Immature bald Eagle
(photo by Bob Anderhalt)
Robert A. Kinsley Nature Preserve
eBird Hotspot Page
Property Manager: Lancaster Conservancy
Location: Hellam Township, York County
GPS: 40.0144° N, –76.5907° W
Parking: Shoulder parking available near the intersection of Furnace Road and Chimney Rock Road, or limited pull-offs along River Drive at Furnace Road. Please park safely and respect nearby residences.
Restrooms: No facilities are available at this site.
Safety Reminders: Be aware that hunting is permitted in designated seasons—wear blaze orange in fall and winter. Ticks are common; use insect repellent and check after hiking. Expect moderate to steep grades and rocky footing--sturdy footwear recommended.
Map: Lancaster Conservancy Preserve Page →
Description: The Robert A. Kinsley Nature Preserve protects nearly 800 acres of rugged forest in the Hellam Hills Conservation Area, overlooking the Susquehanna River. Its steep ridges, rocky bluffs, and cool stream valleys provide some of the most pristine forest interior habitat remaining in York County. The Mason-Dixon Trail (blue blaze) winds through the preserve, connecting to dramatic viewpoints such as Buzzards Roost and Wildcat Bluff, where hikers and birders can enjoy sweeping views across the river valley and Piedmont Lowlands.
Birding Highlights - Over 140 species have been documented at Kinsley Preserve, making it one of the region’s most productive interior-forest birding sites.
eBird Hotspot Page
Property Manager: Lancaster Conservancy
Location: Hellam Township, York County
GPS: 40.0144° N, –76.5907° W
Parking: Shoulder parking available near the intersection of Furnace Road and Chimney Rock Road, or limited pull-offs along River Drive at Furnace Road. Please park safely and respect nearby residences.
Restrooms: No facilities are available at this site.
Safety Reminders: Be aware that hunting is permitted in designated seasons—wear blaze orange in fall and winter. Ticks are common; use insect repellent and check after hiking. Expect moderate to steep grades and rocky footing--sturdy footwear recommended.
Map: Lancaster Conservancy Preserve Page →
Description: The Robert A. Kinsley Nature Preserve protects nearly 800 acres of rugged forest in the Hellam Hills Conservation Area, overlooking the Susquehanna River. Its steep ridges, rocky bluffs, and cool stream valleys provide some of the most pristine forest interior habitat remaining in York County. The Mason-Dixon Trail (blue blaze) winds through the preserve, connecting to dramatic viewpoints such as Buzzards Roost and Wildcat Bluff, where hikers and birders can enjoy sweeping views across the river valley and Piedmont Lowlands.
Birding Highlights - Over 140 species have been documented at Kinsley Preserve, making it one of the region’s most productive interior-forest birding sites.
- Breeding species include Worm-eating, Kentucky, and Hooded Warblers in shaded slopes and thickets, with Scarlet Tanagers, Wood Thrushes, and Acadian Flycatchers common along forested streams.
- Ridge-edge habitats attract Blue-winged Warblers, Indigo Buntings, Brown Thrashers, and Eastern Towhees.
- Summer Tanagers have been seen at this location most summers in the past several years.
- The bluffs and overlooks are excellent for spotting Turkey Vultures, Broad-winged Hawks, and other soaring raptors riding thermals above the river.
- Spring (April–May): Excellent for warbler migration, vireos, and early breeders.
- Summer (June–July): Peak nesting activity among forest specialists.
- Fall (September–October): Watch for southbound raptors and colorful foliage along the ridges.
- Winter (December–March): Quiet, but good for Downy, Pileated, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers as well as White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches.