Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday joined Lancaster County Conservancy and other regional officials at the Pinnacle Overlook in Martic Township to highlight the Wolf Administration’s continued focus on conservation landscapes.

“Conservation landscapes are an approach to protect and improve natural features and opportunities for outdoor fun in a region, and promote them to draw visitors to stay and explore an area’s unique cultural and natural attractions,” Dunn said.

The 80-acre Pinnacle Overlook was part of a land transfer from PPL’s Holtwood hydroelectric plant that supports the regional initiative to conserve a greenway corridor of river lands, known as the Susquehanna Riverlands, along the Lower Susquehanna River.

The overlook is owned by LCC, and managed by DCNR as part of Susquehannock State Park. Environmental education staff from the park have been assisting with programming at the Columbia Crossing River Trails Center-- a gateway for land and water trails in the Susquehanna Riverlands.

Pinnacle Overlook offers some of the best views of the Susquehanna River; is a great place to picnic and see a sunset or bald eagles; and is a starting point for a number of hikes including the Kellys Run Trail System of the Lancaster County Conservancy and the Conestoga Trail System maintained by the Lancaster Hiking Club.

Visitors also can enjoy the nearby Indian Steps Museum, and camping at Muddy Run Park. 

Recent accomplishments for the Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape include:

-- Columbia Crossings and Susquehanna Heritage held the first “familiarization tours” for desk staff of hotels in Lancaster and York counties to help them become more familiar with all the attractions and amenities in the river corridor.

-- Lancaster County Conservancy added 44 acres to the Steinman Run Nature Preserve in Martic Township, Lancaster County, in part with a grant from DCNR.   The property includes two springs and seeps, and a tributary to Steinman Run, which ultimately flows to the Chesapeake Bay.

The visit to the overlook was one of several stops in the landscape today during an annual meeting of statewide partners involved in the landscape approach.  There are seven landscapes total across Pennsylvania included in the effort.

More information is available on the Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape webpage.

For more information about the landscape initiative, visit DCNR’s Conservation Landscapes webpage.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog,  Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

(Photo: Pinnacle Overlook, Susquehannock State Park.)

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[Posted: Nov. 30, 2017]

12/4/2017