Tucquan Glen & Pyfer Nature Preserves

About These Preserves

The parking areas on River Road for Tucquan Glen & Pyfer Nature Preserves are CLOSED indefinitely beginning Sunday, March 22, 2020.

Those found to violate this parking area closure or those illegally parked on River Road will be towed and prosecuted. 

The Conestoga Trail along the river remains open and a strenuous and steep hike into Tucquan Glen is still possible from Clark Nature Preserve (a 6-mile round trip) or Pinnacle Scenic Overlook (a 4-mile round trip).

While the parking areas remain indefinitely closed, we ask our community do the following:

  • Explore our other nature preserves such as Steinman or Trout Run, Clark, Welsh Mountain, Climbers Run, Shenks Ferry, or Kellys Run. (The Conservancy’s full list is at lancasterconservancy.org/preserves/)
  • If a parking area is full at any nature preserve, drive on.

Please help keep our nature preserves open. Respect the rules, be careful, and value these protected places.

Planning Your Hike

These preserves are hike-in only. Visitors can park at Clark Nature Preserve or Pinnacle Overlook and take a strenuous hike via the Conestoga Trail into Tucquan Glen & Pyfer Nature Preserves.

The white-blazed Upper Pyfer Trail traverses the preserves in the upland forest just below the ridgeline and connects the Conestoga Trail to River Road. The yellow-blazed Lower Pyfer Trail brings the hiker down along Tucquan Creek before climbing through exposed bedrock to reconnect to the Upper Pyfer Trail. The blue-blazed trail requires three unimproved creek crossings on the old road bed and connects to the Lower Pyfer Trail. The Conestoga Trail ribbons through the preserve before exiting above the waterfalls toward the Susquehanna River.

Be prepared with appropriate footwear and attire. Bring water, snacks, and a first aid kit. Do not leave any belongings behind! Tucquan Glen & Pyfer Nature Preserves are easily overwhelmed by crowds. Do not stray from blazed trails! Be on your best Leave No Trace behavior. Maintenance and rescue efforts easily exhaust limited resources. These are nature preserves, please treat them as such and remind others to do the same.

Ecology and Management

Tucquan Glen & Pyfer are managed for their passive recreation as being of highest and best use.

This is perhaps the most pristine and scenic of the seven ravines which open into the Susquehanna River in this area. A rhododendron and hemlock canopied trail follows Tucquan Creek from River Road to the Susquehanna River. The initial two-thirds of this glen is beautiful and peaceful; the lower glen is wild and rugged.

Watershed

Tucquan Creek, a state designated wild and scenic river, empties directly into the Susquehanna River.

Hunting Information

Tucquan Glen and Pyfer are open to Archery-Only with areas of No Hunting. Respect property boundaries and safety zones. All Pennsylvania Game Commission Rules and Regulations apply. See ‘Where to Hunt’ for more details.

Report Hunting Violations: PA Game Commission Centralized Dispatch Center at 1-833-PGC-HUNT (1-833-742-4868) or 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453)

Acquisition History

The Conservancy has been piecing together the puzzle that now makes up Tucquan Glen & Pyfer Nature Preserves since 1983.

Funding assistance to acquire this land has been provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Recreation and Conservation’s Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund and the Environmental Stewardship Fund along with the following donors: the County of Lancaster, Railing Family, Edwards Family, Brubaker Fund, J. Michael Flanagan, Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation, Mary Louise Shenk, John F. Pyfer, Jr., and other private donors.

Amenities

Preserve sign. Kiosk. Trails.

Prevent Tick Borne Illness!

  • Wear repellent
  • Check for ticks after your visit
  • Shower soon after being outdoors
  • Call your doctor if you get a fever or rash

For more information visit cdc.gov/lyme

Spotted Lanternfly Alert!

Lancaster County is a Spotted Lanternfly quarantine area. This highly invasive insect is a serious threat to the health of our forests.

What you can do to help:

  1. Report spotted lanternfly sightings to Penn State Extension or call 1-888-4BADFLY.
  2. Stop the Spread. Look before you leave! Check gear, vehicles, and trailers.
  3. Smash them, bash them, kill them dead.
  4. Scrap and smash egg masses.

Emergency Information

In case of emergency, call 911

Nearest Hospital – 15.3 miles away
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital

555 N. Duke Street, Lancaster PA 17602

Additional Resources
Rawlinsville Fire Company
717-284-3023

PA State Police
717-299-7650