Kellys Run Nature Preserve — Attraction in Martic Township

I love the loop at Kelly's Run. It's one of my favorite places in the county to go hiking. I've done this loop clockwise and counter clockwise many times, my preference is clockwise. I highly recommend visiting at different times of the year because each season offers unique and beautiful scenery. My uncle and I went today (February) and the creek is higher because of the precipitation this year. Today we enjoyed the views of the river which we could see through the trees and the flow of the rushing water in the creek. There are mini waterfalls throughout the creek portion of the trail. Obviously, the higher water levels add more challenge to the trail depending on your level of comfort and your expertise at hiking. My uncle had an easier time at the water crossings because he's tall with long legs. I went slow and steady and crossed with no issues. Even when wearing good hiking shoes/boots, be careful because the rocks are slippery. You may want to wear pants that dry quickly in case you slip in. Some parts of the loop trail were slightly flooded, so use caution as your passing through a muddy area. Overall, I think these small challenges make it more interesting. I'm looking forward to going back in the spring. If you decide to go, I hope you enjoy it as...

This might be my favorite nature preserve in the vicinity of Lancaster. The highlight of this place is a ~3.5 mile loop trail (the blue trail) that traverses beautiful mountain-like rocky streams shaded by rhododendron, an old railroad bridge, and a beautiful hilltop field. Great views of the Susquehanna. There's some good elevation change over the course of this loop trail that makes for a good workout, but there are several easier and shorter trails too. You can also hike to Pinnacle Overlook, which is adjacent to Kelly's Run. In the summer there are lots of little pools along the creek for swimming/wading. Only downside is the creekside trails are not well maintained despite crossing the creek numerous times, so be prepared to get your feet wet trying to jump from rock to rock. Not ideal for people with very small children or trail runners. Plenty of parking and not...

Just did the blue loop for about the 5th time. You can obviously do it in either direction. I prefer to do it clockwise. That allows you to hike up the creek instead of down. Considering the hike through the creek bed is pretty technical, going up versus down is a better experience. The elevation changes and rocky terrain mean this hike is not for the faint of heart. Hiking clockwise does have you hiking up the ridge at the end of the loop and that can be quite a workout. Doing the trail in the spring means the water is high. You need to cross the creek about 4 times. This means you should have waterproof boots or you are getting wet feet. Additionally, there were many downed trees in the creek bed which present a serious obstacle. Those will most likely be cleared at some point. When the water is low, there are ample rock paths to use when you...