PA Conestoga Trail: Pequea Trolley Line

I love the 2.5 mile out-and-back section of the Conestoga Trail along the old Pequea Trolley Line in  winter. As Pequea Creek tumbles down through the gorge on its way to the Susquehanna River, the level rail grade makes for safe passage through an otherwise steep and dangerous pinch point.  The trolley line once carried thousands of passengers a year from the city to the river from the Martic Station to enjoy summer recreation, fishing, and picnicking.  This must have been a thrilling ride to squeeze through the gorge on the narrow gauge rails.

Pequea Trolley rail trail is a section of the longer Conestoga Trail. 

Amos checks out a side creek.

We have been gifted with lots of snow this year, three feet so far (!), and it really has been wonderful after several winters of little or no snow. A long-lasting snowpack ensures plenty of water for recharging for springs and creeks. I wonder how much of the years-long winter water deficit can be made up in this one snowy season, however?  In any case, it's beautiful to see.  I counted six different animal tracks including skunk, weasel, possum, mouse, white-tailed deer, and otter (on a boulder in the creek).   

A bounding stride of a small weasel.

"The Hole" 

Through the gorge

The rail section is just a short segment of the 60 mile Conestoga Trail that runs the length of Lancaster County. There are plenty of places to do day sections as well as hike it as a long distance trail with good camping sites along the way.  There's even a grueling 24-hour trail run competition. The trail is known for its kick-butt steep and unforgiving rocky hills. Even though this section of relatively flat path is easy to do in any season, I did wear my micro-spikes as the trail comes very close to the high cut bank and the icy creek twenty feet below is no place to wind up. 

Cascade of ice. 

There's a warm up on the way and spring is right around the corner, so I'm trying to keep this winter lodged in my memory because who knows when we will have another like it.  The few people I met on the trail were all there because they too love winter and this section of trail. "It's almost too much to take in," said one hiker. "It's magic," said another.  Soon the snow will be gone and the trail will be full of hikers who have been itching to get back to the path. 

2.5 mile out-and-back 

Hiking is a huge tradition here in Lancaster and York Counties and hiking clubs from both counties will begin spring maintenance days soon. I've signed up for three trail work days and am looking forward to it!  Both the York and Lancaster Clubs were formed in the 1920s during the height of "nature study" at schools and colleges locally.  Here's a historic gem from the 1930s of the Lancaster Hiking Club. Check out all the high tech gear - but I don't see any micro-spikes. 

Notes:

The Lancaster Hiking Club (founded in 1927) https://www.lancasterhikingclub.com/

The York Hiking Club (founded 1932) https://www.yorkhikingclub.com/aboutyhc.html