Top Seven Spectacular Winter Walks Near Annville Inn, Hershey

The top seven winter walks near Annville Inn offer our Guests the convenience of a very close by opportunity.  Just step outdoors to take in Mother Nature in one of her grandest seasons.  We have listed our Guests’ favorite hikes here and within minutes of Annville Inn. Our location is central to some of the most spectacular hiking in Pennsylvania.

Our selection tells the story of historic walks or hikes. Some are extremely easy, designed for “pleasure walking”, while others are on multiple surfaces where one must be careful of footing, and have some hills. 

All walks near Annville Inn are not considered challenging, or “technical”, although we can certainly guide Guests to trails that fit that category. At the end of this post, we list some of the more “technical” hikes in our area. Our Annville Inn Travel Guide also lists outdoor adventures throughout our area.

Winter Walk #1, (0 Miles away) Annville Inn:

Our three acres of Gardens including nearly 600 roses and 16 themed gardens is connected by a network of pathways our Guests enjoy roaming and exploring. There’s something new to see around every corner making it the perfect winter walk. Most plants in our botanical gardens are identified with plant labels.  The Gardens are lit at night with non-light polluting trail lights, “down lit” to provide an enhancement similar to moonlight. You can walk the entire network of trails in 30 minutes (or longer if you take time to smell the roses 😊). 

Winter Walk #2 (two miles away) Lebanon Valley College (LVC): 

This beautiful campus stretches out in all directions, and is divided into quadrants by Route 934 and railroad tracks.  Unique suspension bridges connect the campus over these dividers.  The main campus is in the southeast quadrant, and includes the typical green area known as the “Quad”. 

Adjacent to the Quad is the “Duck Pond” water feature with bridges and waterways. The gardens of this campus are spectacular and the campus itself is a public garden.  You can enjoy flat walking, no hills to speak of. Should  you want to cross the suspension bridge, there are steps to climb, although some ramps are available, too. 

To cross from the main campus to the far north side of the campus, a beautiful new bridge over the railroad provides a sense of excitement when traversed at night…as you walk along the bridge, the entire structure lights up as you progress along.  The campus is lit at night, facilitating walks any time of the day or night.  A guest favorite for winter walks!

Winter Walk #3 (four miles away) Quittie Creek Nature Center. 

This little park offers a bit more “off road” feel as the trails wind their way around an old quarry, old growth forests, and near the usually fast moving Quittie Creek. Explore the old grist mill’s “mill race” on the creek, watch for wildlife. Birders are found almost any time of the day, binoculars in hand. 

Annville Inn has maps of the park for your convenience. There is a network of trails, and multiple entrances perfect for winter walks!

A feature of the park is a beautiful walking bridge, built over the Quittie. The real name of the creek is the “Quittiphelia”.  The bridge even won an architectural award presented to the builders at an architectural achievement ceremony in Chicago, Illinois.

Wear shoes with non-slip soles for better traction. The hike isn’t strenuous, but you’ll encounter some uphill and downhill grades, a few steps, and roots and rocks along the bare earth path through the forest. Stay mindful of these obstacles as you walk.

Winter Walk #4 (four miles away) Coleman Memorial Park. 

The Coleman family is a local “dynasty” that includes four generations of wealth launched nearly a century ago.  They donated the land that is now the park.

The family’s fortunes tie back to the founder of iron ore mines, and beautiful mansions and churches he built throughout our Lebanon County and Lancaster County. 

Coleman Park lies within the boundaries of four of the family’s large mansions. All shared the same property as their “front yards,” which by no means were typical suburb front lawns. The front property was and still is an old growth forest. It is comprised of acres of natural splendor.  The mansions are gone but there are markers to show where they once stood. Gate houses and stables remain.  Old walls and architectural hints of days past remain.  Pathways network the vast park. 

There is also an antique band stand, a lovely picnic area based upon a series of pergola, and much to explore.  We have been walking there for 20 years and always find something new!   Paved roads and pathways abound. Some paths through the forest are not paved, but bare soil.  Horticultural wonders throughout including large patches of spring blooming bulbs.  Beautiful amphitheater, similar to Wolf Trap near Washington, D.C. (but on a smaller scale).  Recently, additions of public art have been installed. Just completed is an offroad bicycle pathway for enthusiasts.  Birders most welcome. The forest is home to both residents and migrants. The alert visitor will find plenty of our feathered friends. Perhaps even a chance to check off a species on the bird watcher’s list.  Unlimited hiking and pleasure walks.

Winter Walk #5 (10 miles away) Hershey Gardens. 

Craig, your Innkeeper’s husband, was Director of Hershey Gardens for many years.  During his tenure many trails were made or upgraded, the year ‘round conservatory was master planned, new rare plants and beautiful sculptures were added, and many new horticultural programs were added.  The Gardens feature hard surfaced and ADA compliant pathways throughout most of its 27 acres.  You will pass through a number of themed gardens, over 7,000 roses, and in its arboretum, a “wood carpet” path winds through enormous trees.  Once a cornfield a century ago, the sloping property blossomed into one of the country’s most attractive public gardens.

Winter Walk #6 (10 miles away in several directions) Rails2Trails. 

Our Lebanon County has a very active Rails2Trails organization, buying up rights of way of abandoned railroads and turning them into beautiful outdoor winter walks. Winding through old growth forests, verdant pastures the trail also features crossing rebuilt railroad bridges, and even a tunnel (very near Annville Inn).  The trail goes through both country and town (Lebanon, Pa., Mt. Gretna, Pa.) and courses from Elizabethtown, Pa. all the way up the mountains to Pine Grove.

You can access the Rails2Trails near Cornwall (10 miles away), Coleman Park (4 miles away) and it passes through a tunnel only 3 miles away).   Walking the entire length of the Rails2Trails would take more than a day. Our Guests “section hike,’ choosing one starting point that interests them, hiking out X number of hours and then returning to the starting point.   This trail is sought after for cross country skiing in the winter, and also welcomes horseback riders.  Surface is either packed blue stone or packed earth. Short portions are paved. 

The pathway system is constantly being improved and expanded.  A new park is being constructed in Lebanon, where the trail will cross Route 422.  Portions of the trail, under acquisition and construction for over 30 years now, are still incomplete pending right of way acquisition and funding.  A trail map clearly shows sections that aren’t complete.  A majority of the trail is indeed finished!  This greenway throughout several counties is a birdwatcher’s paradise, and a favorite of both serious hikers and pleasure walkers.

Winter Walk #7 (two miles away), Union Canal Tunnel Park. 

Union Canal Tunnel Park hosts the Union Canal Tunnel. It is North America’s oldest continually used transportation tunnel. Today, transport is via canal boats, which take visitors up the canal, and through the tunnel. 

Above the tunnel, “Tunnel Hill Road” passes, and private residences line both sides of the street.  A casual visitor, driving along the road, would have no idea they were driving over a historic tunnel. 

Birders flock to Union Canal because of the forest and the large water source in the area, which attract birds of many different species. The trail surfaces are unimproved, but walking remains easy and level, as the path follows the canal towpath. For those seeking longer winter walks, the park connects to the renowned Rails2Trails system. 

Canal boat rides are available with docents onboard during warm weather months.  The park, tunnel, and boats are all maintained and operated by volunteers.

Other area winter walks and hikes will soon be featured on another blog post: 

High Adventure Hiking in our Area.  To whet your appetite, these trails include: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary (some of the best technical hiking in our area), the Horseshoe Trail, the Appalachian Trail, Ned Smith Nature Trail, Wildwood Nature Trail, Swatara State Park, Bordner’s Cabin Trail, Governor Dick Observation Tower Loop, Governor Dick Blue and White Diamond Loop, Lebanon Reservoir Loop, Middle Creek Conservation Trails, Rausch Gap Trail, Dinosaur Rock trail,

Box Car Rocks, Gold Mine Trail, Stony Creek Trail and many more.  Our verdant area is networked with hundreds and hundreds of trails!