The revised trail around the new Lake WIlliams dam offers fresh views and a new pedestrian bridge re-connecting a hike around the lake. Water Street is now open to pedestrians, bicycles and horses from the boat launch area to the dam.
The $40 million York Water Company dam took 15 years to complete from the planning to the construction. Over the past few years, construction has closed the area immediately around the dam and a stretch of Water Street between the dam and the boat launch area.
A vehicle and pedestrian crossing over the old dam was replaced by a temporary steel pipe and crushed stone trail allowing access below the dam during construction. The temporary crossing has been removed and access is now closer to the base of the dam with the new bridge.
A new concrete culvert with wood railings crosses over the discharge from the new dam. The new crossing routes hikers along a wide, gravel extension of Water Street. New access to the trail around the lake steps up, off the new gravel road and is surrounded by a cathedral of tall pines. A sign at this intersection welcomes pedestrians, bikers and horses to access Water Street connecting the trail around the lake with a wide paved route
Further along on the Water Street extension, there are views of the new dam and access to see over the spillway.
More: York Water Company celebrates rehabilitated dam by pouring water over it
On a recent summer Sunday, the more than century-old reservoir offered visitors the timeless beauty of glassy reflections, gliding watercraft and solitary moments blending the hues of sky and shimmering leaves. With access around the new dam marked by a new permanent route, time and nature are already weaving the new structures into a future historic Lake Williams experience.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: A new bridge and updated trail access offers fresh hiking experience around Lake Williams
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