Heritage Trail (PA)

Pennsylvania

3 Reviews

Part of the township's ongoing efforts to create a network of multi-use greenways, Manheim Twp.'s Heritage Trail begins at Valley Road and extends south, along the eastern boundary of Landis Woods to Delp Road. From here, trail users have the option of turning east along Delp Road, and going back across Valley Road to the Hands-On-House and Landis Valley Museum, or continuing south, crossing Landis Run and adjacent wetlands to the Worthington Shopping Center and development off Oregon Pike (Route 272).

The southern branch of the paved, multi-use trail also features a boardwalk over the wetlands, which, along with the woodlands on the northern section of the trail, create an island of open space in the suburbs north of Lancaster.

The trail can best be accessed from a trailhead that features a paved parking lot and kiosk at its northern terminus off Valley Road. However, it can also be reached from Landis Valley Museum, Delp Road or the Worthington Center.

The trail currently links with a network of hiking paths in Landis Woods, and township officials plan to extend it south past Nitrauer Elementary School and Lancaster Bible College to Eden Road, and north to Manheim Township High School, in the future. This will create a paved, multi-use trail that will run north to south through the heart of the township.

Parking and Trail Access

Parking is available at a trailhead with a paved parking lot off Valley Road, the parking lot for the Hands On House and Landis Valley Museum and at Worthington Center off Oregon Pike (Route 272).

Part of a longer ride.

June 2022 joelkring

This is one of over 14 trails that, including the connecting road setions, totaled around 35 miles. Several of the trails are not named and some of the road sections can be busy. I was able to use Traillink.com maps to create this route. Starting at the Landis Valley Farm Museum and the Manheim Township Trail we then rode to Stoner Park, beside Eden Road, through the Lancaster Bible College to Overlook Park. Continuing on to the Heritage Trail, the Kissel Hill Commons Trail and around the Manheim Township Athletic Complex, the Manheim Township Community Park Trail and on to the Warwick Township Highlands Trail. Next we rode along Bachman Run then on to the Brighton-Reidenbaugh Park Trail and finished with some of the trails around the Manheim Township High School. Since first doing this ride, I've added 5 more trails to the ride. The group of riders that did this ride with me are mostly retired folks like myself, ranging in age from early 60s to mid 70s.

close to other trails

June 2019 joelkring

We rode this trail starting at the small parking area along Valley Road. After finishing the short 2.2 mile out and back ride we continued over mostly very quiet neighborhood streets to the Landis Valley Farm and rode the Manheim Twp. Bikeway then another short road section to the Kissel Hill Commons Trail and finally a trail along the Landis Run Intermediate School and finally another short road section back to our car. The whole ride was about 8 miles. There are other short trails nearby, some named some you really need to look closely to find on the maps. The trails are mostly through parks or between well kept homes with a short wooded section and a nice open wetland. Fun exploring these short trails.

Suburban trail features several environments, links communities

May 2016 jmcginnis12@gmail.com

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.

Heritage Trail (PA)

Pennsylvania

3 Reviews