Riding PA WV etc..

[Wizard765]

Well folks I actually have a week off coming up and was really wanting to explore the PA and WV area etc.. I'm thinking of heading from my place in Caledonia Ontario to say PA somewhere the first day and find somewhere to stay for a couple of days and do day trips then move to another location for a couple more days and do day trips etc.. Just beginning to figure this out and was thinking you guys n gals could maybe help with suggestions of things to see and roads to ride and maybe even good places to stay (not too expensive) Any suggestions would be very helpful..

 

I heard #6 is great.. I've been down 219 and it was excellent (in a car) and looking forward to doing it on the bike..

 

so far that's all I got..

[bongobobny]

Head east in PA to Cecdoo's area and tour the Amish territory. In the middle of the state is some caverns to explore. Pretty much all of SE PA is nice territory with lots to see. Check out Valley Forge there...

[cagie]

Amish country is OK, covered bridges in the area, tourist traps, etc.

 

Gettysburg and surrounding areas are nice for US Civil War history (battlefields, 'ghost tours', etc.).

 

PA Grand Canyons on Route 15 if coming through NY Finger lakes region.

 

Stop off at Conewengo dam in MD (Just south of PA border on the Susquehanna river) to see Bald Eagles (I think last count were 12 nesting pairs). Then head over the Dam and head down 222 to the Union Hotel for a biker style BBQ lunch.

 

Should try and ride US50. Pick that up at Winchester VA and ride west to Bridgeport WV. Some nice mountain twists and scenery.

[Venturous]

Canaan Valley area of WV is a decent place to base for some good day rides. I've used the Canaan Valley Resort as a base for several Ride-Ins.

 

Not sure this will work, but I am going to try to attach a GPX file with several routes I used in the past. They should load in Garmin Basecamp software if you happen to have it. These routes are a few years old, and have not been test run in a few years. But they should be pretty good. These routes include:

 

Fridays Ride - Just a long scenic ride. Featured stops are Seneca Rocks, Greenbank Radio Telescope, and Highlands Scenic Byway. If you are a hiker, shorten this route and hike to top of Seneca Rocks. About a mile each way and very steep... but worth the effort.

 

SmokeHole Loop - If you are only going to do one... this would be it I think. Features are a ride on backroad Leadmine Rd (skip to shorten if like) Seneca Rocks, Seneca Caverns, a ride through Smoke Hole Canyon, and a stop at Blackwater Falls.

 

Spruce Knob Loop - This one takes you to the summit of the highest point in WV. Then on to Cass where if timing is right you could take the Cass Scenic Railroad ride into mountains. Then swing by Snowshoe Ski resort, then back to Canaan Valley.

 

You may just want to take these stop suggestions, google them to see if they interest you then build your own route to pick them up. My favorites include hiking to top of Seneca Rocks, riding through Smokehole Canyon, taking the Cass railroad ride, and riding to top of Spruce Knob.

 

I am going back up in September with friends to this area and already can't wait!

 

Seems GPX files are on the upload list... You can download my GPS file here:

 

http://www.macesoftware.com/GPS/Canaan_Valley.gpx

 

Hope this works for you.

Edited June 16, 2014 by Venturous
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[Tisunac]

My wife and I did a 3-day, 990 miles Memorial Day weekend in WV, but we came from the other direction (central Virginia). We took rt250 from Virginia to West Virginia - a lot of great curves and switchbacks! Than at Seneca Rocks took rt219 south - one of the nicest roads you can find! Spent a night at Princeton, next day took Coal Mine Heritage Road - I believe everybody should see "the rise and fall" of coal industry there - several small coal-miners towns that are now a "ghost towns". Not pretty at all but an eye-opener... Than took rt16 north to New River Gorge bridge - great place to stop and see one of the architectural "miracles". Very impressive!... Continuing north on rt16 was not a good idea since road from that point is in really bad shape and needs repair.

 

Rt33 from Elkins going east is nice - wider with nice, easy, long curves....

 

You can ride The Back Of The Dragon (not to be mistaken with The Tail of The Dragon) - rt16 between Tazewell and Marion. Around 32 miles of curve after curve after curve.... Some of them rather challenging (go on YouTube and check it out) but fun.

 

A place where you can stay and do a couple of daily rides - Old Clark Inn in Marlinton (Pocahontas county), if it's not too down south from you. The Inn is catering to motorcyclists and the rooms are affordable (around $60-$70 with breakfast) Nothing fancy but clean, and owners are riders and will help you with planning the rides or anything else. Scenic Highway is very close by, as well as Cass railroad (cool place to visit).

 

West Virginia scenery is beautiful, roads are good (for the most part), but be prepared - you won't find gas stations on every corner so fill in every time you can. Same thing with food - in parts that are beautiful there's no fast food restaurants so plan accordingly.

 

Have fun!...

[cecdoo]

If you are thinking mid to western Pa the Laurel Highlands area is really nice. Alot of history on rt 30 Lincoln Hwy. Frank Lloyd Wrights Falling Waters, flight 93 Memorial is beautiful. also Quecreek mine site of the 2002 rescue is pretty interesting. We stayed at Ligoneer Inn I think, nice place with restaurant onsite. Gettysburg is a great area for history buffs, the HD plant in York is said to have nice tours. Lancaster County has lots to see and do and great roads. If you are coming my way let me know.

 

Craig

[Wizard765]

Thanks for the ideas so far.. The navigator and I are looking at maps and taking some of your ideas to work on this.. Any more? keep them coming...

[stickhandle2]

Wayne,

 

Tammie and I are doing the same thing for our ride in July, Route 19 south from Erie is a nice road to ride on, on the same trip we stopped at the original Quaker Steak and Lube in Sharon Pa for dinner, eve better the day we were there was Bike Night.

 

We are considering riding Rte 6 across on our way to Ohio from Watkins Glen Ny, it does look like a real nice road for a ride.

 

We stopped at the information area and told the person working where we were going to and asked for some good roads to ride as options to the Interstate type roads.

 

Mike

[uncledj]

When's this gonna be? Some friends and I take a trip to my cabin in North Central PA, near Driftwood every Summer. We haven't set a date for this years' trip yet, but you'd be welcome to stay at the cabin any of the days we're there. There'll be 5 guys riding together. There's 11 bunks in the cabin.