Situated in a secluded gorge in Lancaster County, PA, Trout Run Preserve is a short hike that packs a dazzling display of clear water cascades, intricately layered cliffs, and an oddly echoing rock.
Visiting Trout Run Preserve in Lancaster County, PA is like one of those stories where someone discovers a door that leads from the world of the mundane to a secret world of the fantastic. Trout Run is a small preserve with an unobtrusive gorge that you could pass by regularly never knowing that it is there, which is part of the charm. But after you discover the postcard like scenery of clear water, mossy rocks, layered cliffs, and cascades, you will ask yourself “Why didn’t I know about this before?!” As a bonus, hidden in Trout Run Preserve is a bona fide oddity: an echoing rock! So let’s get exploring!
We parked in the small parking lot at the Sigman Road trailhead to the Enloa Low Grade Trail (the subject of a future adventure). See the map at the end of the post for coordinates. From the parking lot, you can get to Trout Run by taking the gated access road or via the Enola Low Grade Trail. We took the Enola Low Grade Trail. After about half a mile you can hear water. This is your cue to look to the left for a trail that descends to the gorge.
The Enola Low Grade Trail passes over Trout Run via an old stone railroad bridge (photo above). There is a trail on either side of Trout Run. If you take the trail before crossing the railroad bridge it will take you to a trail on the east side of Trout Run. If you rake the trail after the railroad bridge it will lead you to a more challenging trail on the west side of Trout Run, which fizzles out after one of the rock cliffs a little less than halfway through the gorge. We took the first trail, before the railroad bridge, from the Enola Low Grade Trail to the east side of Trout Run.
We were immediately wowed by the beauty of Trout Run’s rocks and clear water and were intrigued by the railroad bridge. After exploring the railroad bridge we headed south moving upstream.
The trail runs along of the bank of the stream for a short distance then diverts up the side of the gorge to navigate around some rock outcroppings. The trail then descends some rock ledges giving picturesque top-down views of the stream and gorge landscape. Trout Run grows rockier and flows faster as you progress, intensifying in scenic charm.
You will encounter the prominent multi-level cliff rock formation. Its terraces and grooves are begging to be explored, exercising appropriate caution, of course. The trail on the other side of Trout Run leads to the lower level of this majestic formation, but the trail fades shortly after.
After the prominent cliff, Trout Run becomes even rockier. Multiple cascades parkouring between, around, and over rocks appear. Be sure to see these beauties in action in the video at the bottom of this post.
At 39.90955, -76.28428 there is a confluence punctuated by another large rock outcropping. Just beyond there is a dry crossing at 39.90933, -76.28390 between two large rocks on either side of the stream as shown in the next two pictures. We hopped across and followed Trout Run on the other (west) side.
Here’s a view of the sylvan scenery from the top of one of Trout Run’s rock outcroppings. In the distance you can see the cascade that comes closest to qualifying as a “waterfall”. What do you think?
We followed this trail for about 0.6 miles past the dry crossing until it terminated at Stump Road. Then we backtracked, returning to the gorge until we encountered the oddity Echo Rock at 39.90894, -76.28336. Echo Rock possesses the unusual property of reflecting and focusing the sound of the stream, functioning as a parabolic disc. If you stand at the right spot under Echo Rock, you can actually hear the sound of the stream coming from the top of the rock!
After having some fun at the strange Echo Rock, we backtracked to the confluence noted above but did not cross at the dry crossing. Rather, we headed west to explore the other arm of Trout Run which regaled us with more crystal cascades sliding over the rocks.
After a short but pleasant walk of about 0.3 miles the trail terminated at Stump Road further down. We backtracked to the dry crossing and returned the way we came, enjoying the downstream view of the beautiful Trout Run. We returned to where we started at the old stone railroad bridge then back up the Enola Low Grade Trail to the parking lot. Be sure to see the video at the end of this post.
Join us on the video of the Trout Run Preserve adventure:
Overall, the trail was approximately 4 miles with some opportunity to extend slightly with trails at the top of the gorge.
Parking is at: 39.91834, -76.27912.
Trout Run Preserve is the perfect short trip to take a break from the world above and immerse yourself in a word of natural beauty, fit for both the casual and the connoisseur of adventure. And what a bonus to find the genuine oddity Echo Rock! If you didn’t know about Trout Run Preserve, now you do, so get out there and see it for yourself!
Also, be sure to check out our other adventures.
