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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

This was stop #2 on a beautiful late-September Sunday adventure. I'd done my homework ahead of time…read moreand planned to tackle the Chickie's Rock Overlook Trail first, then swing by the nearby Breezyview Overlook (just a 4-minute drive away). Chickie's Rock Overlook Trail: Parking was plentiful, and I appreciated the history sign at the trailhead--it turns out this path was once a trolley line leading to an amusement park near Chickie's Rock. So you're not just walking, you're walking through history. The trail itself is wide, relatively flat, and about a 20-minute walk to the overlook if you're taking your time (we were chatting the whole way--it was Sunday morning, not a cardio day). Pro Tip: Not far from the parking lot, the trail forks. Go LEFT for the easy stroll. Go RIGHT if you want a steeper climb and some cardio. Either way, the two trails meet up again before the overlook. When you arrive, the payoff is worth it: a panoramic view of the Susquehanna River and classic Central PA scenery--rolling hills, farmland, distant ridges, train tracks running at the base, and acorns plinking down around you. Pure magic. Just note: the overlook itself requires scrambling over some big rocks to get to the railing. Sneakers or boots are a must, and it's not super friendly for little kids or anyone with mobility challenges. Bonus history fact: Chickie's Rock was actually used as a Union lookout post during the Civil War in 1863, when Confederate troops invaded PA. That blew my mind. Breezyview Overlook: From Chickie's Rock, it's a quick 4-minute drive to Breezyview Overlook. This one's a lot easier--park, take a few steps on grass, and you're there. You even get the fun perspective of looking back at Chickie's Rock and seeing where you'd just been. Parking was easy, and they had a port-a-john if needed. The view is nice, but not nearly as epic as Chickie's Rock. Then again, the best things usually require a little extra effort. Overall, this was the perfect low-impact Sunday adventure. Bring water, pack out your trash, and don't forget to smile and say hi to fellow hikers along the way. If you're looking for an accessible trail with a stunning payoff, Chickie's Rock is a must.

This is a straightforward hiking path - pretty much straight and up to be rewarded with a beautiful…read moreview of the Susquehanna River. If you are lucky, like we were, you will see a low flying plane from the nearby military base. We stopped during the week, but I could imagine the parking at this area could get filled and you may have to wait for a spot. I'm seeing from other reviews that there are other parking spots and entrances, but the one we were at seemed fairly direct to the overlook. It was a beautiful quick hike to see some impressive views.

Hawk Mountain is one of a handful of magical places I will never grow tired of visiting…read more It's both sad and inspiring to learn about the history of Hawk Mountain and why it exists. The visitor center is fun to browse around. We like to take the short walk up to the North Lookout and hangout up there for a little while enjoying the scenery. If you're lucky, you can get the lookout to yourself for a while - or at least have quiet people enjoying the uniqueness of the setting. When I'm by myself, I like to do a more difficult and lengthy walk down the River of Rocks Trail to the Golden Eagle Trail, and then up the Skyline Trail where I can take in the scenery from the North Lookout before heading back to the visitor center. We've been members for several years and have enjoyed some of their special events like the photography contests and Birds and Brews. If you're just visiting for a few hours, head down to Wanamaker's General Store for a delicious wrap!

Want to learn about raptors and see them in person? Located along the Appalachian flyway, Hawk…read moreMountain straddles the Kittatinny Ridge, or Blue Mountain, a 300-mile-long, prominent ridge extending from 60 miles north of New York City to 20 miles west of Chambersburg, PA. It is here where every autumn, more than 20,000 birds of prey pass over, making their way from northern states and Canada to warmer climates. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is the oldest and largest wild bird sanctuary in nearby Kempton, PA, where trails and lookouts offered beautiful scenery and access to nature where my partner, his family and I came today. From the Visitors Center, which had some interesting exhibits and a gift shop where the admission fee was collected at $10 per person, the Lookout Trail was the easiest and most popular, covering a one-mile route to several lookout points along the ridge. Friendly staff members were positioned here to answer questions and point out birds. The trails were very well marked, and the trail map explained each so that one knows what you're getting into. We walked to North Lookout. It was the pinnacle of Hawk Mountain perching on top of the mountain at an elevation of 1,500 feet and offering a 200-degree view that stretches 70 miles on a clear day. This was a perfect place to work on photography and binocular skills, as well as a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts that we can recommend.

This 6 mile trail is full of pleasant surprises; it's one of the more interesting and versatile…read moretrails to ride on.  We started at the Warwick Twp Municipal Park, which itself has a pleasant 3/4 mile paved loop. Plenty of space at the parking lot which also boasts a Bike Share! It's a self-service bike rental for which you can pay online for 2 or 4 hours of use. If you cross the street, the trail is supposed to continue for another 3/4 miles. So in all you have about 7.5 miles of trail to work with in this domain. The trailhead is just behind the Bike Share. The surface is mostly smooth crusted stone until you reached the Ephrata Linear Park portion which is fully paved -- and lighted!  I am now really curious if I should come back and check it out at night one of these days.   The trail is mostly wooded, at least on one side. It passes through Amish farms - you can also tell by the aeromatic air as you pass through them? So many silos in sight along the way, you can even make it a point to count them! You will ride past the Gnome Village, Winters statue, and some interesting murals. There is also a bike park, not sure if it's free to ride through it, but there was a birthday party going on at the time and we got a treat watching young kids getting airborne. There's one "permanent" porta potty on the Ephrata side of the trail. The trail ends at the Main St in Ephrata. It's such a contrast coming out of the trail, as we suddenly immersed into "civilization"!  Seriously, our eyes literally lit up at the sight of downtown Ephrata which is surprisingly quaint, especially with the fall foliage still lingering.   It was such a delightful experience. All of the roads we had to cross had very little traffic, and the drivers were all so courteous and stopped for the bikers.  The only slightly negative was the trail was noticeably crowded. But it's totally understandable as it was a sunny, pleasant, 72 degree weather on a Saturday in November!   We were so blessed!

We rode from Warwick township building where there was lots of parking through the countryside to…read moreMain Street in Ephrata and visited the MCC thrift store on Main A bike rack right beside the buggy shed ! Some parts of the trail were gravel and others paved. Lots of people out but everyone had a smile ! Lovely

A quiet path along the river, providing beautiful ambiance-strolling through the elegant woods…read morewhile also offering scenic water views, I really enjoyed the old train tracks throughout- the trail was flat path, very walkable, no nearby traffic noises or heavy crowds- The only woe keeping from 5stars was the lack of signage to pinpoint the trails throughout- overall the park offers 3-4 varying looping & out/back trails, we attempted to stay on the blue trail, but missed an unmarked turn somewhere- while the view of our water edge walk was delightful, we wish we found the intended path- would return again; easy to walk if we brought the kids- lots of fun down to the water drop offs- easy enough parking

Good walk on a cool day in early March. A little mud but mostly an easy walk along the riverside…read moretrail and the former railroad. Some leftover snow from the 26 January storm and residual ice on the canal. No leaves but a good view through the woods. Liked the fast-flowing river and the textures of the dormant woods. Colorful lichen and fungi