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Safe Harbor South

Pennsylvania > S Central PA > Safe Harbor

Description

Over eighty (125) bolted single pitch sport routes along an abandoned railroad bed, a bit south of Safe Harbor Dam. Many of these have updated stainless steel hardware since their reopening in 2011, while some include 1980's or earlier vintage bolts and cold shuts.

Approaching from south to north, the climbing sectors reached (in order) are: Key West, Blood Sugar Magic, Electric Co., Tenuous Odyssey, Machismo, Super Slab, Autumn Arch, the Righteous and the Wicked, Numero Uno, Train in Vain, and Hydroman.

The South Central Pennsylvania Climbers (link is incorrect - should be scpclimbers.org) website has Eric Horst's mini-guide (the guide is not contained on the SCPC web page) to the south areas as well as the recently published guidebook to both North and South. The area divisions used here are from the mini guide.

Getting There

From Lancaster, Pennsylvania, take New Danville Pike south to Conestoga (5 miles from Central Park, Lancaster). Turn right on Main Street (3 1/2 miles). When Main Street ends in a T-intersection, turn left of River Road, and you'll drive through Safe Harbor Park.

If your party has more than one vehicle, leave them at the park, and carpool from there.

After turning left (south) on River Road at Safe Harbor Park, continue on River Road as it winds back uphill. Turn right on Green Hill Road. At the first four-way intersection, turn left on Brenner Hollow, and then take another immediate right back onto Green Hill. In another mile or so, just before a flower preserve sign, Green Hill turns downhill onto a gravel road and to a tunnel.

Park just before or after the tunnel (remember that everyone has to U-turn and drive out past you). There's enough room for many vehicles to park here.

Check for recent "No parking" signs, in case of recent changes.

A few feet from the northeastern side of the tunnel on Green Hill is the start of an unmarked (the connector trail is now signed) climber's trail that leads from Green Hill Road to the Enola Low Grade Trail (the rails-to-trails trail). Walk through the woods for 5-10 minutes, mostly uphill, until you emerge from the woods onto the Enola trail, which is 50+ (perhaps the easement is, but the actual trail is more like 12-15 ) feet wide, completely covered in gravel, and flanked by a line of power lines. Turn right (north) and walk until you see bolts on the wall to your right (about 1/8 to 1/4 of a mile).

Warning: If you end up on the lower rail trail, with rails and trains running on it, you're off-route.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Area overview, Blood Sugar Magic sector not shown, it's a little bit further off to the right (south).
[Hide Photo] Area overview, Blood Sugar Magic sector not shown, it's a little bit further off to the right (south).
Dusk on the walk back to the car.
[Hide Photo] Dusk on the walk back to the car.
Inside the tunnel, inside the soul.
[Hide Photo] Inside the tunnel, inside the soul.
Safe Harbor South's walls parallel old electric lines across an abandoned railroad bed.
[Hide Photo] Safe Harbor South's walls parallel old electric lines across an abandoned railroad bed.
The journey begins
[Hide Photo] The journey begins
the tunnel at the far side parking
[Hide Photo] the tunnel at the far side parking
Sunset over the Susquehanna, from Safe Harbor South.
[Hide Photo] Sunset over the Susquehanna, from Safe Harbor South.
The Dam at Safe Harbor
[Hide Photo] The Dam at Safe Harbor
Looking upstream at Safe Harbor Dam from the south.
[Hide Photo] Looking upstream at Safe Harbor Dam from the south.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Adam Marcus
Salt Lake City, UT
[Hide Comment] The following bit of the "Getting There" section is pretty confusing: "On the uphill side of the tunnel off Green Hill Road, follow a side trail uphill next to high tension power lines. It will connect you to the old rail trail (with no rails left) where it crosses over the top of the tunnel."

Here's some clearer directions: A few feet from the northeastern side of the tunnel on Green Hill is the start of an unmarked climber's trail that leads from Green Hill Road to the Enola Low Grade Trail (the rails-to-trails trail). Walk through the woods for 5-10 minutes, mostly uphill, until you emerge from the woods onto the Enola trail, which is 50+ feet wide, completely covered in gravel, and flanked by a line of power lines. Turn right (north) and walk until you see bolts on the wall to your right (about 1/8 to 1/4 of a mile).

Start of climber's trail from Green Hill Road to Enola Low Grade Trail
Mar 28, 2015
Adam Marcus
Salt Lake City, UT
[Hide Comment] The powerline poles that run along the trail have plates with numbers. The tower closest to the trail to Green Hill Road is T 14. The tower closest to the Port-o-John is T 23.
Plate on one of the powerline poles showing number (T 23)
Mar 28, 2015
[Hide Comment] there is literally no shade. so wouldn't recommend on a hot sunny summer day Jun 9, 2016
Bruce Uthus
Germantown, MD
[Hide Comment] Who would be a contact person in case of an emergency, someone local that can get to the climb site easily? Nov 12, 2017
Alek Fredriksson
Columbia, MD
[Hide Comment] Does anyone know any key information/beta about Visionaire? I posted a comment on the actual page of the climb but I'm guessing not as many people look at that page in comparison to this one. Nov 5, 2019
Auden Alsop
Berkeley
[Hide Comment] Having looked at Visionaire from the top of Wonderama- the climbing up to the face is probably 5.7. To work it, you’d have to go ground up and hang draws that way- fortunately, it’s the most closely bolted route there so you might not even need a stick clip. It looks like a bunch of tiny holds, and apprently they tend to be friable. Tread lightly. Dec 30, 2019
John Nguyen
SLC, UT
[Hide Comment] It’s not worth coming here in the summer unless you enjoy burning your toes and fingertips Aug 2, 2020
Corey Wademan
New Jersey
[Hide Comment] Beware of the poison oak on the autumn arch portion, particularly in the corner near Expose and the 5.12 that tops out over the tall slab. Got a cut that turned into a nasty rash from that portion. Jun 28, 2021
Andy Whicker
Ogden, UT
[Hide Comment] Great rock and surprisingly good movement given the ledgey aspect of the place.

Not sure why developers seemed to have gone out of their way to make it so dangerous with bolt spacing. I think every route we did had 2nd bolt ground potential.

Super fun rock. Never climbed anything like it. Dec 1, 2024