The Conestoga River meanders for about sixty miles through the fertile farmlands of Lancaster County in southeastern Pennsylvania until it empties into the Susquehanna River. It originates in Berks County but most of its length is in Lancaster County. It enters the Susquehanna at Safe Harbor just below the Safe Harbor dam. Originally known as the Conestogoe or Conestogo, its name is derived from the Iroquoian word “Kanastoge” meaning “place of the immersed pole”.
In 2021, I wrote a book about the history of the Conestoga River. The book includes a center section of color photos depicting the Conestoga Watershed. The following gallery contains those photos.
How sweet it is, when gloaming tide
Concludes a sultry summer’s day,
By some cool water’s shaded side
With loved ones, young or old, to stray!
And where did any eye survey
A landscape matching scene on scene
Where Conestoga winds its way
Betwixt its trees and meadows green?
0, lovely Conestoga!
—James D. Law, 1903
Start of the Conestoga
The West Branch (right) joins the East Branch (lower left) to form the beginning of the Conestoga River in Caernarvon Township, Berks County.
Upper Conestoga in Summer
The upper Conestoga in summer on Limekiln Road.
Upper Conestoga Sunrise
Sunrise on the upper Conestoga along South Red School Road.
The Conestoga Valley
The Conestoga River winds through the valley on the Fourth of July.
Conestoga Pastoral
A pastoral scene along Boot Jack Road.
Poole Forge Covered Bridge
People enjoy a peaceful Sunday afternoon under the covered bridge at Poole Forge.
Mill Road Bridge
The Mill Road crosses the Conestoga on this light bridge.
Peace Like a River
The view looking downstream from the Mill Road bridge.
Lindon Road Bridge and Dam
The river flows over an old mill dam under the Linden Road bridge. The sluice gate is in the foreground.
Relaxing on a Sunday Afternoon
The pond behind the mill dam offers a prime fishing spot.
Upper Conestoga
The gentle Conestoga flows through pasture land along Conestoga Road.
Beside Still Waters
A mule enjoys some sweet grass by the river near Gristmill Road.
Conestoga View
The pond above the dam at Kurtz's mill. The mill is no longer standing. The covered bridge that had been at this location is now in Lancaster County Park.
Footbridge
A footbridge crosses the river along Cabin Drive. Railings optional.
Brownstown Mill
The Brownstown Mill.
Bushong Mill
Bushong's / Zook's Mill
Pinetown Bridge
The Pinetown covered bridge.
Window on the Conestoga
The view from a window on the Pinetown bridge.
Contemplation
Swallows catch insects above the river along Mondale Road.
Hunsecker's Bridge
Kayakers paddle under the Hunsicker Mill covered bridge.
Relaxation
More paddlers float by Perelman Park.
Keystone Service
An Amtrak train passes over the Conestoga River Viaduct.
Conestoga River
The view looking upstream from the bridge at Bridgeport.
Conestoga River at Rocky Springs
The sites of Rocky Springs and People's Bathing Resort as they appear today.
Rocky Springs Carousel House
The carousel house at Rocky Springs.
A December Morning on the Conestoga
Canadian geese spend the night on the river near the Conestoga Greenway Trail.
Sycamore on the Conestoga
A sycamore tree leans over the river along the Conestoga Greenway Trail
Rock Ford in Winter
The Edward Hand mansion at Rock Ford after a fresh snowfall.
The Conestoga
The tranquil Conestoga at Lancaster County Park
Wildflowers
Wildflowers adorn the trail at Windolph Landing Natural Area.
Blue Heron
A blue heron watches for fish at Safe Harbor Park.
End of the season.
An autumn scene at Safe Harbor Park