♪"These boots are made for walking. And that's just what they'll do."♪
People play this game for a variety of reasons. For us, Geocaching represents a way to explore the natural beauty hidden around us. This Art will take you to some lesser used parts of Lancaster and York counties and will hopefully get your heart pumping while you explore. This Art is intended to be a 2-day hiking adventure. These areas are rich with caches with quite a few along the trails you will be on. Please allow extra time to do some exploring beyond the Art.
Guide to NATURALLY a Hiker Geo-Art
3 Hikes through Nature
As you answer the questions on the geo-art pages, you will discover that the caches are arranged in three hikes of varying lengths and styles. One is best hiked north to south. One could be north to south or out and back from the north. One is a loop.
Be careful of trail markings and follow instructions on all signs you may pass.
Parking suggestions
On the York County side, it is best to have at least two cars. A third car would allow you to place additional water and food in the middle car. Hiking north to south is downhill. Parking waypoints are listed on Hikers 1, 9, 10, and 14.
On the Lancaster County side, parking a car on Rt. 372 could avoid the out-and-back aspect at the risk of parking on a very busy road. There is plenty of pull-off space on the south side of the road heading east just after the Norman Wood Bridge. Be sure to pull off as far as possible. Be aware of Amish buggies. Parking waypoints are listed on Hikers 17, 24, and 25.
Be aware of hunting
These caches are available year round. They are through state game lands paid for by hunters. Please respect the hunters' right to be there. Wear orange during hunting season.
Wearing orange is required in much of this area November 15 to December 15.
It is safest to hike on Sundays when hunting is prohibited.
Pay attention to terrain and hazards
There are ticks year-round. Check yourself after hikes.
In warmer weather, you may encounter snakes, mosquitos, and deer flies.
Poison ivy can be a problem year-round, but most of these finds will not involve bushwhacking. In warmer weather, burn hazel can be a problem.
Two of these hikes are not flat. Be prepared with proper footwear.
Pay attention to the weather. Rain will make rocks and leaves slick. Ice and snow can also be slick. Thunderstorms are dangerous.
These hikes are not short. Bring water - even in winter. Bring food. Parts are shady, so sunscreen isn't critical for most people.
Be aware that you may not have cell phone service due to rocks, valleys, and just being in a rural area.
If we have had plenty of rain (as in summer and fall of 2018), you may have to wade across a stream.
Further Information about this Area
The links below lead to files (especially the ones marked PDF) and web pages that may or may not help you find the geocaches in this geo-art. By following the links below, you might download a file (PDF; nothing to install). As the geocache owner, we ensure that these files were safe to download when we created the cache. They have not been checked by Geocaching HQ or by the reviewer for possible malicious content. Download these files and visit these links at your own risk.
PDF Map of Susquehannock State Park gives a good overview of the area: Map
Lancaster/York History
York, PA
Lancaster, PA
House of Lancaster
House of York
House of Roses
Trails
Mason Dixon Trail Wiki
MDT Otter Creek
Topographic map of State Game Lands 181 (PDF)
Susquehanna Water Trail
Lancaster Hiking Club
Lancaster Conservancy preserves
Pennsylvania State Game Lands
Joshua Scott's 1842 map of Lancaster County
Susquehannock State Park
History
Indian Steps
Norman Wood Bridge Wiki
Muddy Run Pumped Storage Wiki
Lancaster County Covered Bridges Wiki
Holtwood Dam Wiki
Nature and Science
Pennsylvania Wildlife Species
Osprey Wiki
Pennsylvania Trees (PDF)
Pennsylvania County Rock Maps
Wind Cave
Susquehanna River Basin Commission (PDF)
Susquehanna Shad
Schist