Things to do / Travel Guide
In eastern Pennsylvania you can enjoy cross-country-style biking through the rolling countryside, or off-road and mountain biking in the scenic northeast mountain area. The many national parks, state parks, and forests offer well-marked trails, while many more biking routes follow the Delaware River and the Susquehanna River. Here are just a few of the most popular biking trails:
Urban Trails
- Wicked Wissahickon - An excellent 13½-mile route that offers some great single-track paths in the heart of Conshohocken, only 15 miles northeast of Philadelphia. This urban challenge is well worth riding, has some of the most technically-difficult paths in the region, and is thus for experienced riders only. The route runs along the narrow tract of Fairmount Park lands and the Wissahickon Creek.
Mountain Trails
The area around Jim Thorpe in the Pocono Mountains has some of the best trails in the U.S. for mountain, off-road, and railroad grade biking, where discontinued railroad tracks have been “recycled” as bike trails.
Some of the top-rated trails are:
- Weekend Warrior, on Broad Mountain - One of the most popular trails, this is an outstanding intermediate-level ride of 3½ miles, with two stream crossings and two spectacular overlooks of the Lehigh River Gorge.
- Lehigh Gorge State Park - A 21-mile trail over an abandoned railroad grade takes you through the stunning and scenic Lehigh River Gorge, which runs through the park's 4,548 acres. Two other shorter scenic trails in the park, intersecting at some points, are the Broad Mountain Loop and the Deer Path. These vary from rocky single-track trails to steep climbs and smooth double-track trails, with terrain fit for riders of every skill level.
- Blue Marsh Lake - Located inside the 6,200-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project in the Reading area, this 24-mile single-track trail traces the lake's shoreline. The terrain is rolling, so most riders will be able to make the climbs in the saddle. Relatively non-technical, the trail is suitable for riders of all experience levels. Hot showers are available at the Dry Brooks Day Use Area at the end of the trail.
- Near Long Pond and Stroudsburg, in the Delaware Water Gap, there are many scenic bike trails of varying difficulty. If you choose to ride these trails, keep in mind that there is also seasonal hunting in this area, so be sure to wear bright clothing or reflectors.
Cross-Country Biking
- Stony Valley Rail Trail - Located in Dauphin County, northeast of Harrisburg, this 28½-mile route follows the abandoned rail grade of the historic Stony Valley Railroad and passes by the ruins of the old ghost town of Rausch Gap. The trail starts from the game commission lot and heads up the Stony Creek Valley passing near good trout streams. It continues through woods with opportunities to see some wildlife. The turn-around point at Rausch Gap is a great place to explore the site of the ghost town's ruins, including a spooky cemetery.
- Covered Bridges Bike Ride - Begin your ride in Lititz, and head south towards Lancaster. Continue on the route, visiting as many bridges as you have time for. This ride takes you through over 30 miles of Pennsylvania Dutch Country's scenic farmlands and past five of the famous covered bridges of Lancaster County. The road surface is fair.
- Delaware-Pennsylvania Hill-Climbing Cruise - This hilly, challenging ride along less-traveled roads of the Brandywine Valley offers lovely forests and wooded areas, with many old historic-looking homes. You'll wander undiscovered back roads around the outskirts of Wilmington, Delaware. Along the way, you'll pass two covered bridges and the Ashland Nature Center. The terrain is moderately hilly, and there are no services, bike shops, or B&Bs along this route, so be prepared for a long ride.
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