About
TrailheadConestoga River Water Trail
ParkingParking at the trailhead.
DogsLeashed / limited stretches
What you'll see 🌄 Big views🌊 River or creek

The Conestoga River Water Trail offers a memorable way to experience Lancaster County's landscapes and waterways. This Chesapeake Gateways Water Trail flows more than 60 miles before joining the Susquehanna River and ultimately connecting to the Chesapeake Bay. The official 33-mile water trail segment from Brownstown to Safe Harbor provides a primarily Class I paddling experience, making it accessible to both beginners and seasoned paddlers. Gentle currents and occasional small rapids carry visitors past wooded banks, farmland views, and stretches of calm flatwater ideal for canoeing, kayaking, tubing, or fishing. Traveling this river is like traveling through history. The Conestoga takes its name from the Susquehannock people who once lived along its shores. A journey on the water connects visitors with the rich history of the area, including Indigenous life, William Penn's legacy, the Conestoga wagon, the Pennsylvania long rifle, and Robert Fulton's innovations in steam navigation. Each bend in the river reflects centuries of interaction between people and the landscape. Today, stewardship and conservation remain central to the river's story. The Conestoga River Club manages the water trail and works with volunteers to restore habitats, organize river cleanups, and improve public access, ensuring the trail remains a community treasure. Visitors can paddle through natural beauty while engaging with themes of history, culture, and environmental care. To learn more, visit their website .

Location

Conestoga River Water Trail

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Trail data: USGS National Map / PAD-US, the National Park Service, state agencies, and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Access and conditions change — check with the managing agency before you go.