Susquehannock Ride Description

LENGTH: 56 miles. Difficulty: A.

STARTING POINT: McCaskey High School, Franklin and Reservoir Streets, Lancaster.

DESCRIPTION: This is a long ride with hilly terrain and winding roads through the beautiful wooded areas of southern Lancaster County. Stop and refresh at Rockford Plantation or Garden of the Five Senses at Lancaster County Central Park. Thrill to the river overlook views at Susquehannock State Park. Leave your bike for a hike up the footpath at Trout Run Nature Preserve. There are no convenient places to buy something to eat but many lovely places to picnic if you pack a lunch.

POINTS OF INTEREST:
A. Lancaster County Central Park (717) 299-8215. No Admission Charge. More than 10 miles of hiking trails wander through this 565-acre park of open fields, woodlands and two waterways: Mill Creek and Conestoga Creek. A fitness trail, baseball diamonds, basketball, volleyball and tennis court, a swimming pool, pavilions and picnic tables provide additional recreation possibilities. Tent campsites and nature workshops are available. Open: Year round, daily. Location: Chesapeake St., Lancaster, PA 17602.

B. Garden of the Five Senses (717) 392-7223. No Admission Charge. Designed with particular attention to the needs of the physically disabled, the garden encourages exploration of nature through all five senses. Raised plantings, hard-surfaced paths, guide ropes, pools, waterfalls, wildlife, numerous benches, picnic tables and restrooms are on hand. Open: Year round, daily. Reservations recommended for groups. Location: Lancaster County Central Park, Lancaster, PA 17602.

C. Rockford Plantation (717) 392-7223. Admission charge. Physician, soldier, politician Edward Hand, best known as General George Washington's Revolutionary War Adjutant General, built this home in Lancaster in 1792. Tours of this architecturally intact and well preserved home are given by costumed guides. The Kauffman collection of folk artifacts circa 1750-1870 is housed in the adjacent barn. Open: Year round, Tuesday through Sunday. Location: 881 Rock Ford Rd., P.O. Box 264, Lancaster, PA 17603, in Lancaster County Park

D. Susquehannock State Park (717) 548-3361 No Admission Charge. There are 242 acres in this park and visitors are offered 14 hiking trails, a playing field, playground, picnic areas and tent campsites. Open: Year round, daily during daylight hours only. Location: R. D. #1, Drumore, PA 17518.

E. Trout Run Nature Preserve No Admission Charge. A wooded glen of 40 acres, donated to Lancaster County as a nature preserve. There is a footpath reached by going up over the railroad bed or under the railroad bridge. Location: Pennsy Road between Route 324 and Rawlinsville Road. Look for the marker on the right side of the road after about one-mile on Pennsy Road.