Explore Swatara State Park in Lebanon County
A lot of rail trails in the Susquehanna Valley take you along a river or creek, but one in Lebanon County takes you above the water.
And that's not the only feature on the trail worth seeing, as WGAL News 8's Matt Barcaro shows you.
In many parks, the trails are just what you use to get to places. At Swatara State Park in Lebanon County, one of the trails is an attraction.
"I think what's great about it is the variety of things you can do out here," Marshall Kramer said.
Kramer first took Matt along the Swatara Rail Trail, which winds through the park.
"Knowing that the highway is just next to us, it feels like we're in the deep woods. It's a lot of cover. There's a beautiful canopy on this trail," he said.
But one of the best views is when you leave the rail trail and leave the ground.
The Sand Siding Trail is a standout feature. It's a seamless path of four bridges that hovers over the Swatara Creek and its tributaries.
You get a different perspective because of the height.
"One of the biggest things is the Swatara, and a lot of the creeks around here are definitely prone to flooding, so this bridge is definitely elevated," Kramer said.
From the bridge, you can get an almost bird's eye view of the water and all the activity that comes with the current.
"Short little drive and it's a nice little getaway," Kramer said.
But don't stop at the bridge, or you'll miss the best part.
About a mile beyond the Sand Siding Bridge, an architectural work of art awaits. If you don't know it's there, you might walk past it.
"It just sits nestled here in the woods," Kramer said.
The Bordner Cabin is a gorgeous getaway next to a waterfall. The house is even more impressive once you find out it's homemade.
Retired woodshop teacher Armar Bordner and his students crafted the cabin by hand in the 1930's. Bordner's uncle, the story goes, cut down the trees himself.
The Swatara Watershed Association now maintains the cabin and keeps it open for visitors, making it a picturesque place to picnic, observe or just rest – complete with a scenic soundtrack that's hard to beat.
Send us your suggestions
If there's a place in the Susquehanna Valley that Matt should check out or an activity he should try, email us at news8@wgal.com.