Welcome to the second part of our “Are Your Pets Ready for Spring?” blog! In part 1, we gave you some tips and tricks on how to prepare your pet for the warm weather and upcoming outdoor adventures the spring will bring. Part 2 brings you a list of activities to try with your pup in and around the Lancaster area! With the cold weather of winter behind us, your pup is probably ready to hit the outdoors to feel the warmth of the sunshine and to frolic in the fields once again. Enjoy this list of pet-friendly places to try with your pup this spring!

PARKS

Overlook Dog Park: Located in the Overlook Park in Manheim Township, the Overlook Dog Park is open from dawn until dusk and has two sections for small and big dogs to run with similar sized dogs off leash. There is a membership fee for this park to be able to use it.

Long’s Park: Located on the northwest corner of town at the intersection of Harrisburg Pike and Route 30, this 80-acre city park is home to numerous outdoor amenities including a 3-acre spring fed lake and trails! Pets are allowed on the trails as long as they are leashed. There is also a free summer concert series to bring your pup with to enjoy some music together!

TRAILS AND PRESERVES

Farmingdale Trail: Located near Transfer Station Complex in Lancaster, this trail offers 3.5 miles of trail through 70 acres of wetlands and woodlands. Along with the scenic views, there is also a dog park your furry friend can enjoy! Click here for a map of the trail.

Northwest Lancaster County River Trail: This river trail offers a 14-mile recreation trail that passes through 5 municipalities at the northwestern edge of Lancaster County. Click here for a map of the trail.

Turkey Hill Trail: Located in Manor Township, this trail offers views of the Susquehanna River and surrounding forests in a 3.3 mile trail through mature hardwoods and abundant wildlife. Visitors can hike to the Turkey Point Observation Deck. Click here for a map of the trail.

Lancaster Junction Recreation Trail: This trail is part of the former Reading-Columbia trail line and runs for just over 2 miles between the hamlet of Lancaster Junction and Route 283. This trail runs through scenic Lancaster County’s farmland and borders Chickies Creek. Click here for a map of the trail.

Lancaster County Central Park Trails: Named for its centralized location, Lancaster County Central Park is the largest of the county’s parks and covers 544 acres. The park is located on the southern edge of Lancaster City in West Lampeter Township. The trails wind through woods, across fields and along creeks. Click here to view the Central Park Trail Guide.

Homewood Nature Preserve: The 39-acre preserve is marked by a big red barn on Keneagy Hill Road and offers access to Eshleman Run, a headwaters tributary of Pequea Creek. There is an easy-to-moderately-difficult 0.8 mile trail loop located along Keneagy Hill Road in Paradise Township. For more trail information, click here.

Landis Woods: This 69.9-acre park offers one of Manheim Township’s largest tracts of natural and undeveloped land. Visitors AND pets are welcome to hike the park’s circuitous Red, Blue, Yellow and Heritage trails that total 3.6 miles from 7 am to 10 pm. The Red Trail is 0.3 miles long, the Blue and Yellow Trails are 1.5 and 1 mile long and the Heritage Trail is 0.8 miles of paved trail. Click here for a full map of the trails in Landis Woods Park.

Horseshoe Trail: With a name like Horse-Shoe Trail, you can expect to see both equestrians and hikers on this hike. Be mindful of horses along the trail and keep your pup on a leash while enjoying the Lancaster portion. This 140-mile trail winds through 5 counties and 27 townships and boroughs; starting at Valley Forge Park and ending at the Appalachian Trail at Stony Mountain. The Lancaster portion is just shy of 30 miles and can be found between Route 501 and Route 322, north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, that includes the Eagle Rock lookout. An easily located entrance spot for this trail can be found by the Pretzel Hut in Brickerville. Click here for a look at a Lancaster portion of the trail map.

The Cove: Cove Outlook Park in Mount Joy is a popular spot for dogs, walkers, joggers and cyclists. There is a parking lot off of Old Market Street that will take visitors to three different trails: one paved, one stone and one mulched. There are also several small dirt paths that branch off the gravel and paved trails.

Shiprock Woods Nature Preserve: The 38-acre preserve is just off Shiprock Road in Willow Street and is just over a mile in total length for the trail. The preserve’s blue-blazed loop trail goes through a little ravine, a field and then a bridge over a stream. Walking conditions vary between a narrow uphill forest floor and 4-foot-wide mowed paths through tall grass in a meadow. Hikers will be rewarded with a collection of 150 to 200-year-old oak trees. Click here for more information about the trail and preserve.

AND DON’T FORGET … Going Mutts Pet Services is available for all of your dog walking and pet sitting needs. Let your pets feel the springtime air while you are at work by contacting Going Mutts for a daily dog walk, potty break or midday snuggle. Need someone to watch over your fur baby while away for the weekend? Contact us to set up an appointment - we always bring the belly rubs!

Sources:

https://www.bringfido.com/attraction/state/pennsylvania/

https://www.discoverlancaster.com/blog/pet-friendly-lancaster-pa/

https://co.lancaster.pa.us/279/Lancaster-Junction-Recreation-Trail

http://www.lcswma.org/waste-gives-back/public-recreation/

https://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/244/Lancaster-County-Central-Park

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/great-places-to-go-hiking-in-lancaster-county