Welcome to the third Destinations with Dan! Our adventure today is in Swatara State Park. It’s a nice park with several wide trails perfect for biking if you’re into that. I didn’t bike. I walked & by the time I was done I wished I had a bike… preferably an electric 1… or a helicopter… either way… I was a little bit a lot tired by the end of this 1. It was a good spot though so let’s take a look:
THE CREEK
This follows along & cuts through several of the trails on this hike. There are multiple locations where you can get good views/pictures of it if you like. I would share more of my pictures of the creek but I can be a bit trigger happy with my camera & I probably shouldn’t put 353 photos in this article… Might be a bit much… maybe.
AN IRON BRIDGE
According to the sign you can’t read very well in this picture, it was built in 1890 by Berlin Iron Bridge Co. I don’t know who they were. You’re welcome. Pretty cool I think.
THE TRAIL
Admittedly a more picturesque section of the trail but this is about what you can expect for a good bit of the hike; minus the fencing. For the most part the trails are very well kept & flat. If you don’t try to do too much (like I did) it would make for a fairly easy stroll.
I JUST THOUGHT THIS SPOT WAS NICE
Well it is…
RUINS
There were a couple places like this along the trail. It’s higher than it looks in the picture. I have a thing about heights. I was a little nervous standing on the edge of this. Did it anyway just for you… OK I kind of wanted the picture too.
ANOTHER BRIDGE / WALKING PLATFORM
This goes over a bunch of brush & eventually the creek again; giving you a good view of the creek & I just think it’s a cool walkway. Significantly longer than the previous bridge. Don’t see this in the middle of every forest.
THE LONG BURNING HOT ROAD OF MISERY & DESPAIR
This was the not fun part of the hike. It was a pretty warm day & there isn’t any shade where you are hiking. I’d advise, if you do this hike, that you make it an out to the cabin (coming soon) & back hike. This stretch was not fun. If you do decide to do this part; choose a cool day or at least make sure you take someone you aren’t willing to fight for their water…
BORDNER’S CABIN
This was easily my favorite part of this hike. You can go in & explore it (it’s a decent size). It has a few rooms, tables if you want to stop to eat, a fireplace, a deck, an upper area that overlooks the main lower area (is that called a balcony when it’s inside?), oh & did I mention there is a waterfall literally right outside the big window in the main room on the other side? This place is like paradise to a person like me (minus the tourists). I didn’t want to leave but you know, life & all. Can’t just disappear to a cabin in the middle of nowhere… *sigh*… anyways…
PART OF THE WATERFALL & SOME RANDOM GUY (ME)
This is the upper part of the waterfall I mentioned that’s right outside the cabin & can be seen from the main room window. I would have shown you the whole falls but it’s long enough that you wouldn’t be able to appreciate it in a small photo the way it’s shaped AND there were kids running around on it. I try to avoid catching other people in my photos or in this case my hiking partner’s photo using my camera. I couldn’t be by the cabin & up in the falls at the same time. It just doesn’t work. Laws of science & such.
Sidenote: I might have looked a little ridiculous (compared to the kids making it look all easy) trying to make my way to that spot.
Thank you for reading!
