What clients say about Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve in Conestoga Township (PA)
What an enjoyable nature preserve! 20 minute drive from Muddy Run. I had an excellent time with my wife and our daughters, my parents, and my sister and her kids. It’s a great walk because it’s mostly flat, path goes along the creek, and train tracks for a little while. Then you come to where the awesome tunnel is, and it’s still an easy little descent. Anyway, it was my first time there, and I should have gone years ago. Enjoy the photos (tunnel ones are near the end).
Be careful going down the road to get to preserve. The road is not paved and not straight and uneven. It is filled with gravel and rock and a dark tunnel midway to the preserve however when you reach the bottom you will see a parking lot. When you reach the parking lot and throughout, there is no internet or wifi. Other than that, I started walking beyond the railway is the Susqehanna River which I got to see at the perfect time when the sun when down and it is absolutely beautiful. Afterward I walked down the trail to find another trail and creek leading to the river and a small bridge. Taking in the nature and seeing it was quite the experience.
While we didn’t see many wildflowers, we heard lots of birds and had a wonderful evening pre-dusk walk. There were very few bugs to hassle us, only one other group of people present (who took off before we even left on our jaunt), and again, loads of loud birds. We used Merlin to track down birds we hadn’t yet seen, and after following the sound through the woods we encountered a bright blue Indigo bunting! There were no gates to lock a traveler in or out, so my guess is this preserve is open 24/7. There are no restroom amenities available, so please do your best to carry out your waste—no one likes finding white “flagging” on the ground!
Shenk’s Ferry wildflower preserve is a beautiful place with uncommon flowers, butterflies, and an old railroad tunnel at the end. Its small size and gentle terrain make it suitable for children and older adults. Its connection to the Enola Low Grade trail means it can also be incorporated into larger adventures (I hiked to safe harbor dam and back in about 3hrs). Signs show a map, a very brief summary of the local history, and a few of the wildflowers, although I would have preferred more information. There are restrooms and parking.
We were here on Good Friday at 8:45. I was so glad we got here early maybe 5 cars. By the time we left close to 11 a.m. the parking lot was full and there were lots of people.
Joined Lancaster Conservancy for their Wild Flower Walk at Shenks Ferry and what a wonderful experience. The beginning of April we were able to see so many of the wild flowers in bloom. It was overcast and a little drizzly but the trails were clear and easy to navigate. Aside from our group we saw 4-5 other couples enjoying the scenery and everyone was very friendly! Follow the signs and your GPS to get to the parking lot, it is bit of a rough road to get down to the lot but plenty of parking. First timer visitor this spring but looking forward to seeing how this preserve changes throughout the season!
Very pretty preserve! I was there April 16 and the bluebells seemed to be at peak. 10 other types of wildflowers blooming too. The trail is flat and easy.
We heard about this place through friends and went to check it out. We were there in late April and a lady working there said we just missed peak season for the wildflowers but it’s still a beautiful place to go walking/exploring and picnics with family and friends . Definitely want to go back earlier in the season this year.
For a wildlife preserve, it's loaded with an abundance of non-native invasive species. Of course not much was in bloom mid October but all of the ground cover and most of the vines are invasive. It is quiet and the creek has a nice sound but the trail is a distance above.
The day were hiked there, there were just a few varieties of wildflowers in bloom. We'll will have to stop by either earlier in the Spring or later in the Summer after more comes out in bloom.
Great place for a relaxing hike! Beautiful flowers in April. There is a stone trail back to where hiking trails start. Hike is easy with only slight upgrade. I saw a stroller or two on the trail but it will take a little muscle to get them over bumps and the stroller should have bigger wheels. Nice creek with easy access for getting your feet wet. Make sure you walk to the end of the trail to experience the tunnel. There a few benches along the trail but no picnic tables or super good places to eat. Portable toilets available. Drive is a little rough so drive carefully.
This trail is an easy and beautiful walk. I went with a friend on a Friday around noon and there were about 10 cars in the lot but the trails were not crowded. The wildflowers grow along the trail and there is a small bridge that crosses over a stream of water. When you get to the end of the trail, in the past I have crossed the creek and hiked up the steep hill but I didn’t this time. I’ll update my review when I go back this summer.
Went 7/4/23. About a tenth of a mile down the road was a downed tree blocking the road to the preserve/parking area, likely due to the storms that rolled through in the few days before we came. We, and others, parked on the road and walked about a half mile to the entrance with our two young kids and leashed puppy. The path was flat and gravelled, with a couple Porta potties at the trail's entrance. We saw some benches along the way if you needed to rest. We also saw some roots hanging from eroded earth that were dripping to create a "waterfall" that made a puddle and mini stream that was fairly early on into the walk. The kids loved this and found it refreshing to stick their heads under. Not too far into the hike, we tracked a bridge with a creek, about ankle deep. This was what we came for on a hot day. Perfect for creek stomping with little kids and our pup.
Love visiting Shenks Ferry! Aprilish is the best time to go to see the wildflowers, but it is a beautiful place to hike/walk any time of the year. The hike isn't too long or strenuous, and it connects to the Enola Low Grade Trail. A great place to bird as well!
This a very easy, short trail that is absolutely gorgeous in the spring. April is peak bloom, go on their website or take a brochure to identify the flowers as you see them on the trail. This would make a very fun family outing or for couples. The trail is an in and out - takes maybe an hour at a leisurely pace, enjoying the flowers. You can extend your hike by taking a side trail that is marked with a sign that will take you to the Enola Low Grade Trail. It is definitely making the trip out here in the spring!
This is a very pleasant and lovely place to walk. I strongly suggest visiting on a weekday, because even though I was there on a Thursday, there was still a fair amount of visitors. Weekends are surely crowded. The main trail is fairly level and wide enough for 2 way foot traffic. The flowers, butterflies, stream, and woodland are very relaxing. Easy for kids and older folks alike.
Really enjoyed this trail! I did go in October so there wasn’t much flowers as expected but the weather was perfect, the fallen leaves and change of color and scenery made it worth it. Definitely recommend trying it out!
We went at the end of April and prob missed the best of the wildflowers. The female guide posted at the start suggested mid-April or generally around Easter is the best time to see all the varieties offered. FYI - when approaching from Shenks Ferry Road, don’t be afraid to follow the dirt road down to the new parking area even though it looks sketchy. They’re working on new signage.
One of my favorites! I've been going for over 35yrs. Visit on Easter Sunday the flowers were gorgeous! probably at their peak. Trail in/out is easy to navigate. Its basically flat so we've taken my husband's elderly Mother without any problem.
Short but beautiful hike bear the Susquehanna. But you can link this to the Ebola Low Grade trail to extend this walk for miles.
The fall colors were amazing but beware as hunting goes on here off the main trail.
Nice place to go for a walk or rock climb. It was my first time climbing outdoors and it was fun. Seems like there were plenty of people climbing dive it was a nice day but plenty of routes so it didn't seem overly busy despite the popularity.
I was too late for the spring wild flowers, but I still loved it! The trees there are really amazing. A stream runs alongside the trail. There are 3 beautiful stone arch bridges that were built for the railroads I believe. There are some areas that are basically grass foot paths so not all of the trail is wheelchair accessible, but a portion of it is. Some of the wildflowers are labeled. The variety of songbirds in the morning is fantastic. Be warned, the road in is really, really bad but doable in a car although I would not attempt it in snow or ice.
We spotted every wildflower on their spring list and more. Hillsides of flowers. Avoid danger on Green Hill Road south of Grubb Creek which is closed by the preserve staff & now a hiking trail. The road closure is unmarked by DOT! and marked drivable by Google maps! at least until my corrections are accepted.
