Final stretch of 14-mile Northwest River Trail dedicated

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Deputy Secretary Mike Walsh helped cut the ribbon Wednesday on the final section of the 14-mile Northwest River Trail that spans five municipalities in Lancaster County.

Development of the trail has produced significant reinvestment in and creation of local businesses that support outdoor recreation, a release from the department said.

The trail provides access to the Susquehanna River Water Trail for walking, pedaling and paddling. It links the river towns and villages of Marietta, Wrightsville, Columbia, Bainbridge and Falmouth, and provides wayfinding signage to users identifying local businesses.

“We started our outfitting business in Columbia because we bought into the vision of local leaders that the river is a resource that should be protected yet capitalized on to bring people to town and expand the economy through ecotourism,” said Jim Cox, owner of Chiques Rock Outfitters.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources supported the project with more than $3 million in Community Conservation Partnerships Program grants.

“Trails connect places,” Walsh said. “They connect people to the outdoors. They bring visitors to communities to help keep economies vibrant, and in the case of the Northwest River Trail also connect people to the river. So, it’s a great day when we can celebrate a trail being complete, moving us closer to our goal of a trail within 10 minutes of every Pennsylvanian.”

The trail, which has industrial archaeological remains such as abandoned canal locks and iron furnaces, follows the route of the historic Pennsylvania Main Line Canal and uses some of the original towpath. The Northwest River Trail is in the Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape, the Susquehanna National Heritage Area and in the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer