The Northwest River Trail is known for its scenic beauty and quality paved path, but walking and cycling isn’t the only fun to be had.
The trail parallels the Susquehanna River and follows the historic Pennsylvania Mainline Canal, which ran from Duncan Island, north of Harrisburg, to Columbia, explained Lancaster County Principal Planner Michael Domin.
“Canal operations ceased in 1857 when it was purchased by the Pennsylvania Railroad,” he said.
The route now contains a trove of historic iron furnaces and building ruins, a canal lock, sections of the original towpath and canal bed, and an abandoned railroad tunnel.
Informal planning for the proposed 14-mile trail began in the early 1990s. A trail from Columbia to Falmouth was feasible, but not without some significant challenges, primarily a plan to bypass the Shocks Mill Railroad Bridge and the Columbia Rail Yard.
Unlike many other shared-use trails, the Northwest River Trail was not a single, linear parcel of land. Instead, individual tracts of land had to be acquired and stitched together to form the trail corridor.
Pit Stops
The Columbia Crossing River Trails Center serves as the southern trailhead for the Northwest River trail. It took 20 years to build and is managed by the Susquehanna National Heritage Area.
“At Columbia Crossing, we meet and talk to folks from all over the area about why they visit,” said manager Hope Byers. “Cyclists appreciate the paved surface of the trail. Walkers and families enjoy the history along the riverfront, including remnants of the iron furnace industry, railroads and the canals.”
In addition to the visitor education information, there are activities offered at the center to bring community members together.
In October, the staff will host a pumpkin painting time, and, in December, an ornament-making workshop with natural materials such as pinecones, twigs and wood slices. Byers explained that one of their most popular programs is “Tadpole Time,” a nature-themed story-time class that meets the second Wednesday of each month.
The Musselman Vesta Iron Furnace Center in Marietta is another great place for visitors to stop by. What was once a restoration project of Marietta Restoration Associates is now managed by Rivertownes PA USA, a nonprofit with a purpose to cultivate the art, heritage and recreation of the river towns. The original office of the Musselman-Vesta Furnace is now a learning center that features many exhibits, as well as a diorama depicting the Vesta Blast furnace.
With the beautiful trail for hiking, biking and strolling, new restaurants have sprung up to satisfy the adventurer in need of a refuel.
“The trail has been a tremendous revenue generator for local communities like Marietta and Columbia,” Domin said. “New restaurants and brew pubs have opened in both communities and existing businesses have expanded dining space as well as business hours.”
Path Ahead
The Northwest River Trail spans five municipalities, and there are six entities that own various sections of the trail, Domin said. While all the entities agreed on local ownership, working with six entities has had its difficulties.
“Trying to develop the trail to look and feel the same to the user from mile 1 to mile 14 is challenging,” Domin said.
This fragmented trail ownership affects consensus-building on the types of surface, signage, rules and regulations. In addition, some of the entities involved are more urban and have full-time staff, while others are rural and have few staff members.
For Domin, the next major challenge is connecting trail systems.
Five miles south of Columbia is the beginning of another long-distance, shared-use trail called the Enola Low Grade Trail. When finished in 2021, this trail will run for 29 miles from the base of Turkey Hill in Manor Township to the Chester County line, just south of Christiana.
Five miles to the northeast of the Northwest River Trail is the beginning of the Conewago Trail. That trail runs 5½ miles until it leaves the county and enters Lebanon County. There, the trail connects with the Lebanon Valley Trail and continues all the way to the city of Lebanon. When connected, there will be a continuous trail through southern and western Lancaster County.
Currently, 11 miles of the Northwest River Trail are constructed and open to the public, and the last three miles should be paved in the fall.
The Columbia Crossing River Trails Center is located at 41 Walnut St., Columbia. For more information, visit www.columbiacrossing.org.
Musselman Vesta Iron Furnace Center is located on the east end of Marietta. For more information, visit www.rivertownes.org.
