Sunday, March 8, 2020

Swatara Falls

PRIVATE PROPERTY  - TRAIL HAS BEEN REMOVED

We were here in March of 2020, following directions from an online site - we had no idea this was private property (our own fault for not checking) and since the trail was well marked, did not realize we were trespassing.  Apparently there have been a lot of problems here, and the property owners have shut down access to this spot.  


All of the parking coords we were given are at a spot across the road from the trail.  However, the area had no parking signs when we arrived.  There's a small pull in area right at the trail, but it is pretty rough and rocky, I wouldn't want to pull in there in a car with low clearance.
The beginning of the trail was large puddles and then large piles of trash.  There are well worn paths around both, it's not difficult to get around.

The trash pile near the start of the trail.
Pretty much stay straight, and you'll eventually come to the falls.  But when we were there, there were blue arrows and marks on trees to mark the way as well.
There's an intersection with 4 roads , and a well worn trail into the woods off to the left, in addition to the roads.  Just stay straight, and you will start to go downhill.

Then the trail will go left, and it is so much prettier than this photo shows.  Rows of Rhododendron form almost a wall.  You'll start hearing the water not long after you get to this section.

The entire hike, there and back, was maybe a mile and a half , possibly a mile and 3/4. 
It's a short, easy, scramble down the hill if you want to get to the bottom of the falls, or you can see them quite well just from the trail.


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An Index Of Pennsylvania Waterfalls

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SAVED FOR REFERENCE _ BUT NO LONGER APPLIES _ TRAIL HAS BEEN REMOVED
Parking Coords - 40.663669, -76.361335
Waterfall - 40.67089, -76.35817

Swatara Falls is a gorgeous waterfall that is pretty easy to get to.  The hike is on a wide path, with the only real difficulty being at the beginning when you will need to walk around the trash piles.  There are a lot of different roads and trails intersecting here, but when we were there, there were blue arrows painted on the rocks, leading the way to the falls.  
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1 comment:

  1. I wasn’t aware of these falls. Will need to check them out. Unfortunate about the trash piles.

    ReplyDelete

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