to the Decatur Street Access in Marietta. It's a very well maintained and…read morepaved trail.  Great condition good enough for skates though we only saw mostly bikers and one skateboarder during our visit.  The trail must be relatively new because the donated benches are still in mint condition.  There are placards along the trail providing background on various subjects.  The trail offers many nice amenities. Among others, Porta-Johns are available at 4 locations and bike repairing stations at 2. The 6.5 mile trail offers good variety in terms of views and terrains. Though mostly flat and straight, there are short sections that are windy or sloppy.  There are open fields and woody areas. The trail is near the Susquehanna River and you can see the water in many sections of the trail which is great. There are even a few spots where you can gain access to the river. We crossed 2-3 small bridges and had a great view of the Shocks Mills Bridge. Around the midpoint is the River Front Park which offers a great view of the river and well maintained picnic area for large groups, and 2 vending machines! We were surprised to see a sign to Columbia when we reached Decatur Street access, our destination.  Per Google Maps the trail ended right there.  We asked a couple who just came from that direction and they said the trail doesn't go all the way and riding on public roads would be required to make the connections.   So we stuck with our plan and did not continue. Overall I'm absolutely impressed with how well the trail is maintained, all the amenities it offers, and its vicinity to the river. UPDATE: Google Maps is not to be trusted! I have since found out the trail continues 3 miles north of Koser Park access, and 4.5 miles south of the Decatur Street access. From the Decatur Street access, you can continue 2 miles of nice windy trail before having to venture out onto S Bank St in Marietta. At this point you can either cross the railroad and turn right to eventually get to Furnace Rd where the off-road trail resumes, or if you're adventurous, you can continue with the unpaved trail which will end up in the parking lot of the Chickies Rock County Park and when you come out through the tunnel you will end up with the same Furnace Rd connection to the River Trail. This gap is well worth it because the next 1.5 mile towards Columbia is such a delight to ride through. Once in Columbia, you can head back, unless you want to visit the Columbia Crossings Trails Center, in which case, you'll have to ride the sidewalks and cross busy Rt 441 twice.

Beautiful location in Lancaster County. 2 miles walkway. Plenty of room for walkers and bikers to…read moreshare. Lots of shaded areas. Incredible views of Chickie Rock. Areas to sit and relax. Also at Columbia station, there are snack items/drinks, very clean restrooms, and lots of historic displays. Neat to watch rock climbing too. Great fun for all ages. Also great spot for wheelchair too

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Northwest Lancaster County River Trail
Northwest Lancaster County River Trail
Northwest Lancaster County River Trail

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Highpoint Scenic Vista & Recreation Area - Sumit view of the Susquehanna River

Highpoint Scenic Vista & Recreation Area

4.2(6 reviews)
3.0 mi

Awesome workout and awesome view to reward yourself with after that tough walk. Also many places to…read moresit down and watch the view. I highly recommend coming here in summer and watching a sunset, it's mesmerizing. I actually asked my gf out here so it'll always have a special place in my heart. Also very cool place to bring your dog!

After my Yelp friend David H. posted about this small gem last month, I had to take a look myself…read moreas I have been in the area numerous times but had honestly never heard about this place. Just to keep the history lesson short, it was built by York County in 2007 and it is one of a series of ten overlooks that are at different points in the county all of which give views of the Susquehanna River. susquehannariverlands.com/the-great-outdoors/scenic-overlooks/highpoint-scenic-vista-rec-area/ The set up is fairly simple. There is a small parking lot at the base of the overlook on Hilt Road. At the base there is a picnic bench and a port-a-blaster along with some literature about York County parks/area trails. From there it's up and around the trail which is a 1/2 mile loop with five way point stops that I guess are made to have you appreciate the view from different angles? At the top the view is very nice. It's literally the same as if you were over at Samuel S. Lewis State Park except that now you're two-ish miles closer to the river. The overlook from Samuel S. Lewis is higher and is visible from here and the top of the vista here is very visible from Sam Lewis. We were here around 35 minutes and the parking lot was packed but people were at different point of the incline and on other trails nearby so things never felt cramped or rushed. While I'm not necessarily sure that this place needs a return visit, I'm glad we came and I appreciate David putting this one on my/everyone's Yelp radar as it is a unique spot worth a brief stop.

Photos
Highpoint Scenic Vista & Recreation Area - Beautiful view.

Beautiful view.

Highpoint Scenic Vista & Recreation Area - Same one

Same one

Highpoint Scenic Vista & Recreation Area - View of York county

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View of York county

PPL Holtwood Environmental Preserve

PPL Holtwood Environmental Preserve

4.0(2 reviews)
17.7 mi

Wow, How do I review this... We wanted to go and hike around…read morepinnacle overlook, so we found some info and went. Boy some parts were great, others....well.. THE VIEW: Spectacular. At the peak, you can look out over a bend in the river and see the whole valley. Its really a cool summit. Its something that you need to see as there arent very many places like it in Lancaster county. HIKING: These are some of the poorest marked trails Ive ever been on. It would be pretty easy to get lost but they are well defined trails. They have 2 separate trails that have red marks, if you can find the mark that is, then you can guess at which one your on. They were faded, hidden behind a bush or non existent. And they have no starting point. Some places put up a sign. They could at least clearly mark a tree to show where it starts. Oh and the map! Talk about a doodling! The trails had forks that werent even on it. We just pick one and hoped for the best. The hike itself was nice tho. Anyway.... Id give it 1.5 stars for hiking trail issues. The view is pretty awesome tho. Check it out just for that!

Wow, I visited here yesterday with a Meetup hiking group. This place was fantastic. There were…read moreseveral stream crossings since our leader took us off the beaten path a few times. Eventually, we followed the orange trail markers to the pinnacle. You will notice as well there is a parking area as well if you just want to drive up there. However, it's more satisfying trekking up to the top. The view is spectacular and you get a great view of the Susquehanna River. Plenty of wonderful boulders and small waterfalls to see here and photograph.

Photos
PPL Holtwood Environmental Preserve
PPL Holtwood Environmental Preserve
PPL Holtwood Environmental Preserve

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The Pinnacle

The Pinnacle

5.0(15 reviews)
45.0 mi

Came here on Sat 10/25 to hike with a couple gf's and brought my doggo, Linc, since it's a dog…read morefriendly trail. I work out but I wasn't ready for this trail as a first time hiker lol! I wore sneakers but would have greatly benefited from hiking boots for more ankle support after slipping and tripping my way along the dense leaf covered dirt trail that continued to get more rocky on the ascent. Also, you will need to climb some legit large rocks/boulders to reach the Pulpit Rock overlook but the challenge was well worth it for the views! My gf's & I chose the easy way down which was to take the gravel road alongside the observatory that eventually transitions to pavement. Even the decline of this road was steep in itself. No easy way up or down haha! I saw people of all ages and fitness levels along my hike and plenty of cute dogs! Bring snacks and water to re-energize during a rest break. My one friend packed some TP and I thought it was a great idea cuz you just never know when you might have to go! Parking lot is a joke with ~20-25 spots but many ppl, including us, parked along Reservoir Rd so make sure to get here early in the morning or expect to walk a couple extra miles just to reach the start of the trail.

Great spot for a day hike, with beautiful views at the two main lookouts - Pulpit Rock and the…read morePinnacle. The hardest part of the hike is getting to Pulpit Rock, as it starts with a fairly steep road to get to the trail, and then some more elevation climb as you get up to the lookout. From there, it's probably another 2.5 miles or so to get to the Pinnacle, but the elevation gain is minimal. Both of these stops provide great views, with lots of raptors flying around if you're lucky! Bring snacks and water, especially on a hot day, and cameras to take pictures!

Photos
The Pinnacle - Jerico and myself on a pinnacle hiking adventure  Loving life and the gifts God provides

Jerico and myself on a pinnacle hiking adventure Loving life and the gifts God provides

The Pinnacle - Pulpit Rock overlook with my pup

Pulpit Rock overlook with my pup

The Pinnacle

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Chickies Rock County Park - hiking - Updated October 2026

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