At a little over a mile in length, Manheim Township's Heritage Trail (not to be confused with York County's Heritage Rail Trail) covers a lot of diverse ground for a community trail.

Envisioned as the main north-south "trunk" for a network of multi-use trails that the township is building, the Heritage Trail currently extends from a trailhead off Valley Road south, along the east end of Landis Woods to Delp Road. From here, trail users have the option of either following Delp Road east to the Hands On House and Landis Valley museums, and, thence, to Oregon Pike (Route 272) or continuing further south, through wetlands and meadows, to the mixed-use Worthington subdivision. Although the trail currently dead-ends south of Worhtington, the township plans to extend it across Oregon Pike, past a nearby church, and connect it to another multi-use trail that passes Nitrauer Elementary School and Lancaster Bibile College, in the near future.

Starting at the Valley Road trailhead, the asphalt greenway passes behind homes and enters the eastern end of Landis Woods. This segment is tree-lined and provides relief from the heat in the spring and summer months. The "Blue Trail," a dirt hiking path, gives users the option of going deeper into the woods. Although not completely level, the slopes have a minimal grade, and should be no problem for cyclists or moms pushing strollers.

After crossing Delp Road, the trail enters a very different environment. The woods give way to marshy grasslands, which the trail crosses over on a boardwalk for about 200 feet north of Worthington. This is a great place for observing numerous birds, small mammals and even an occasional deer. The trail then takes a sharp turn to the left, skirting behind backyards on the north end of Worthington, and parallels Oregon Pike for its final quarter-mile. Although the trail continues south of Royer Drive for another 500 feet, users should consider this the current southern terminus. There is a nearby parking lot in Worthington, which also features a Subway as well as Italian and Vietnamese restaurants.

Despite its short length, the Heritage Trail is more than just a connector path, and should delight nature and history lovers alike.

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