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Print Friendly MapA link in the region's burgeoning network of multi-use greenways, the Warwick Highlands Trail connects several subdivisions, shopping centers and a hospital on the west side of Warwick Township, just south of Lititz.
As of 2020, the trail's northern terminus is at the corner W. 7th Street and Highlands Drive behind the Weis Markets. The multi-use trail runs immediately along the west side of Highlands Drive south to the intersection with Millport Road on the grounds of the UPMC Lititz Hospital. Although Highlands Drive is only about a mile long, branches of the trail loop around and extend into the nearby Crosswinds and Highlands At Warwick apartment complexes, as well as the perimeter of the hospital, extending its total length to about 2 miles.
Despite immediately paralleling a relatively busy road, the trail provides a pleasant experience, running past a couple natural areas and treating users to panoramic vistas of Lititz borough and the rapidly expanding northern Lancaster suburbs. The extensions into the Highlands At Warwick and Crosswinds apartment grounds pass through lush woodlands and stream valleys, and singing birds and small mammals are a common site in the warmer months of the year.
Although most of the trail is designated multi-use, it is not level and there slopes at several points along Highlands Drive as well as a very steep grade with switchbacks on the connector path that links the Highlands At Warwick with Crosswinds Drive. The pavement on this connector path is also deteriorating and the northernmost segment from the stream to Crosswinds Drive is only paved with grass, both making it unsuitable for bicycles. There are also a couple of unpaved extensions into Crosswinds that are only suitable for walking. At-grade intersections with several local streets are fairly easy to negotiate.
In addition to providing recreational opportunities for the nearby community, the Warwick Highlands Trail also provides a crucial connection for foot and bike traffic going between Lititz and communities just south of the borough and the hospital, shopping centers and office complexes on the south slope of Kissel Hill. The trail also links to the nearby Butterfly Acres Trail, Warwick Township Linear Park, Lititz-Warwick Trailway and Warwick-Ephrata Rail Trail via the local street network and may eventually connect to several other nearby greenways, including the Brighton-Reidenbagh Park and Manheim Community Township park trails.
Parking is available at the Wise Markets, off Route 501 near the trail's northern terminus and at UPMC Lititz Hospital near the southern end.
If you're looking for a rail-trailesque experience, this is not that trail. While nicely built into an area of relatively new housing and commercial developments, there are very steep grades connecting the two loops, as the northern loop circles a housing development on a Kissel Hill, and the other goes around a commercial area in the valley.
This is one of over 14 trails that we have ridden that, including the connecting road sections, totaled around 35 miles. Several of the trails are not names 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 then to Stoner Park, beside Eden Road, through the Lancaster Bible College, to Overlook Park, the Heritage Trail, the Kissel Hill Commons Trail, around the Manheim Township Athletic Complex, the Manheim Township Community Park Trail, the Warwick Township Highlands Trail, along Bachman Run, the Brighton-Reidenbaugh Park Trail and through some of the trails around the Manheim Township High School. Since I first rode this I've added 6 short trails to the ride. I have done this ride with several of my friends, most are retired and range in age from mid 60s to mid 70s.
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