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Elevation: 280 ft
GPS: 39.90803, -76.3642
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
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Shared By: Justin Johnsen on Nov 17, 2011 · Updates
Admins: Justin Johnsen, SCPC, SWPACC, EPAC

Description Suggest change

Over eighty (125) bolted single pitch sport routes along an abandoned railroad bed, a bit south of Safe Harbor Dam. Many of these have updated stainless steel hardware since their reopening in 2011, while some include 1980's or earlier vintage bolts and cold shuts.

Approaching from south to north, the climbing sectors reached (in order) are: Key West, Blood Sugar Magic, Electric Co., Tenuous Odyssey, Machismo, Super Slab, Autumn Arch, the Righteous and the Wicked, Numero Uno, Train in Vain, and Hydroman.

The South Central Pennsylvania Climbers (link is incorrect - should be scpclimbers.org) website has Eric Horst's mini-guide (the guide is not contained on the SCPC web page) to the south areas as well as the recently published guidebook to both North and South. The area divisions used here are from the mini guide.

Getting There Suggest change

From Lancaster, Pennsylvania, take New Danville Pike south to Conestoga (5 miles from Central Park, Lancaster). Turn right on Main Street (3 1/2 miles). When Main Street ends in a T-intersection, turn left of River Road, and you'll drive through Safe Harbor Park.

If your party has more than one vehicle, leave them at the park, and carpool from there.

After turning left (south) on River Road at Safe Harbor Park, continue on River Road as it winds back uphill. Turn right on Green Hill Road. At the first four-way intersection, turn left on Brenner Hollow, and then take another immediate right back onto Green Hill. In another mile or so, just before a flower preserve sign, Green Hill turns downhill onto a gravel road and to a tunnel.

Park just before or after the tunnel (remember that everyone has to U-turn and drive out past you). There's enough room for many vehicles to park here.

Check for recent "No parking" signs, in case of recent changes.

A few feet from the northeastern side of the tunnel on Green Hill is the start of an unmarked (the connector trail is now signed) climber's trail that leads from Green Hill Road to the Enola Low Grade Trail (the rails-to-trails trail). Walk through the woods for 5-10 minutes, mostly uphill, until you emerge from the woods onto the Enola trail, which is 50+ (perhaps the easement is, but the actual trail is more like 12-15 ) feet wide, completely covered in gravel, and flanked by a line of power lines. Turn right (north) and walk until you see bolts on the wall to your right (about 1/8 to 1/4 of a mile).

Warning: If you end up on the lower rail trail, with rails and trains running on it, you're off-route.

150 Total Climbs

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Location: Safe Harbor South Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Safe Harbor South

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 153
Le Eaglet
Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 132
Public Service
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 131
Eminent Domain
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 96
Slab Master
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 146
Mental As Anything
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 147
Safe Harbor Direct
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 117
Locomotion
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 169
Autumn Arch
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 133
Electric Co.
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 86
Super Slab
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 100
Hydroman
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 60
Machismo
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 14
Doppelganger
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 53
Wonderama
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 29
Blood Sugar Magic
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Le Eaglet k. Hydroman Sector
 153
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Public Service c Electric Co. Sector
 132
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Eminent Domain g. Autumn Arch Sector
 131
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Slab Master f. Super Slab Sector
 96
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Mental As Anything k. Hydroman Sector
 146
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
Safe Harbor Direct c Electric Co. Sector
 147
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
Locomotion g. Autumn Arch Sector
 117
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Autumn Arch g. Autumn Arch Sector
 169
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Electric Co. c Electric Co. Sector
 133
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Super Slab f. Super Slab Sector
 86
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Hydroman k. Hydroman Sector
 100
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Machismo e. Machismo Sector
 60
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Doppelganger g. Autumn Arch Sector
 14
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Wonderama g. Autumn Arch Sector
 53
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Blood Sugar Magic b. Blood Sugar Magic…
 29
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
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