Date of Latest Visit: May 31, 2024

The Northweset Lancaster County River Trail extends 14 miles from Columbia in the south to Bainbridge in the north. The bike path hugs the east bank of the Susquehanna River, offering picturesque views throughout.

My ride started at the Columbia Crossings River Center in Columbia. It’s a small visitor center, but a great place to start a journey whether on bike or on the water. During the summer months, much of the parking lot is devoted to trucks with boat trailers, but there are still plenty of parking spaces for bike riders in front of the building and next door at the Columbia Water Company.

The trail, itself, begins across the railroad tracks on Front Street, just in front of Coffee & Cream, a small café and ice cream shop on the corner of Front and Walnut Streets.

Heading north, the trail crosses over Bridge and Front Street at an awkward three-way intersection. But despite a short on-road piece later, this is the busiest crossing on the trail.

The trail hugs Front Street before veering off with the railroad tracks and river on the left as the town fades away behind.

Throughout the trail, you’ll find remnants of the area’s industrial past. First among those is the ruins of the St. Charles Hot-Blast Anthracite Furnace which operated in the late 19^th Century. All that remains is a stone arch that once would have been filled with fire and smoke.

Similar sights would have been seen further north at the Musselman-Vesta Furnace, now operated as a historic site in the southeastern corner of Marietta. Open limited hours between May and September, the small museum tells the story of the eight iron furnaces that defined the landscape in this section of Lancaster County more than a century ago.

The borough of Marietta retains a lot of the charm from the industrial era. The buildings along Front Street, where the trail offers an on-road downtown route, looks much as they did a century ago, standing just out of sight of the waterfront.

Front Street is home to several restaurants and bars, including two breweries, many with outdoor seating options that are convenient for those riding along the trail. Among the options is Shank’s Tavern. Established in 1814, the eatery inside the large brick building lays claim to being the oldest tavern in Lancaster County.

Continuing through downtown, the on-road section takes a right turn and heads uphill to Market Street, the main thoroughfare of the town. Here are more historic residences, a handful of businesses and the picturesque square at the heart of the borough.

The detour through Marrietta is worth it and with a low speed limit through town, the on-road section feels as safe as the dedicated trail.

Leaving the borough, the trail arrives in open spaces for a long stretch. Riverfront Park is a popular stop here with bike riders and boaters, also offering a large playground for kids (and a port-a-potty, which is very convenient).

Another two miles up the road is one of the most unique attractions in all of Pennsylvania – the White Cliffs of Conoy. Though a play on the famed White Cliffs of Dover in Dover, England, these cliffs are not an example of natural beauty. Instead, the white rocks are actually industrial waste, discarded leftovers from a limestone quarry that operated nearby.

Despite their humble origins, these stone formations provide some of the most picturesque views of the Susquehanna River. Visitors are welcome to walk out on the rocks (at their own risk, of course), but it’s well worth it for a view.

At 10 miles north of Columbia Crossings, the White Cliffs also are a natural endpoint for many rides. But the trail continues on for another four miles north.

It’s a mostly serene ride with railroad tracks on your right and the river on the left, eventually reaching its northern terminus at the Fallmouth Boat Launch.

Along the 28-mile round-trip, riders will also cross under stone arch bridges, pass through tunnels, and maybe even spot rock climbers taking to the cliff faces near Columbia.

It’s an enjoyable ride, mostly flat with a few hills to keep you working.

Arriving back at Columbia Crossings, take advantage of the porch viewing area and have a seat in a rocking chair looking west as the Susquehanna River flows in front of you.

And if your legs aren’t too tired, be sure to take a walk through downtown Columbia and explore the many restaurants, antique shops and attractions that this western Lancaster County borough has to offer.

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