Touring Lancaster County on Bicycles

            The soft rolling hills and quiet fields of Lancaster County’s countryside are ideal for a bike trip. Whether you travel with a group or enjoy solitude while you ride, there is somewhere in Lancaster County for you. The inns of the Lancaster County Bed and Breakfast Inns Association enjoy accommodating bikers anytime of the year!

Rail Trails You Don’t Want to Miss

·      Lititz/Warwick Trailway. For those who are interested in a short stretch of the legs, the Lititz/Warwick Trailway may be just what you are looking for. Running 2.9 miles from Lititz, PA into Warwick Township, the trail is paved over what used to be a section of the Reading Railroad. The trail is accessible at several places including Oak St. in Lititz and at the Warwick Township Municipal Complex on Clay Road.

·      The Lancaster Junction Trail. This trail was originally a branch of the Reading & Columbia Railroad, used for hauling anthracite coal until the late 19th century. Abandoned in 1985, it became a trail in 1987. Wending through rich Lancaster County farmland, this trail follows Chickies Creek for 2.3 miles.

·      The Conoy Canal Trail. This rail trail is a segment of the Northwest River Trail, the entire length of which is planned to be 14 miles long and run from Falmouth to Columbia. This completed segment of the trail goes from Falmouth to Bainbride along the Conewago Canal, part of the original Mainline Canal. It is approximately 3.7 miles long.

Tours of Lancaster County

For those interested in a longer ride, the Lancaster Bicycle Club has mapped many different bike routes, which they made available to the public. These are a few, but many more are available at their web site.

·      12 miles. A scenic loop around Ephrata, PA offers a taste of the farmland with the town of Ephrata nearby. The directions for the ride may be found here.

·      25 miles. For those wishing a slightly longer ride, this route makes a stop at Oregon Dairy, a supermarket, restaurant and ice cream shop rolled into one attraction. Be prepared for some scenery; this route passes two covered bridges!

·      58.5 miles.  Starting at the Landis Valley Museum, this ride takes a trip through everything that makes Lancaster County special—the history, the scenery, the quaint small towns and the tourist attractions.