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OUTSTANDING GEOLOGIC FEATURES OF PENNSYLVANIA
SUSQUEHANNOCK OVERLOOK
LANCASTER COUNTY
Location
Susquehannock State Park, Lancaster Co., Drumore Twp., lat:
39.80351, lon: -76.28852 (parking); Holtwood 7.5-minute quad.
Geology
The bedrock at Susquehannock State Park is a pinnacle of a
resistant layer of Octoraro Formation, which is composed of the
metamorphic rocks schist, phyllite, and gneiss. Various vantage
points along Overlook Trail, from about 230 to 380 feet above
the river, offer panoramic views of the Susquehanna River and
the upper reaches of the Conowingo Reservoir. The entire area is
located in the Piedmont Upland section of the Piedmont
physiographic province.
From the park is an excellent view of the Conowingo Islands in
the river. These islands also are bedrock protrusions of Octoraro
Formation. There are over 60 islands in this group, which
extends for about three miles north. Upper Bear and Lower Bear
islands, seen below, are the largest islands. The northwest
perimeter of the state park follows Wissler Run; the adjacent
slope, steep and rocky, is composed of the same rock formation.
View to the west of the Susquehanna River from Wisslers Run Overlook at Susquehannock State Park.
Recommended Reading
Hill, J. C., 2007, Bedrock geologic map of the northern portion of the Holtwood and Wakefield quadrangles, Lancaster
and York Counties, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Geological Survey, 4th ser., Open-File Report OFBM 07–04.0, 16 p., 1
map, scale 1:24,000.
For information regarding outstanding geologic features, contact the Pennsylvania Geological Survey:
Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey, 3240 Schoolhouse Rd., Middletown, PA 17057
717-702-2017 www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo Visit the Susquehannock State Park web page of DCNR
S. Reese, 2014