Immature bald Eagle
(photo by Bob Anderhalt)
Susquehanna Riverlands State Park
Location: York County, Pennsylvania — along the confluence of Codorus Creek and the Susquehanna River.
Access: Main access via 4898 Furnace Road, York, PA 17406.
Size / Setting: Approximately 1,044 acres of largely undeveloped forest and riverfront land.
Trails & Terrain: A section (~2.75 miles) of the Mason‑Dixon Trail runs through the park. The terrain features wooded ridges, river and creek edges, rock outcrops and scenic overlooks.
Description: The Susquehanna Riverlands State Park offers birders a richly varied landscape of riparian forest, steeper slopes descending to the river and creek, and open vistas looking out over the Susquehanna corridor. Newly added to the state park system in 2022, it preserves one of the last large contiguous blocks of forest along this stretch of the Susquehanna between York and Lancaster. The park is still in the process of development, meaning infrastructure is minimal but the habitat is intact and wild.
Birding Highlights
Location: York County, Pennsylvania — along the confluence of Codorus Creek and the Susquehanna River.
Access: Main access via 4898 Furnace Road, York, PA 17406.
Size / Setting: Approximately 1,044 acres of largely undeveloped forest and riverfront land.
Trails & Terrain: A section (~2.75 miles) of the Mason‑Dixon Trail runs through the park. The terrain features wooded ridges, river and creek edges, rock outcrops and scenic overlooks.
Description: The Susquehanna Riverlands State Park offers birders a richly varied landscape of riparian forest, steeper slopes descending to the river and creek, and open vistas looking out over the Susquehanna corridor. Newly added to the state park system in 2022, it preserves one of the last large contiguous blocks of forest along this stretch of the Susquehanna between York and Lancaster. The park is still in the process of development, meaning infrastructure is minimal but the habitat is intact and wild.
Birding Highlights
- The mix of riparian corridor and forest edge makes this site promising for a wide variety of songbirds and migratory species.
- The rock-outcrop overlooks and open ridges provide vantage points for soaring raptors over the river valley.
- Early successional edges and creek margins may attract edge-species such as warblers, vireos and flycatchers.
- While detailed species lists are limited (site still developing), the setting is very similar to other Important Bird Areas along the Susquehanna, which host forest interior and riparian species in mid-Atlantic states.
- Spring (April–May): Strong for early migration along the river corridor, especially warblers and vireos using the forest edge.
- Summer (June–July): Breeding season for forest-interior birds and riparian specialists.
- Fall (September–October): Excellent for raptor migration along the river corridor and for songbirds moving through.
- Winter (December–March): Quieter, but good for woodpeckers, nuthatches and wintering raptors using the bluff and river-edge habitats.
- Mature and maturing deciduous forest along ridges and slopes.
- Riparian and creek-edge forest along Codorus Creek and the Susquehanna River.
- Rock outcrops and cliff-edge vegetation offering vantage for birds and open canopy sections.
- Minimal developed recreation infrastructure, meaning large sections of habitat are relatively undisturbed.
- Bring good footwear: trails include uneven terrain, rock outcrops and forest slopes.
- Early morning visits will maximize songbird activity.
- Use binoculars (or even a spotting scope) for river-valley views and for raptor scanning from overlooks.
- Be aware: infrastructure is limited (currently no formal restroom facilities) so plan accordingly.
- Respect posted boundaries: some adjacent lands may be private or agricultural fields.
- Because the park is new and still being developed, check current trail access and conditions ahead of your visit.