Fishing Creek Nature Preserve

About This Preserve

Planning Your Hike

Easy. A public gravel road bisects the 170 acre preserve, closely following the stream. In three spots one must ford the creek. Hikers may encounter horseback riders and bike riders at Fishing Creek. Please share the trails.

Ecology and Management

Fishing Creek is managed for its passive recreation being of highest and best use. NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES PERMITTED OFF OF THE GRAVEL ROAD! VIOLATIONS WILL BE PROSECUTED THE FULLEST EXTENT.

Fishing Creek is designated as a high quality cold-water fishery. It supports a wild trout population and is supplemented by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission trout stocking in the spring. Fish species found in the Susquehanna River also use the creek for spawning, early life stages, and seasonal movements. The same species of water fowl and birds found on the Susquehanna River can be spotted along Fishing Creek, including herons, egrets, and kingfishers. Fishing Creek also supports other wildlife, including white tailed deer, turkeys, hawks, foxes, muskrats, raccoons, and squirrels.

Hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis), Pennsylvania’s state tree, are the dominant flora of the steep-sided valley, with an understory of ferns, sedges, and acidic loving plants. The uninterrupted forest canopy is large enough for interior forest bird species. Bats can be observed devouring insects during their acrobatic flight over the creek during the evening hours spring through fall.

Watershed

Fishing Creek traverses the preserve while collecting water from small rivulets along its way to the Conowingo Pond of the Susquehanna River.

Hunting Information

Fishing Creek South is open to Mixed-Use 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

Fishing Creek South Nature Preserve was acquired in various tracts from 1995 – 2002. Land was partially donated by the Bryson, Gibson, and Herr families, with the remainder of the funding granted by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Natural Lands Preservation Fund of Lancaster County.

Address

Fishing Creek Road, Drumore Township

Amenities

Limited parking. Preserve sign.

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 – 19.8 miles away
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital

555 N Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602

Additional Resources

Rawlinsville Fire Company
717-284-3023

Robert Fulton Fire Company
717-548-8995

PA State Police
717-299-7650