Schull’s Rock overlook offers cliff-edge panoramic views with trails to abandoned ruins in the Susquehanna Riverlands, one of Pennsylvania’s newest state parks.
Schull’s Rock is a large outcropping that forms a sheer precipice overlooking the mighty Susquehanna River. It is popular for its amazing panoramic river town vistas and because it is accessible via a relatively short easy, plateau-top walk. Schull’s Rock is located in Susquehanna Riverlands State Park in York County, PA.
The easiest and most direct route to Schull’s Rock is a half mile walk through light woods and along farm fields from the Forge Lane parking lot at 40.049601, -76.636413. However, we opted for a more scenic route to get a light workout ascending the plateau from Codorus Creek. We parked at the end of River Farm Road in a lot at 40.05388, -76.64487, about 0.8 miles east of Codorus Furnace, near where Codorus Creek flows into the Susquehanna River. On the way to the parking lot we turned aside to investigate ruins of two houses.
The ruins are right along River Farm Road. All that remains are chimneys, parts of the foundation and retaining walls, and concrete stairs.
The photo below shows the ruins of the second house. Who lived here? When were the houses built? When and why were they abandoned?
The chimney of the second house serviced two fireplaces on separate floors.
After exploring the abandoned house ruins, we observed an old grade following a small stream through a narrow ravine between the two ruins. We turned aside to explore, thinking perhaps this would meet up with the main trail. However, after uncovering some old pipe and climbing part way up the plateau, the grade fizzles out in less than a quarter of a mile. You can join us on the excursion in the video at the bottom of the post. We returned to the house ruins and made our way to the parking lot at 40.05388, -76.64487 where the trail proper begins.
From the parking lot, we followed another old grade, this time reaching the plateau after a brisk uphill walk for 0.6 miles. The light blue blazes indicate that the Mason-Dixon Trail runs through this section. There is a large stretch of farm field at the top of the plateau, affording big sky views to the north. Interestingly, you can see three power plants from this vantage point. From left to right in the zoomed photo below are Brunner Island Electric Station, Crane Clean Energy Center (formerly Three Mile Island), and the Lancaster Waste to Energy Facility.
If you prefer a short walk, you can park at the lot on top of the plateau at 40.049601, -76.636413, as described above. From here it is an easy, walk through light woods and along farm fields to the Schull’s Rock overlook.
Schull’s Rock towers above the Susquehanna and offers panoramic views of the Lancaster County countryside on the far side of the river and the York County Hellam Hills on the near side. The bridge in the picturesque photo below is the historic Schock’s Mill Bridge, originally built in 1905. If you look closely, you can see that the piers near both ends of the bridge form arches, but the piers in the middle of the bridge have no arches. That is because the middle of the bridge was destroyed in 1972 by Hurricane Agnes, and the middle piers were replaced. Schock’s Mill Bridge is currently active and in use by Norfolk Southern.
The photo below is a view downstream. Note the hills on either side of the Susquehanna at the horizon. If you bring binoculars, Chickies Rock is visible to the left (Lancaster County) where the Susquehanna River bends and passes through the anticline.
Here is a view of the top of Schull’s Rock from the nearby ledge.
Overall, the adventure was approximately 2 miles total, out and back, not including our excursion up the grade by the house ruins.
We parked in the lot at the end of Farm River Road at 40.05388, -76.64487.
Parking at the top of the plateau only about half a mile from Schull’s Rock is available at 40.05388, -76.64487.
We can see why Schull’s Rock is so popular. The magnificent overlook has the benefit of near or farther parking enabling you to customize your experience. The ease of the trail at the top of the plateau makes it great for families. The house ruins along River Farm Road were a happy bonus, and you can even drive up to them. If you are interested in extending your adventure, you can make use of the Mason-Dixon Trail which connects Susquehanna Riverlands State Park and the Robert A. Kinsley Nature Preserve to the east. In any case, bring your binoculars and enjoy the spectacular view.
While you are in the area, you can enjoy these nearby adventures:
Be sure to check out our other adventures.
