This park is very popular with locals of Lancaster and York Counties and is a destination for rock climbers. Chickies Ridge provides easy hiking/walking as well as technical climbing opportunities. This may good and bad as at least one person per year seems to die here, often as result of combining climbing and alcohol.
We were accompanied on this outing by Andrew, a smaller hiker whose lower vantage point gave us a glimpse of interesting fauna. While searching for just the right items for collecting, Andrew saw an acorn that seemed to be moving! Bending closer, it turned out to be this colorful snail who seemed seemed not to care that it was thought to be some kind of nut.
The trail is a moderate climb but is quite wide and easy to the lookout point. The views of the Susquehanna River never fail to please, and one is presented with several alternative return trails that are steeper and more narrow if you want.
Temperature – About 55 degrees F.
Weather – Cloudy with occasional sprinkle.
Trail Surface – Crushed stone on the main trail which would allow bicycles and strollers as well as a hardy wheelchair.
Flora – A few last wildflowers but not much else of interest at this time of year.
Fauna – The usual perching birds as well as a few Turkey Vultures cruising the thermals over the river.
Facilities – No bathrooms, no picnic tables, no benches except at the look-out point. Parking for about 10 cars at the foot of the trail.
Other People Seen – None.
One can spend 40 minutes or 3 hours here, walk at a leisurely and easy pace or do some climbing, sit quietly on a rock and look out at the river, or all of these. We thought the snail the best view of a very nice day
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