Explore Outdoors: Turkey Hill Trail in Lancaster County

MATT: THE TURKEY HILL TRAIL STARTS IN THE SAME PARKING LOT WHERE THE ENOLA LOW GRADE RAIL TRAIL STAR.TS AND THIS TRAIL IS INCREDIBLY FLAT. IT RUNS FOR MILES AND IS PERCTFE FOR WALKING, BIKE RIDING, OR JOGGING, BUT IF YOU WANT A CHALLENGE, WE’LL GO UP THE HILL . FOR THIS HIKE MAKE SURE UYO , BRING A PAIR OF STURDY SHOES. DEPENDING ON YOUR EXPERIENCE, THE HIKE TO THE TURKEY HILL OVERLOOK IS RATED MODERATE TO STRENUOUS. IT GETS STEEPER AS YOU CLIMB. THE TRAIL TO THE OVERLK OOIS REALLY EASY TO FOLLOW. THE PATH ITSELF IS QUITE NARROW AND JUST FOLLOW THESE BLUE , BLAZES ON THE TREES ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. THE HIKE FROM THE RAIL TRAIL TO THE OVERLOOK IS ONLY ABOUT A HALF MILE. IT’S PART OF A LARGER NATURE PRESERVE MANAGED BY THE LANCASTER CONSERVANCY. THIS IS A NEAT PART OF THE TR AIL. THESE ARE PAWPAW TREES AND THEY PRODUCE FRUIT THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS. UNLIKE MOST TREES THAT ARE POLLINATED BY BEES, PAWPAWSARE -- PAW PAWS ARE POLLINATED BY FLIES AND BEETLES. AND GET THIS FACTOID, ETH SUSQUEHANNA GREENWAY SAYS THIS PATCH IS THE LARGEST ANYWHERE NORTH OF THE 39TH PARALLEL, THAT’S THE PENNSYLVANIA-MARYLAND BORDER. ONCE YOU MAKE YOUR WAY THROUGH TH E PAWPAW GROVE, THE TRAIL GETS ROCKER AND STEEPER. BUT THE VIEW AT THE TOP IS WORTH IT SO JUST KEEP GOING. THAT’S QUITE A HILL. MAKE SURE YOU PACK YOUR WATER. THE GOOD NEWS IS WE’RE AOSTLM THERE. WHEN YOU GET TO THE TOP, THE TREES CLR.EA AND THE PAYOFF APPROACHES. TO THE RIGHT IS AN ACTIVE FIRST LANDFILL AND TWO WIND TURBINES THAT TOWER OVER YOU. THEY PROVIDE POWER TO TURKEY HILL DAIRY. AND HERE WE ARE. A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER AT A PLACE CALLED TURKEY POINT. AND THIS VIEW IS ACTUALLY EVEN BETTER IN THE FALL AND WINTER WHEN THERE AREN’T AS MANY LEAVES ON THE TREES. AND YOU SEE THE ISLANDS OUT THERE. >> THIS IS VERY UNIQ.UE THIS IS AN AWESOME PLA.CE MATT: THEY ARE PART OF THE CONEJOHELA FLATS, A SERIES OF ISLANDS AND MUD FLATS THAT PROVIDE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INLAND STOPOVER SITES FOR MIGRATING SHOREBIRDS INHE T STATE. >> WE’RE LUC.KY WE’RE LUCKY. MATT: AND IT’WHS ERE JEROME BURG OFTEN AIMS HIS CAMERA. TO CAPTURE SOME OF THE SUSQUEHANNA’S BEAUTY IN FLIGHT. >> YEAH, IT JU MSTAKES ME HAPPY. IT BRINGS JOY. MATT: YOU, TOO, CAN WATCH FROM ABOVE AT THE TURKEY HILL OVERLOOK. THE TRAIL CONTINUES ON FROM

Some hikes require some work, but the reward can be beautiful views.That's the case at the Turkey Hill Overlook in Lancaster County, where WGAL News 8's Matt Barcaro went for his "Explore Outdoors" series.The Turkey Hill Trail starts in the same parking lot where the Enola Low Grade Rail Trail begins.Make sure you bring a pair of sturdy shoes. Depending on your experience, the hike to the Turkey Hill Overlook is rated moderate to strenuous. It gets steeper as you climb.The trail to the overlook is easy to follow. Look for blue blazes on the trees all the way to the top.The hike from the rail trail to the overlook is only about a half-mile. It's part of a larger nature preserve managed by the Lancaster Conservancy.Along the way, keep an eye out for pawpaw trees. The Susquehanna Greenway says the patch of pawpaws along the Turkey Hill Trail is the largest anywhere north of the 39th latitude, which is the Pennsylvania/Maryland border.Pawpaw trees produce a fruit with a taste that some describe as a cross between a banana and a mango. Unlike most trees that are pollinated by bees, pawpaws are pollinated by flies and beetles. Once you make your way through the pawpaw grove, the trail gets rockier and steeper.When you get to the top, the trees clear and the payoff approaches.To the right is an active landfill and two wind turbines that provide power to Turkey Hill Dairy.There's a beautiful view of the Susquehanna River at a place called Turkey Point. The view is even better in the fall and winter when there aren't as many leaves on the trees.You'll also be able to see the Conejohela Flats, a series of islands and mud flats that provide one of the most significant inland stopover sites for migrating shorebirds in the state.It's where Jerome Burg often aims his camera: to capture some of the Susquehanna's beauty in flight."Yeah, it just makes me happy. You know, it brings joy," he said.You, too, can watch from above at the Turkey Hill Overlook.The trail continues for several miles, or you can retrace your steps and head back down to the rail trail.Send us your suggestionsIf there's a place in the Susquehanna Valley that Matt should check out or activity he should try, email us at news8@wgal.com.

CONESTOGA, Pa. —

Some hikes require some work, but the reward can be beautiful views.

That's the case at the Turkey Hill Overlook in Lancaster County, where WGAL News 8's Matt Barcaro went for his "Explore Outdoors" series.

The Turkey Hill Trail starts in the same parking lot where the Enola Low Grade Rail Trail begins.

Make sure you bring a pair of sturdy shoes. Depending on your experience, the hike to the Turkey Hill Overlook is rated moderate to strenuous. It gets steeper as you climb.

The trail to the overlook is easy to follow. Look for blue blazes on the trees all the way to the top.

WGAL

Matt hikes the Turkey Hill Trail.

The hike from the rail trail to the overlook is only about a half-mile. It's part of a larger nature preserve managed by the Lancaster Conservancy.

Along the way, keep an eye out for pawpaw trees. The Susquehanna Greenway says the patch of pawpaws along the Turkey Hill Trail is the largest anywhere north of the 39th latitude, which is the Pennsylvania/Maryland border.

Pawpaw trees produce a fruit with a taste that some describe as a cross between a banana and a mango. Unlike most trees that are pollinated by bees, pawpaws are pollinated by flies and beetles.

WGAL

Pawpaw tree.

Once you make your way through the pawpaw grove, the trail gets rockier and steeper.

When you get to the top, the trees clear and the payoff approaches.

To the right is an active landfill and two wind turbines that provide power to Turkey Hill Dairy.

There's a beautiful view of the Susquehanna River at a place called Turkey Point. The view is even better in the fall and winter when there aren't as many leaves on the trees.

A view of the Susquehanna River from the Turkey Hill Overlook in Lancaster County.

WGAL

You'll also be able to see the Conejohela Flats, a series of islands and mud flats that provide one of the most significant inland stopover sites for migrating shorebirds in the state.

It's where Jerome Burg often aims his camera: to capture some of the Susquehanna's beauty in flight.

"Yeah, it just makes me happy. You know, it brings joy," he said.

WGAL

The Conejohela Flats have been designated as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.

You, too, can watch from above at the Turkey Hill Overlook.

The trail continues for several miles, or you can retrace your steps and head back down to the rail trail.

Send us your suggestions

If there's a place in the Susquehanna Valley that Matt should check out or activity he should try, email us at news8@wgal.com.

Explore Outdoors: Turkey Hill Trail in Lancaster County

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