Central PA bike roads

[Parrot]

A few of my favorite rides in Central PA.

Let's start off with the one I ride when I ride to work.
Route 44, Jersey Shore PA to Allenwood PA
Jersey Shore, PA to Allenwood, PA - Google Maps

Really nice road, 2 lanes. Some patches on the right hand side of either north or south bound lanes. Excellent views of some pristine countryside. Pull-off halfway through on top of the mountain offers a nice view and a chance to stretch your legs. Careful, the stones on that pull off are tiny and create a hazard.

Recently I rode on 414 from route 15 @ Liberty, PA to Canton PA. Route 14 is a 2 lane, and since we had high winds I thought a detour and slower, less traveled road would be better to get to Elmira, NY.
Fantastic scenery, was one of the few roads I've been on lately where I can see the next 3-4 turns coming in a distance. Be aware of gas fracking trucks on the road so expect them and don't be surprised.
Liberty, PA to Canton, PA - Google Maps

More on Route 44. Jersey Shore heading north this time. Opens the way for some of central PA's best water-ride valleys, the PA Grand Canyon. Jersey Shore is where the canyon's waters of Pine Creek meet the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Those waters have carved a most pristine valley for riding. This link will show you the trip to the canyon view/park. Jersey Shore, PA to PA-660 W - Google Maps

Route 120, Hyner State Park. Another nice local road, leaving Lock Haven for the ride to Hyner. It's a local hang-gliding spot. Great views of the west branch Susquehanna river. After this stop if you continue north you may find yourself in Elk country.
Jersey Shore, PA to Hyner View Rd - Google Maps

Here's a "best of" loop that includes some nice roads in the middle of PA. Too much here, not going to comment on the sites.
Avis, PA to Avis, PA - Google Maps

I've got a few more favorite roads I'll add tomorrow, some are short trips and others are long day trips. It'd be cool if others would post their favorite local rides too, just so we can all see what you think is the best of your area.

If you're traveling through central PA and happen to see this idiot...
well then I feel bad for you.



But he's mostly harmless.

[Paulie]

I often wondered about 44 as I passed on 15, it's a nice excuse to miss the congestion between there and North Williamsport. Definetly going to give it a try on my way back from Canada in August.

[jer0177]

Originally Posted by Parrot

You seem to have had an Angry Bird land on your head while riding...watch out - he might have friends that come flying at you!

I used to live in Fawn Grove (Southern York county) and there was a lot of nice riding around there, and in northern MD. It's been so long I don't remember route names/numbers though.

[HellBender]

RT6 through Bradford County has some nice views as it follows the Susquehanna river valley. Stop at the Wyalusing Rocks overlook and walk out onto the rock outcropings. And a few mile up the road is the Marie Antoinette overlook. Then it travels through farm land as it heads west into Troy and Wellsborough. Also, a alot of the secondary back roads around Towanda area have been freshly repaved the past two years by the gas companies. Makes for a real nice smooth ride. The 100s of water and dump trucks traveling these roads destroyed them. So don't surprised if you do do find a bad one. Some were returned to thier basic pre 20th century gravel form under the weight of such traffic. And watch out for those GD gas trucks. We had a father killed last summer while waiting to turn left up a road when water truck coming down lost his brakes and flipped his trailer on top of him. His 17 yr old daughter was in the paseneger seat. I can't imagine what she went through. And my cousin had a load of 15" steel gas line pipe come off a trailer on a curve right into the side of her car. Shoved her 50ft off the road. She's lucky to be alive. I don't want scare you off. It's some nice riding.