AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Chickies Rock County Park

Northwest Lancaster County River Trail

6.2 mi · ▲ 170 ft · 2 hr 9 min

Northwest Lancaster County River Trail is a 6.2-mile out-and-back in Chickies Rock County Park near Columbia, PA. It is mostly level, with 170 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi240 – 312 ft7.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.03227, -76.50818
Nearest town Columbia, PA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Northwest Lancaster County River Trail

6.2 mi · ▲ 170 ft · 2 hr 9 min

Elevation 240–313 ft

Out & Back · Chickies Rock County Park

Trailhead: 40.03227, -76.50818

Weather Sep 6: Mostly clear, high 77°F / low 60° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:39 AM · sunset 7:32 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 400 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  4. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  5. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  6. 450 ftContinue straight onto Northwest Lancaster County River Trail, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  8. 0.9 miSharp left, heading NW.
  9. 500 ftTurn left, heading W.
  10. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  12. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  13. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  14. 1.1 miBear right, heading E.
  15. 0.2 miReach Northwest Lancaster County River Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 1.3 miBear left, heading E.
  17. 300 ftBear right, heading E.
  18. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  20. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  21. 1.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  22. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  23. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  25. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/northwest-lancaster-county-river-trail-out-back-10-km

Trail surface

19% paved9% dirt4% grass1% gravel67% unspecified

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 77°F60°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV6Humidity81%
Rained 1.5″ 3 days ago · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 6:39 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:32 PM
Mon 78°60°
Tue 80°56°
Wed 87°62°
Thu 81°68° 16%
Fri 82°66°
Sat 83°65°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.1 mi in (~77 min). Leave by 5:54 PM for the 7:32 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Columbia, Pennsylvania