Susquehanna State Forest

About Susquehanna State Forest

Susquehannock State Park is located on a wooded plateau overlooking the Susqueshanna River in southern Lancaster County. In addition to the beautiful views, the park offers a variety of hiking trails, picnic areas and a range of other amenities.

The Susquehannocks were first discovered in 1608 by Captain John Smith while exploring the Chesapeake Bay, and he described them in his diary as "huge Englishmen," and archaeological research has shown that they are larger than average. The name that adorns the National Park of the River People is derived from the name Sasquesahanough, which Captain Smith received from an Algonquin - an Indian interpreter. It is not known whether the Iroquois who spoke it called it "Sasqueshanough," but the word is translated in English as "sasque," a common name for the people of the area in the late 19th century.

During the Beaver Wars (1649 - 1656) the Susquehannocks fought successfully against the much larger Iroquois Confederation. After heavy defeats in 1675, they formed an alliance with the Algonquins to acquire rifles and fought another war against them. A brief peace followed, and the small tribe today had only one village, Conestoga, but it controlled most of the land in the area, as well as large parts of eastern Pennsylvania and western New York.

The border issues led to confusion as the peaceful Susquehannock village was surrounded by militias from Maryland and Virginia. Five of their leaders went to trial and were killed, and the Susques moved to the other side of the Delaware River, into what is now Maryland.

The Susquehannocks left the fort that night and eventually moved up the Susqueshanna River again. In 1677 they moved to New York and mingled with their Iroquois, and in 1697 some of them returned to the Conestoga area and built a new village. In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, some of the Susque-Hannicks left their village for the Delaware River, but eventually moved back across the Saratoga River to their new home on the west side.

In the early 17th century, the Susquehannocks migrated to Ohio, where they mingled with other tribes and lost their identity as an independent nation. For many years, their village remained an important Indian village, where many contracts were negotiated and signed. Population declined, and in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, only a few of the remaining Susques and their descendants, often referred to as Conestogas, remained in their villages.

In 1763, the remaining Susquehannocks and Conestogas lived under the protection of the Commonwealth. In 1764, six Indians were slaughtered during the Pontiacs War, which began in the western part of our state. The rest of the Indians, who peddled small goods such as baskets and brooms, were taken to a workhouse in Lancaster for their own protection.

During the trial, 14 Indians were slaughtered by the Paxton Boys, and the governor condemned the killings and banned any further violence.

The governor granted special protection papers to the two remaining Susquehannocks who worked as servants on a local farm. But that was about it for the once mighty Susquatches when they died and were buried in the yard.

Partly because of the aesthetically pleasing park, shady picnic areas are available, some of which also offer barbecue and barbecue areas. Parking and water toilets are nearby, and there is a large picnic area with picnic tables, picnic chairs, picnic table and picnic benches. For groups and special occasions, a small park is available with some picnic areas and other amenities.

There are unreserved picnic pavilions, but they can be reserved for $11 a month for advance payment. The First come, the first picnic area with picnic tables, picnic chairs and picnic benches, is open daily from 11 am to 4 pm.

For toll-free reservations, please call 888 - PA - PARKS (toll-free) or call the Park Office at (704) 743 - 5555 or the National Park Service at (1) 800 - 745 - 3200 or (800) 535 - 8477.

Horse riding is prohibited from the lookout point to the Rhododendron Trail, but there are shaded trailers and horse-drawn trailers to allow rides on the hills and over the river, as well as horse-drawn carriages. Nearby there are a number of hiking trails and trails for horse riding, such as the Horse Riding Trail and the River Trail. A hiking trail at the top of the hill on the south side of Pleasant Road provides access to a small open-air park with picnic area and an equestrian club for those who like to ride up and down or cross rivers.

A field guide is available at the park office to help you discover the park's natural resources. Picturesque hiking trails offer a variety of scenic views of the river, mountains and the Chattahoochee River and Appalachian Trail.

From this vantage point, you can see the Chattahoochee River and, if you're lucky, the Appalachian Trail, as well as a number of other trails. You can walk or sit along the paths to observe wildlife such as deer, elk, coyotes, bears and other wildlife, or wait to be discovered by a group of people on their way to the river.

This 1.5-mile trail offers visitors scenic views of the Susquehanna River, the Chattahoochee River and the Appalachian Trail. The most popular hiking trail is the lookout trail, which leads to two lookout points overlooking the SusqueHanna River. Along the way you can also see the old farms and a number of other historical buildings and buildings.

The Rhododendron Trail is the longest and most difficult of the trails in the park, at 1.2 km, but the extra effort is worth it. This path, which takes its name at the end of June and beginning of July, leads through steep, rocky terrain.

The 5-point trail is medium to difficult, but offers a rhododendron view of the streams and valleys and is easily accessible on foot. The pine path is short, but also steep and stony, winds through the Wisslerlauf and is, with 1.2 km, the most difficult of all the trails in the park. Other routes are medium difficult but easy to tackle on foot, such as the 2.5 km long, 1.9 km wide, 3 km long, 2500 m high, 4 km long and deep trail. This route is a short, steep, rocky path with a steep ascent and steep descents at the end.

The Holly Path is about 1.5 km away on foot and features native holly and Christmas ferns. The nature trail is a beautiful old deciduous tree and is easily accessible on foot. Paw trees are found on the Fire Trail, a short, steep, rocky path with steep descents and steep climbs and a steep ascent.

The Pipeline Trail is an abandoned gas pipeline at the right intersection into the park and the 1.5 km Landis Trail, named after one of Georgia's most famous naturalists and environmentalists, Charles Landes. Along the way, native holly and Christmas ferns bloom, as well as native pine trees.

Imagine what the area was like when loggers ate, drank and slept in this area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.