Koser Park, 107 Race St. | Conoy Township
The White Cliffs of Conoy are a definite must see in Lancaster County. Sitting nearly 30 feet above the riverbank, the cliffs offer grand views of the Susquehanna River. They are not a natural occurrence, but are actually composed of the byproduct from a limestone and dolomite quarry that opened in the mid-1800s. Across from the cliffs, on the other side of the train tracks, are the ruins of the limestone factory as that was once used in conjunction with the quarry. There are several other buildings as well that are the remnants of the Billmyer ghost town. Nature has now taken back what was once a thriving company town.
The quarry operation closed up in the 1950s. The quarry itself, which is currently owned by the Bainbridge Sportsman Club, filled up with water and is used for scuba diving practice. The cliffs were privately owned until 2014, but are now under control of Conoy Township. Conoy Township did have the substances tested and found that they are not hazardous. However, there is some debris throughout the cliffs. Be aware of rusted metal and other objects. There is also no fencing at the edge of the cliffs, so be mindful of children and pets.
To get to the cliffs you will need to take the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail. The shortest route is from Koser Park in Bainbridge. It's a 1.5 mile walk heading south. You can also reach the cliffs from Riverfront Park heading north for 3 miles. The trail is paved and level. Parts of the trail are shaded, but there are spots the are not and it can get hot in the summer.
Distance: 3 miles out and back
Time: 1-2 hours
Terrain: paved | partially shaded
Difficulty: medium rare
Activities: hiking | walking | biking | jogging | leashed dogs
Parking: mid-size parking lot
Restrooms: port-a-potty
Website: nwrt.info | susquehannagreenway.org
Directions:
Take US-30 West
Take the exit toward Marietta onto PA-441 North
Drive for 9.8 miles
Turn Left onto Race St.
Parking lot for Koser Park is straight ahead after crossing over train tracks