Side Quest: How to Access the Safe Harbor Bridge Trestle

Overview

The newly opened (June 2022) Safe Harbor Trestle Bridge is worth every penny of the $9 million, offering stunning views of the Susquehanna, Safe Harbor dam, Columbia and Port Deposit Railroad, York County, and the petroglyph covered rocks of Big Indian Rock and Little Indian Rock. Click here if you are interested in a guided tour of the petroglyphs.

It was built in 1905 for the Atglen and Susquehanna Branch (also known as the “Low Grade Branch”‘) of the Pennsylvania Railroad and constructed to hold two fully loaded trains, including an upper and lower deck. For almost a century, the bridge served as a critical component for economic development in the region. It was abandoned in 1988. The last train to cross it was on December 19, 1989. The upper tracks were removed in 1990. Manor Township acquired the bridge in 2012.

Here are some fun facts about the bridge and project:

• Third highest trestle bridge in the U.S.
• Second longest trestle bridge in Pennsylvania.
• 150 feet high and 1,560 feet long.
• Total project cost: $9 million.
• Required 2,170 tons of concrete
• Restoration began in February 2015.
• Restoration was completed in June 2022.

Access the Trestle

I have received many questions asking how to access the Safe Harbor Bridge Trestle. As I see it, you have four options. I have listed them below from shortest to longest. Happy adventuring!

Safe Harbor
Approximately .25 miles one way to the trestle

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The trailhead for the trestle can be found near the guard house as you approach the bridge that crosses the Conestoga River and enters the Safe Harbor dam parking area. Here are the GPS coordinates: 39.926091, -76.383980. There is plenty of parking at the Safe Harbor park that you drove through as you approached the trestle. The address is 101 Safe Harbor Rd, Conestoga, PA 17516.

From there, the trail goes up the side of the hill and includes two flights of steps. While this is the shortest hike, it is also the steepest and not handicap accessible. You are traveling the full height of the trestle to access the trail on the Conestoga Township side of the bridge.

Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve
Approximately 1.2 miles one way to the trestle

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Google lists the address for Shenks Ferry as 857 Green Hill Rd S, Conestoga, PA 17516, but that stops short of the preserve, with most people stopping at a residential home. The Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve parking lot is located at the bottom of Green Hill Road off Shenks Ferry Road off River Road. As you approach, you will drive through a large tunnel on your way to the bottom of the hill near the Susquehanna River. Here are the GPS coordinates: 39.905861, -76.368222.

From the Shenks Ferry parking lot, walk up Greenhill Road to the Shenks Ferry tunnel you drove through earlier. There is some parking near the tunnel, but it is minimal. On the northern end of the tunnel, find the walking trail.

This short, steep path will take you up the hill to the Enola Low Grade rail trail. Once you reach the trail, turn right towards Safe Harbor. The trestle is 1.2 miles away once you reach the rail trail. While your initial hike to the Enola Low Grade is steep, once you reach the main trail, the remainder of your trip is virtually level. Accessing the path with strollers or bikes from this location will be cumbersome.

Colemanville Church Road Parking Lot for Access to Enola Low Grade Trail
Approximately 3.2 miles one way to the trestle

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From the Colemanville Church Road parking lot, you can easily access the Enola Low Grade. Here are the GPS coordinates: 39.908037, -76.337108. It can be a little challenging to find it as there are two Colemanville Church Roads. You want to access it from River Road. From the Colemanville Church Road parking lot, head West. The trestle is 3.2 miles away. Your trip will be virtually level.

Turkey Hill Overlook Trail
Approximately 5 miles one way to the trestle

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From the Turkey Hill Overlook Trailhead, you can again easily access the Enola Low Grade from its northernmost point at 2459 River Rd, Conestoga, PA 17516. From the parking lot, you will travel downstream with the Susquehanna River on your right. It is approximately five miles one way to the trestle. Your entire trip is flat.

Shop

Purchase a beautiful reproduction map from 1864 through 1899 of Conestoga and Manor Township or a 1919 road map of Lancaster County that denotes the path of the Enola Low Grade.

Learn More

Side Quest: How to Access the Martic Forge Trestle

It has been more than four years since an arsonist destroyed the Martic Forge Trestle on Thursday, April 12, 2018. But like a literal phoenix rising from the ashes, the 1905 structure has been returned to its former glory and is ready to ferry passengers between Conestoga and Martic Townships. The newly opened (October 27, 2022) Martic Forge Trestle Bridge is worth every penny of the $3 million, offering stunning views of Pequea Creek and the surrounding River Hills.

A few people have asked how to best access the Martic Forge Trestle, which officially opened to the public this afternoon. Here are four easy options, listed from closest to furthest, Colemanville Church Road, Red Hill Road, Shenks Ferry, and Sigman Road Parking Lot. Click the link for full details and GPS locations.

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Brief History of the Atglen & Susquehanna Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad

Cutting through the southern end like a demarcation line is one of the most remarkable feats of engineering marvels in Lancaster County—the Atglen & Susquehanna (A&S) Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) commonly referred to today as the Enola Low Grade. The goal of this ambitious project? Create a low grade railroad line with no slope steeper than one percent and no curve sharper than two degrees. Easy on paper. Difficult in reality. Click here for a brief history of the Enola Low Grade.

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The Lower Susquehanna before the dams

My friend and contributing writer here at Uncharted Lancaster, Ben Webber, has been interested in accessing the Safe Harbor Water Power Corp archives. One of his passions is the Conestoga River history, and he’s been searching for an ancient map of the winding river that is rumored to exist in their archives.

As it turned out, I have a contact there, and after a few months of discussions, we were granted access. In addition to helping Ben look for these old river maps, I had the goal of scanning as many of their images, maps, and blueprints that might be of interest and eventually making them available to the public. We spent four hours going through several boxes containing hundreds of photos during our initial visit. Here are two that caught my attention. Click the link to read more.

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Armchair Explorer: Inside the Bowels of Safe Harbor Dam

Christmas came early for Benton Webber and me when a friend gave us what felt like a VIP behind-the-scenes tour of Safe Harbor Dam on December 23. I’ve been there many times before, but it’s been more than a decade since I was last inside.

A couple of things stand out. First, it’s a HUGE cavernous space. According to Wikipedia, the dam is 4,869 feet long. So big it nearly gives you a sense of vertigo. For this reason, you can find bicycles strewn around the facility to decrease travel time. Click the link to read more about the Safe Harbor dam.

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Guided Petroglyphs Kayak Tour

I’ve teamed up with kayakLanCo for a fantastic adventure on one of the oldest rivers in the world in order to visit the enigmatic petroglyphs of the Susquehanna. This aquatic 3-mile expedition takes you from Safe Harbor to Pequea with time spent on Little Indian Rock and Big Indian Rock to view and photograph the millennium-old rock art. Do not wait to register! Each excursion is limited to only six tour members to ensure a personal experience in these magical locations. Click here to learn more.

Adventure Awaits!

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