Dauphin: Nature Trails and History

Dauphin County has trails and historic sites with a variety of focuses. Nature, recreation, and cultural history can be planned in different ways: walks by the river, trails through varied landscapes, or visits to historic sites. The setting also matters when choosing: would you prefer a stay in a park, a longer route, or a scheduled guided tour?

Hiking Trails and Landscapes

The Dauphin County park system includes eight properties. At Detweiler Park, gardens, fields, meadows, evergreen plantings, and mature deciduous forests sit side by side. Its trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Visitors can experience a variety of landscape features within one park; the opening hours set the timeframe for a visit.

The Appalachian Trail runs through Dauphin County along the ridge of Blue Mountain. Unlike the landscape features at Detweiler Park, the ridge is the defining landmark here. This adds a clearly identified route along the mountain ridge to the park landscapes.

River Trails and Park Routes

Dauphin County includes the middle section of the Susquehanna River Water Trail and the Swatara Creek Water Trail. The Susquehanna River Water Trail is 51 miles long in total and stretches from Sunbury to Harrisburg. For orientation, it helps to distinguish the entire route from the section in the county: Dauphin County includes the middle section, while the named endpoints describe the full route.

At Fort Hunter Park, you can walk along the Susquehanna River and the old towpath of the Pennsylvania Canal. There is also a non-motorized boat launch and river access for canoes and kayaks. This means the park offers both walks and access for non-motorized boats.

Nature in the Park and Along the Loop

The exhibit hall at the Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center in Wildwood Park shows how a freshwater wetland works and offers insight into the wildlife that lives there. The trails at Wildwood Park are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Since access information can change, check the latest visitor information before you go.

The Capital Area Greenbelt is a 20-mile loop through and around Harrisburg that passes Wildwood Park and Fort Hunter Park. While the Water Trails refer to river routes, the Greenbelt is described as a loop through and around Harrisburg. This difference in route type helps you understand how the trails are laid out.

History and Visit Dates

Fort Hunter Mansion and Park preserves the history of a former fort, a center of frontier trade, and an exclusive private country estate. Today, the property is preserved and open to the public. Guided tours of Fort Hunter Mansion are offered from May through December. If you plan to take a tour, check the specific date in advance.

The Historical Society of Dauphin County offers another program: the Mansion hosts tours, hands-on educational programs, and workshops. General programs are usually held on the second Sunday of each month from March through November. Since the program schedule may vary, check the current date before your visit.

It is also worth checking the specific route layout when exploring the hiking trails. Nine miles of the Lykens Valley Rail Trail are open in three separate sections, so the miles do not form one continuous route. A loop section of a hiking trail encircles the former site of Baker’s Sawmill, the last steam-powered sawmill in Dauphin County. This gives the hike a direct connection to the history of local industry.

Discover more destinations:

Oberlin, Dauphin, Halifax, Middletown, Harrisburg, Hummelstown, Grantville, Hershey

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