Just a short seven-minute drive away from campus sits the Conewago Recreation Trail, a five-mile trail just northwest of Elizabethtown. The trail, located between Route 230 and the Lebanon County Line, was acquired by the county in 1979. It connects to the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail and follows the Conewago Creek through scenic farmland and woodlands. This beautiful trail was the result of discovering iron ore that led to the development of the railroad.
This is the perfect place to go hiking, jogging, bicycling, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. It has level surfaces and six street crossings that are marked for safe trail use. If you enjoy the outdoors, this slice of the Pennsylvania woodland is a great stop. As a part of the renovations in 2007, most of the trail is wheelchair accessible, except for the Mill Road crossing about 1.4 miles from the Elizabethtown trailhead.
This park is one of many in Lancaster County that serves to preserve greenways, as well as abandoned railroad lines suitable for hiking trails. Due to its long history with the railroad, Pennsylvania is one of the leading states to establish rail trails, having nearly 100 such trails that represent more than 900 miles. This ensures the preservation of the state’s history, protects wildlife and provides visitors with an unique view of the Pennsylvania countryside.
Both the Conewago Recreation Trail and the connecting Lebanon County Line are a part of the September 11th National Memorial Trail that connects the World Trade Center, Flight 93 and Pentagon Memorials. Both trails also occupy the former railbed of the Cornwall & Lebanon Railroad, which was built in 1883.
In order to preserve the park for future visitors, the Conewago Recreation Trail has a few rules that must be followed. The park asks that visitors only enjoy the park between the hours of dawn and dusk, as there are no lights on the trail. The trail is only designed for non-motorized vehicles, so walking might be the better option. The park asks that you leave the trail as you found it: clean. If you bring a pet or accumulate some trash, be sure to clean up the trail before you leave. That being said, you can bring a pet as long as they are on a leash. When on the trail, stick to the right-hand side and pass other visitors with care. Even though the woodland is beautiful, the park asks that visitors stay on the designated path. For more details on the regulations, visit the park’s website, https://co.lancaster.pa.us/268/Conewago-Recreation-Trail.
