Holtwood Environmental Preserve

The Holtwood Environmental Preserve contains the nationally recognized Shenk's Ferry Wildflower Preserve of spring woodland flowers, 39 miles of hiking trails, the unique Lock 12 Historic Area and Indian Steps Museum of Native American artifacts on more than 5000 acres on both shores of the lower Susquehanna River in Lancaster and York counties. It also provides lakeside recreational opportunities such as camping, picnicking, boating, sightseeing, fishing, water-skiing, swimming and hunting. Birdwatchers flock to see migrating warblers in early spring, nesting bald eagles and ospreys in late spring and herons on the river in August. The Holtwood hydroelectric plant and Lake Aldred demonstrate the successful combination of power generation, recreation, environmental education, land management. The steep river slope and fast flow of water made this section of the river attractive to hydropower developers. Holtwood Dam, built in 1912, is a hydroelectric station just north of Lake Aldred.