I hiked the stretch of the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail between Columbia and Chickies Rock. This scenic trail follows the path of the historic Pennsylvania Main Line Canal, running northwest along the Susquehanna River from Columbia to Falmouth. Most of the route is paved and accessible, but the northern section—from Bainbridge to Falmouth—remains largely undeveloped, making it ideal for walking, hiking, or mountain biking. Along the way, you’ll encounter remnants of the past: historic iron furnaces, building ruins, a preserved canal lock, parts of the original towpath and canal bed, and even an abandoned railroad tunnel.
Begin your journey at the southern trailhead, at the Columbia Crossing River Trails Center; located along the Susquehanna River at the foot of Walnut Street. Columbia Crossing currently features exhibits, restrooms, and helpful information about the trail and nearby points of interest. The Northwest River Trail begins just outside the adjacent historic railroad station in Columbia, following a wide path alongside the Columbia Bypass. The trail then passes beneath the Wright’s Ferry Bridge (Route 30) before leading into the scenic woodlands of Chickies Rock County Park.
Just a few minutes into your walk, you’ll spot the hidden remains of the old St. Charles Iron Furnace tucked into the brush. Today, you can safely step inside the crumbling structure—but 150 years ago, this would’ve been unthinkable. Back then, the furnace roared with internal temperatures reaching between 1,600 and 2,300°F.
Constructed in 1854, the St. Charles Furnace was capable of producing an estimated 10,000 tons of pig iron annually. Pig iron is the initial metallic product obtained after reducing iron ore. Although it contains many impurities and is quite brittle, pig iron is typically refined further into steel or cast iron.
The St. Charles Furnace was remodeled in 1879-80, but only six years later, it went out of blast for the last time and was finally dismantled in 1897.
A well-known stop along the Northwest River Trail north of Columbia is the abandoned—and reportedly haunted—Point Rock Tunnel, also called Chickies Rock Tunnel. This unlined, 180-foot-long tunnel was built between 1850 and 1851 for the original Pennsylvania Railroad Columbia Branch. The railroad was constructed on a narrow ledge along the east bank of the Susquehanna River, between Columbia and Chickies Rock. Blasting through solid rock was necessary because the slim strip of land between the rock outcrop and the river was only wide enough to accommodate the existing canal. Canal operations ended in 1857 when the Pennsylvania Railroad purchased the canal.
One of the paranormal entities reported at the tunnel is believed to be the spirit of a man who was struck by a train many years ago. Local legend tells of a bearded old man carrying a staff and a red lantern, whose ghost is often seen inside the tunnel. His spirit is said to appear most frequently between midnight and 1 a.m. In 1875, a railroad worker claimed to have encountered this ghost three times. On one occasion, the worker was certain the spirit noticed him, as it waved a greeting before vanishing.
Other ghosts are said to drift along the path of the old railroad tracks, as well.
A mile from the tunnel, you may see rock climbers scaling the craggy face of Chickies Rock.
The trail crosses Chiques Creek before continuing along Furnace Road. From there, you have two options: follow an undeveloped stretch of trail along the Susquehanna River or take a route through the town of Marietta. For the more direct, natural path, turn left off Furnace Road onto Robert K. Mowrer Drive, heading toward the river. After about 500 feet, you’ll reach a parking lot by the river that connects to a 0.2-mile dirt path leading back to the main trail.
This trail access guide outlines key features along the River Trail between Columbia and Marietta. To give you a sense of distance, it’s roughly two miles from Station 1 (Columbia Crossing River Trails Center) to Station 3 (Chickies Rock). Most of the trail within Chickies Rock County Park is shaded by trees.
Columbia Crossing River Trails Center
41 Walnut St, Columbia, PA 17512
Wander Woman 