[Green Giant]

So I'm driving from Michigan to the Jersey Shore this weekend and most of that trip is along I-80.

I'm going to bring a bike with me and was looking for some suggestions of rides not too far off of i-80 if I want to get a ride in on the way out and way back.

So, any suggestions of rides and maybe a breakdown of the amount of climbing. I can only bring one bike and I'm likely bringing the rigid singlespeed, though if it's strongly suggested I could bring my Tallboy for some gears and suspension.

Thanks a bunch. Any details on time from I-80 and the terrain as far as climbing and technical stuff would be great.

Thanks.

 

[Uncle Six Pack]

Bald Eagle State Park is near I80 and I hear there is some good riding there. Haven't made it out yet with summer being too busy.

Geisinger Trails in Danville are probably under 5 minutes from I80 and there is a lot of fun to be ad out there. Not a big destination, but if you are just looking for a spot to get out and stretch your legs, there is well over 15 miles of singletrack and pretty hard to get lost if you have a basic map or know where the different trailheads are.

 

[swampboy62]

Western PA - Moraine State Park.

If you were to get off I-80 onto I-79 south and go about 10 miles you'd see the exit for Moraine State Park north shore. There is something like 10 miles of incredible trails out there. Lots of rocky technical stuff, some decent contour XC and some nice stuff leaning towards DH. Check out the PORC site for a map. Take a look at a Moraine video guide I posted a while back to get an idea of what's there:

Steve Z

 

[2bysmom]

Closer to I-81?

I'm heading up 81 then east on 80. Anyone know where I can get both good trails and a place to camp?

 

[swampboy62]

Y'know, after I started thinking about it I realized that there are a couple more trail systems not far off I-80.

In eastern Ohio, West Branch State Park has 10 miles of nice trails - half flowy/rooty & half rocky/technical. It would be off I-80 at either route 44 or route 5.

Medina Reagan, a bit further west, is off I-80 and down I-79 about 18 miles. There'a a bunch of trails there, some easy and some not-so.

Then into PA, there's Kennerdell, which is part of Clear Creek State Forest. You'd have to get off I-80 at route 308 - it's probably 15 minutes to the trails.

If any of these sound like something you're interested in, send me an email. I have some maps (not for Medina though) that might make it easier.

Steve Z
swampboy62 "AT" yahoo.com

 

[jonz]

Geisinger Trails in Danville ....

Hard to beat the convenience of Geisinger trails. Here's the link to the parking. There's a trail map posted across the street. Geisinger is fairly buff by PA standards, with alot of elevation change.

Though I hate myself for saying this, in New Jersey Allamuchy Mt St Park is right off of 80 as well.

 

[2bysmom]

Is anyone familiar with the Great Allegheny Passage outside Pittsburg? How's the tent camping?

 

[yeschiro]

Wife an I are heading up to the NJ shore in August. Our plans are to spend 5 days getting back, driving a little bit per day, riding every day, and camping as we head back to good ol' Richmond, VA.

Wondering if anyone could provide us with advice for:

1) Places to ride for 1 advance male and 1 advanced beginner female to have as much fun as possible. 6-10 miles might be her limit if mountainous.

2) Primo places to camp for free along the way. I know if the Gearoge Washington National Forest, camping is allowed anywhere not posted otherwise and there are multiple sites off the road to set up camp.

Don't mind traveling out of the way a bit to hit stuff. Could go through appropriate sections of NJ, PA, WV, VA. Got Hennessey Hammocks so no camp pads necessary, but a water source for my camp shower would be a must, or a nice creek to jump in.

Will look up what has already been posted here, but since my route might be a little different after eastern pa, was hoping for any additional thoughts.

Thanks!

 

[swampboy62]

Is anyone familiar with the Great Allegheny Passage outside Pittsburg? How's the tent camping?

There definitely are some nice sections on the GAP, more when you get a bit further south around the Yough and Casselman Rivers. Sometimes the surface is a bit mushy, but nothing terminal. And you can connect with the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal railtrail, which has it's own attractions. I never did an overnighter there, and would likely just do a cold guerilla camp, but this page has a bunch of camping suggestions:

http://www.atatrail.org/visit/camping.cfm

Steve Z