Susquehanna State Park (Maryland)
Encyclopedia
Susquehanna State Park is a state park on the lower Susquehanna River
north of Havre de Grace, Maryland
. The main park area is on the west bank of the river, but it also manages land on the river islands and east bank.
The park offers fishing, camping, a picnic area, hiking, mountain biking, road biking, and boating. The park includes the Rock Run Historical area, which consists of the Rock Run Grist Mill, Jersey Toll House (for the historic Port Deposit Bridge
), remnants of the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal
and the mill owner, John Archer's 1804 Rock Run Mansion.
The park also hosts the privately run Steppingstone Museum
, "which preserves and demonstrates the rural arts and crafts of the 1880-1920 period."
Land of Promise - Blazed in white, the trail starts at the Ridge Trail a short distance from Lapidum Trail Head. The Land of Promise is of moderate difficulty and is 1.6 miles (2.6 km) in length. The trail ends at the Rock Run Historic Area by the mansion driveway.
Farm Road Trail - Blazed in dark blue, the trail starts in the Deer Creek Picnic Area following a farm road through fields and forests. The Farm Trail is moderate in difficulty and is 2 miles (3.2 km) in length. The trail crosses both Wilkinson and Rock Run Roads and ends at the Rock Run Y Trail.
Rock Run Y Trail - Blazed in yellow, the trail begins at Quaker Bottom Road. The trail forks in the pine plantation. The right fork will intersect with the Land of Promise Trail. The left fork intersects with the Farm Road Trail and continues on and intersects the Land of Promise Trail. Moderate difficulty with a length of 0.9 miles (1.4 km).
Ivy Branch Trail - Blazed in orange, this trail begins at the intersection of Rock Run and Wilkinson Roads. The trail crosses the Farm Road Trail, Wilkinson Road and through farm fields. An easy to moderate trail with a distance of 2 miles (3.2 km).
Deer Creek Trail - Blazed in green, the trail begins and ends at the Picnic Area. The Deer Creek Trail has magnificent views and giant trees. A moderate to difficult trail with a length of 2.1 miles (3.4 km).
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenways Trail - Marked with Greenways emblems at half mile intervals, a 2.2 miles (3.5 km) improved section runs between Conowingo Dam and Stafford Road at Deer Creek. This trail is accessible from the Deer Creek Picnic Area or Conowingo Dam parking area. A 1 miles (1.6 km) unimproved section continues along the Susquehanna, bringing you to the trestle bridge at the mouth of Deer Creek. The Greenways trail continues on a 3 miles (4.8 km) unimproved section by following the Susquehanna Ridge Trail from the trestle or picnic area at Lapidum.
Spur Trails - Blazed in Silver with a number. The Spur Trail connects trails to expand your travels through Susquehanna State Park.
Besides six trails within the park, the Lower Susquehanna Greenways Trail starts at the park and runs north along the river to the Conowingo Dam
. It is co-located with the Mason-Dixon Trail
.
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
north of Havre de Grace, Maryland
Havre de Grace, Maryland
Havre de Grace is a city in Harford County, Maryland, United States. Located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River and the head of the Chesapeake Bay, Havre de Grace is named after the port city of Le Havre, France, which was first named Le Havre de Grâce, meaning in French "Harbor of Grace." As...
. The main park area is on the west bank of the river, but it also manages land on the river islands and east bank.
The park offers fishing, camping, a picnic area, hiking, mountain biking, road biking, and boating. The park includes the Rock Run Historical area, which consists of the Rock Run Grist Mill, Jersey Toll House (for the historic Port Deposit Bridge
Port Deposit Bridge
The Port Deposit Bridge was the earliest bridge crossing of the Susquehanna River below Columbia, Pennsylvania, providing the first reliable link between the northern and southern United States. The bridge was also the fifth and last of Theodore Burr's Susquehanna crossings...
), remnants of the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal
Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal
The Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal between Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, and Havre de Grace, Maryland, at the head of Chesapeake Bay, provided an interstate shipping alternative to 19th-century arks, rafts, and boats plying the difficult waters of the lower Susquehanna River...
and the mill owner, John Archer's 1804 Rock Run Mansion.
The park also hosts the privately run Steppingstone Museum
Steppingstone Museum
The Steppingstone Museum is a non-profit educational and cultural institution that focuses on the commercial and cultural aspects of [United States]] rural life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is located near the Susquehanna River in Harford County, just northwest of Havre de Grace,...
, "which preserves and demonstrates the rural arts and crafts of the 1880-1920 period."
Park trails
Susquehanna Ridge Trail - Blazed in red, the trail goes from the Picnic Area to Lapidum following the western ridge of the Susquehanna River. The Ridge Trail is approximately three miles in distance with moderate to difficult climbs. The trail provides magnificent views of the Susquehanna River Valley.Land of Promise - Blazed in white, the trail starts at the Ridge Trail a short distance from Lapidum Trail Head. The Land of Promise is of moderate difficulty and is 1.6 miles (2.6 km) in length. The trail ends at the Rock Run Historic Area by the mansion driveway.
Farm Road Trail - Blazed in dark blue, the trail starts in the Deer Creek Picnic Area following a farm road through fields and forests. The Farm Trail is moderate in difficulty and is 2 miles (3.2 km) in length. The trail crosses both Wilkinson and Rock Run Roads and ends at the Rock Run Y Trail.
Rock Run Y Trail - Blazed in yellow, the trail begins at Quaker Bottom Road. The trail forks in the pine plantation. The right fork will intersect with the Land of Promise Trail. The left fork intersects with the Farm Road Trail and continues on and intersects the Land of Promise Trail. Moderate difficulty with a length of 0.9 miles (1.4 km).
Ivy Branch Trail - Blazed in orange, this trail begins at the intersection of Rock Run and Wilkinson Roads. The trail crosses the Farm Road Trail, Wilkinson Road and through farm fields. An easy to moderate trail with a distance of 2 miles (3.2 km).
Deer Creek Trail - Blazed in green, the trail begins and ends at the Picnic Area. The Deer Creek Trail has magnificent views and giant trees. A moderate to difficult trail with a length of 2.1 miles (3.4 km).
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenways Trail - Marked with Greenways emblems at half mile intervals, a 2.2 miles (3.5 km) improved section runs between Conowingo Dam and Stafford Road at Deer Creek. This trail is accessible from the Deer Creek Picnic Area or Conowingo Dam parking area. A 1 miles (1.6 km) unimproved section continues along the Susquehanna, bringing you to the trestle bridge at the mouth of Deer Creek. The Greenways trail continues on a 3 miles (4.8 km) unimproved section by following the Susquehanna Ridge Trail from the trestle or picnic area at Lapidum.
Spur Trails - Blazed in Silver with a number. The Spur Trail connects trails to expand your travels through Susquehanna State Park.
Besides six trails within the park, the Lower Susquehanna Greenways Trail starts at the park and runs north along the river to the Conowingo Dam
Conowingo Dam
The Conowingo Dam is a large hydroelectric dam in the Lower Susquehanna River. The dam, one of the largest non-federal hydroelectric dams in the US, is classified as a medium height, masonry gravity type dam...
. It is co-located with the Mason-Dixon Trail
Mason-Dixon Trail
The Mason Dixon Trail connects the Appalachian Trail with the Brandywine Trail, passing through Gifford Pinchot State Park and White Clay Creek Preserve in Pennsylvania and White Clay Creek State Park in Delaware.-External links:*...
.