If you've always thought about taking a scenic bicycle ride along the Susquehanna River but didn't know the best route, Landis Valley Museum may soon have the information you need.

Working in conjunction with Lancaster-York Heritage Region and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the museum has completed a feasibility study mapping out a "River Ride."

While an exact route has yet to be determined, Stephen S. Miller, executive director at Landis Valley, said it would use "the best public road surfaces" along both sides of the Susquehanna from Columbia to the Norman Wood Bridge and back.

"Basically, it starts in Columbia and goes south on Route 441 and River Road," Miller said. "Then it goes around Turkey Hill to Pequea and Holtwood, across the Norman Wood Bridge and then up to Airville, over to Indian Steps, and then through Craley and Long Level and into Wrightsville, then across the Veterans Memorial Bridge and back into Columbia."

The route originally was envisioned at 40 miles overall. In fact, it is closer to 62 miles — and some of those miles are rugged. Cyclists who do the entire route from Columbia and back would gain 480 feet in altitude during the ride.

"There are some hefty hills along the way," Miller said.

One of the challenges of the feasibility study was to discover areas that are "more family-friendly" to attract the "average rider."

The idea was hatched about three years ago by Miller, who enjoys bicycling and wanted a way to connect the Landis Valley bike trails to the York County Heritage Rail Trail.

However, when he applied for a grant to do the study, the DCNR told him he had to include a greater portion of York County.

"So I rewrote the grant application to include both sides of the river," he said.

The matching grant that arose — $12,500 from the state and $12,500 from private resources — provided the ability to look at more than just the actual route.

"Part of the feasibility study was to look at heritage resources, historic sites and things that are more practical, like a place to get a tire or an ice cream cone or if you need a restroom," Miller said. "So it was an evaluation of what resources were out there."

The next phase involves obtaining funding for implementation, Miller said.

"We'll also seek additional private support from hoteliers, restaurateurs, bicycle companies and places like that along the route," Miller said.

Getting the word out about the River Ride also is a challenge. One idea, Miller said, is a competition bicycle ride that would include routes for cyclists of different proficiency levels.

Another key piece will be signs to mark the route. This could get "very complex," Miller conceded, since rules regarding signs vary from municipality to municipality.

Miller said he is thrilled now that the study is done, and the next thing is to bring the River Ride to reality, which he hopes to do by the end of the decade.

"I think there are opportunities for this, but there are also challenges we're going to have to address in terms of the width of the roads, sight angles around turns and so on," Miller said. "We can't ignore those things."

E-mail: lalexander@lnpnews.com