Central Park Trail Guide
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Trail Descriptions Conestoga Trail System Parking for larger horse trailers is available in the grass lot Scout Trail along Golf Road, at the head of the southern loop. The southern The Conestoga Trail System (CTS) loop passes along Mill Creek and through the Muhlenberg This white-blazed trail loops around traces a salmon-blazed route across the Native Plant & Wildflower Meadow. The western loop passes the Mill Creek Camping Area and park on its way from northern through a wooded bird nesting area and around the Garden passes through several different Lancaster County to the Mason-Dixon Rental Plots. Finally, the eastern loop passes through mown woodland habitats as it crosses the Trail in York County. The CTS enters fields encircling several ball fields. park. The loop around the Mill Central Park in the Williamson Area, Creek camping area is dominated an area of upland woods dominated by Fitness Trail by lowland tree species, such as sugar maple, northern red oak, tulip American and slippery elms, poplar, and American basswood. Built in 1997, the Fitness Trail features nine exercise stations, American sycamore, black walnut, including a climbing wall, vault bar, balance beam, chin-up and boxelder. Fragrant spicebush is The CTS passes Indian Rock, a bar and steps. Each station along this one-mile, loop trail features also prevalent. limestone bluff providing an impressive instructions and illustrations. view of the Conestoga River and Lancaster City. From there, the Heading north, the Scout Trail trail goes through more woods, a meadow, and then descends Kinglet Trail continues a l o ng Mill Creek and then ascends a series of through another wooded area to Mill Creek’s floodplain. Along switchbacks through upland woods, featuring sugar maple, this stretch, hikers will see a variety of lowland trees and This nearly flat, white- white ash, and tulip poplar trees. The trail ends at Indian Rock. shrubs, including American sycamore, black walnut, boxelder blazed trail, located behind and spicebush. They will also pass through the Muhlenberg the County Swimming Warbler Trail Native Plant & Wildflower Meadow before the trail exits the Pool, provides an easy loop park. hike. Because this trail path Yellow blazes designate the Warbler Trail. Beginning east of Conestoga Valley Association Trail is wide, it is ideal for the garden, the Warbler Trail traverses a sidehill route horses and groups of overlooking the Conestoga River. Constructed by the Conestoga Valley Association (CVA), a hikers. The trail passes conservation group, the CVA trail’s blue-blazed route through a stand of mature This trail passes through mature upland woods filled with follows the Conestoga River. Beginning near the South trees, including American common hackberry, red oak, tulip poplar, chestnut oak, and Duke Street bridge, the trail goes through the Williamson beech, hickory, white ash, and white pine. In winter, the western American elm trees. The diversity of tree species and presence Area. Traveling the same route as the CTS, the CVA passes leg of the loop affords excellent views of the Conestoga River. of dead snags make this woodland ideal habitat for birds. Indian Rock. This trail includes a westward leg that passes through upland woods. Wildflower Trail The trail then heads north and follows the Conestoga River along its grassy floodplain then ascends a ridgeline through more Mill Creek Trail Blazed with red paint, the Wildflower Trail provides an easy, upland woods. The CVA trail descends the ridgeline, returning to wooded walk along a narrow path connecting Kiwanis Road the Conestoga’s floodplain, where it follows the river through an This easy to moderately to Kiwanis Drive. In early spring, wildflowers of all kinds bloom area of lowland trees, including American sycamore, common difficult, yellow-blazed on the forest floor along this trail. Hikers can see several species, hackberry, and honey locust. trail takes hikers through a such as spring beauty, trillium, trout lily, and wild ginger, to natural area, an area being name only a few. Equestrian Trail / Cross Country Ski Trail preserved for wildlife and in which construction is Central Park’s longest prohibited. The Mill Creek trail, the Equestrian flows around this wooded Trail is marked with area, establishing its signs made from boundaries. recycled plastic. Three separate but connected The trail passes along the creek, through stands of mature loops comprise this hardwoods and loops from upland species, such as American trail, which is beech, sugar maple, and hickories on the ridge top to lowland characterized by small species, such as American and slippery elms, American grade changes, wide sycamore, boxelder, and honey locust. In early spring, tread, and high overhead clearance. This trail’s width makes it Virginia bluebells, wild geraniums and other native wildflowers ideal for horse riding and group hiking. Each loop of this trail bloom along this trail. The former Hinkletown covered bridge features different scenery. spans both Mill Creek and the trail. 10/12 Rev. Rev. e www.lancastercountyparks.org [email protected] Fax: 717-295-5942 Fax: 717-299-8215 y: e Lancaster, PA 17602 PA Lancaster, K 1050 Rockford Road Rockford 1050 ity ce Of Administrative fi trail’s exercises. v i Department of Parks & Recreation & Parks of Department Act biking Off-road = B C = Cross country skiing riding Horseback E = H = Hiking S = Snowshoeing Lancaster County Lancaster include not does noted * Time the time it takes to to takes time it complete th the Board of Commissioners of Board Lancaster County Lancaster Trail Guide Trail ce. Of Park the at and www.lancastercountyparks.org fi C, E C, E C, E B, E B, C, E B, C, E B, C, E policy is available on the Park website at website Park the on available is policy Activities Prohibited use of powered mobility devices on the trails. This trails. the on devices mobility powered of use Central Park Central Department’s ADA accessiblity policy regarding the regarding policy accessiblity ADA Department’s Individuals with mobility disabilities may refer to the to refer may disabilities mobility with Individuals 2 www.lancastercountyparks.org. at website ce and on the Department’s the on and ce Of Park the at available fi H, S H, S H, S B, H, S B, H, S B, H, S C, H, S posted at each entrance of the Park. A listing is also is listing A Park. the of entrance each at posted Activities Permitted B, C, E, H, S B, C, E, H, S A complete list of the Park Rules and Regulations is Regulations and Rules Park the of list complete A 1 ty Kiwanis Natural Area Natural Kiwanis Easy Easy Easy • Biking and horseback riding are prohibited in the in prohibited are riding horseback and Biking to Easy Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Difficul • Please stay on designated trails designated on stay Please prohibited • rearms from or across the trails is trails the across or from rearms Discharging fi to care 1 hr. 1 hr. 1.5 hr. 1.5 hr. Hike 45 min. 45 min. 10 min. 10 min. 30 min. 15 min. 10 min. • Keep right, announce your intentions, pass with pass intentions, your announce right, Keep 20 min.* Time • le past other trail users trail other past le single Walk/ride fi • Ride your horse at a walking pace walking a at horse your Ride • Remove all horse/pet waste from the trails the from waste horse/pet all Remove 1 .3 .3 .4 3.3 1.8 3.8 1.3 1.2 Parks and Recreation and Parks on a leash a on Length in Miles • Pets are permitted on the trails, but must be kept be must but trails, the on permitted are Pets Department of Department • Leave no trace, carry out what you carry in carry you what out carry trace, no Leave Lancaster County Lancaster • Alcoholic beverages are prohibited are beverages Alcoholic • The trails are designed for non-motorized vehicles non-motorized for designed are trails The 2 • Enjoy the trails from dawn to dusk to dawn from trails the Enjoy Trail Conestoga Trail Conestoga Valley Equestrian Fitness Kinglet Mill Creek Scout Warbler Wildflower Association System Trail Rules Trail 1 Trail Descriptions Conestoga Trail System Parking for larger horse trailers is available in the grass lot Scout Trail along Golf Road, at the head of the southern loop. The southern The Conestoga Trail System (CTS) loop passes along Mill Creek and through the Muhlenberg This white-blazed trail loops around traces a salmon-blazed route across the Native Plant & Wildflower Meadow. The western loop passes the Mill Creek Camping Area and park on its way from northern through a wooded bird nesting area and around the Garden passes through several different Lancaster County to the Mason-Dixon Rental Plots. Finally, the eastern loop passes through mown woodland habitats as it crosses the Trail in York County. The CTS enters fields encircling several ball fields. park. The loop around the Mill Central Park in the Williamson Area, Creek camping area is dominated an area of upland woods dominated by Fitness Trail by lowland tree species, such as sugar maple, northern red oak, tulip American and slippery elms, poplar, and American basswood. Built in 1997, the Fitness Trail features nine exercise stations, American sycamore, black walnut, including a climbing wall, vault bar, balance beam, chin-up and boxelder. Fragrant spicebush is The CTS passes Indian Rock, a bar and steps. Each station along this one-mile, loop trail features also prevalent. limestone bluff providing an impressive instructions and illustrations. view of the Conestoga River and Lancaster City. From there, the Heading north, the Scout Trail trail goes through more woods, a meadow, and then descends Kinglet Trail continues a l o ng Mill Creek and then ascends a series of through another wooded area to Mill Creek’s floodplain.