DESTINATIONS WITH DAN: Safe Harbor Trestle Bridge

“DESTINATIONS WITH DAN”
Safe Harbor Trestle Bridge

Salutations readers. Our destination this time is Safe Harbor Trestle Bridge. There are a few ways to reach this, as it is on the Enola Low Grade rail trail, but the way I’m going to write about is about 3 miles out and back. Let’s start with:

WHERE TO PARK
You want to find Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve. GPS might try to stop you short of this spot so don’t stop until you have gone through

THIS TUNNEL
Once you have parked you want to

THE TUNNEL AGAIN
walk back through the tunnel (I know it’s just a tunnel but I thought this was a cool picture) and on the other side you will see

THE ENTRANCE TO THE TRAIL BESIDE THE TUNNEL
No really it’s there. Just overgrown. You want to walk behind the sign into the mess of overgrowth & a trail will magically appear. Like Narnia… but not quite as fantastical.

THE TRAIL
There is a short stretch of treacherous path right at the start but the majority of the trail will look like this. There is a confusing sign when you first hit this part of the trail that mentions a trestle bridge 2 miles to the left… DO NOT go that way. It is hoodwinkery. Go right towards Safe Harbor Dam. I’m guessing there is a different bridge that way but it’s not the 1 you want. The trail will be a nice easy walk but you don’t have much shade so choose a cool or overcast day. It even has some places to sit down along the way. You will get some openings to the left where you can see some of the river through the growth & if you like this sort of thing there are multiple

ROCK CLIMBING SPOTS
This isn’t really my sort of thing. I prefer to not hang off the side of a cliff 1 mistake away from an ugly demise, but if you do like doing that, (why though?) you can do that on this hike. Even has some preset anchor points in the cracking… crumbling… not so safe looking cliffsides.

THE RIVER
If you didn’t perish trying to rock climb then you will reach a clearing with a good view of the river &

THE BRIDGE
Safe Harbor Trestle Bridge. Built in 1905 for the railroad but just recently repurposed for public use; the bridge offers a gorgeous view of the river & on the other side there is a pavilion if you want to sit and take it in for a bit while feasting on some delicious snack you brought with you.

Thank you for reading!