Discover cascades and swimming pools in Tucquan Glen, Pa. (Compass Points Media / flickr)
No matter how modern and techie America has become, we still have places where we can turn off the technology, tune out the Twitter feed and submerge ourselves into a refreshing, naturally-occurring swimming pool.
Set out for such a place on this moderate 2.4-mile out-and-back day hike into Tucquan Glen Nature Preserve in southwestern Lancaster County, Pa., about 90 minutes from Philadelphia and Baltimore. Spy sunrise-colored tiger lilies growing along the banks of Tucquan Creek as you slip into the shadowy glen, protected by broad oaks, pines and sloping shale cliffs. Make your way to a series of modest waterfalls, which create chest-deep swimming holes popular to local residents.
DIRECTIONS: Find Route 372 moving east-west in southern Lancaster County and turn onto River Road, heading north. River Road passes over the farm hills for about two miles until it arrives at Tucquan Glen Nature Preserve. Small parking lots available on either side of the road. Careful crossing as locals tend to speed along this stretch of roadway.
Tiger lillies bloom on the banks of Tucquan Creek in southern Lancaster County, Pa. (Compass Points Media / flickr)
HIKE ON: Start on the north side of Tucquan Creek, passing a large sign with information about the nature preserve. Follow a blue-blazed path as it winds into the woods, and stay along the north side of the creek. You might see people hiking on the opposite side of the creek; you’ll return to your car via those trails.
After a tenth of a mile, go left at a fork. Both trails will have blue blazes, but you want to go left. The trail goes for another third of a mile until it turns into an abandoned road for a short distance. Just 0.3 mile later, arrive at a junction with the Conestoga Trail, blazed in orange. Go left with the dual orange and blue blazes, and cross Tucquan Creek about 500 feet later.
The first small cascade is about 0.1 mile later with the most popular swimming hole just after that. You can watch the cascade or the swimmers from a platform that helps hikers navigate the slippery cliff, or immerse yourself into the cool waters for a refreshing swim (at your own risk, of course). Continue following the trail as it reaches a rugged patch, slipping over wet boulders to more cascades.
You’re turnaround point is where the Conestoga Trail reaches the railroad tracks and the Susquehanna River, about 0.33 mile from the first cascade and about 1.2 miles from your car. Total descent from your car has been just 125 feet.
Retrace your steps back up Tucquan Glen, and this time, instead of crossing Tucquan Creek, stay on the southside. Pass chimney ruins three-quarters of a mile from the railroad tracks, and arrive at River Road and your 0.4 mile later. You’ll have to cross a branch of Tucquan Creek to access the road.
View Tucquan Glen Nature Preserve, Pa. in a larger map
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We love to go hiking there once or twice a month. A couple of days ago while we hiking we ran into a bee hive and received several bee stings on our ankles. We concluded that they were ground bees. On our return back from the hike, we ran into different groups of people who told us they too were attacked by the bees.
I wonder how we can warn people about the bee hive there? I would hate for someone (who is allergic to bees stings) to run into that hive.
Take care,
Rand Lucas