Bald Eagle State Forest, PA

Preliminary Tracks for the Official Bald Eagle State Forest Dual Sport Trails

Attached, find my best attempt to produce tracks from the official map, using Garmin Base Camp with Open Street Map (OSM) maps and Garmin topo maps. Don't expect this to be perfect, but it should help you find the DS trails. When I did this for Pachaug State Forest, in CT, we found a couple of tracks that led to dead-ends, because the State map had errors. After that, I went to tracks provided by the local DS club (NETRA).

I did compare these routes to the PaTRA ride provided by tonyjuliano, above, and the few sections of official trail used in that particular ride matched up well enough that I didn't bother modifying my tracks. I plan to ride some of this in a couple weeks, and may be able to post a better set of tracks, then.

I used green for Improved and Forest roads, and blue for the more off-highway sections (and red for that section which was reported to be difficult.)

By the way, when riding this area, I suggest you use the OSM maps. They have many more of the trails/roads than the topo maps, which have many more than City Navigator North America, 2017 version, maps.

Edit: Changed another trail to red (difficult), when I noticed the file from the PaTRA ride, posted above, had that section red (level 4).

Edit 2: Here, and in other posts, I refer to the Open Street Map maps, but googling open street map, or OSM, takes you to their main map page, from which it's difficult to find the source of the Garmin compatible files. I actually get them at:
http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/

This is the gpx file. The smaller gdb file didn't seem to upload.
I have NOT tried to reduce the numbers of track points, because I like to keep them all, and use the free IMGfromGPX program to make transparent maps. It now lets you use dashed outlines, which allows you to see the original map road, too. Anyway, these tracks were all created by drawing on the maps, so have very few trackpoints.

Well, I only rode a few sections of the Official Motorcycle route, last weekend, due to a glitch in preparation. However that much did seem to verify that the tracks I posted, immediately above, should be pretty good.

If somebody else rides the whole route, be sure to let us know how it worked out, and maybe post your actual track, here.
.

Removed tracks...Some of that was not purple, don't want to cause problems!

That looks GREAT. Any comments, such as how hard the red sections on my map, above, really were?

I don't recall the red area on the left being super hard...the little one on the right...fuck me. We went down it (which is heading NW) and I had to just turn my engine off and leave the bike in 1st gear so I could get some extra braking...it was so steep I was sliding forward and when I'd go to put my right foot down the brake pedal wasn't there since I was so far forward on the seat. There's also no need for gas to get down most of that hill. I can't imagine going up that hill. There were definitely other parts that I would consider red...some of it not exactly single track but just rocky as hell. Also felt bad...going up the hill in Poe Paddy park we passed an old guy walking down hill with a bicycle seat and small bag...turns out the road was so rough he cracked his frame. Sure enough a little farther up was the bike sitting on the side of the road.

Any photos from the ride? Thinking about hitting this route over the weekend.

I just took a few from this spot. Hard to take pictures when you're hanging on for dear life bobbling over rocks :) There are a bunch of videos on youtube to give you an idea of the terrain.

I know this thread is a little old but have to agree with your assessment of the two red areas. The one on the left or west is not all that tough but the downhill (or uphill) on the right (east) is very tough. Did the same thing. Shut off the motor and used the clutch for braking. It's about a 1/4 mile of steep, off camber rocky single track. Wore me out. I'm looking forward to trying out your routes once I get my new bike with the Voyager. Can't wait til Memorial Day whe the trails open again.

Yeah I been down that hill twice. Didn't enjoy it either time. I will be skipping it next time.

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The trail you mentioned is nick named "Suicide Slide"

This trail is on the endangered list right now. It's not maintainable with it's current condition. Run off from heavy rain storms threatens the premium trout waters at the base of the trail.

I would like to see less people using it until there is a good long term solution. Certainty if it is used, down hill is the preferred direction as it causes less damage to the trail.

Remember the trails are nice because they are not over run with people. This is a special place, let's try and keep it that way.

Please consider this before posting GPS tracks for mass consumption.

Thanks,
PaTRA - Trail Boss

Went back up yesterday with another inmate. Last time I was on a DRZ, this time my 701E, riding partner on a WR250R as well. Tweaked the tracks I was using from last time to cut off a couple small "mistakes" that whoever made them went on small sections of hiking only trails. Absolutely amazing and unbelievable that that's all legal riding. Was friend's first time there and he loved it. I had a little harder time than last time (on DRZ). It's possibly because of the slight extra weight of the 701 over the DRZ but I really think it's because of my stock gearing and I need to get a larger rear sprocket before going back...I was doing fine on the rocks in the flat sections but fell twice on horseshoe bend heading up and then again on the longer climb on the far east side coming out of the parking area/connecting trail. So yeah...totally the bike's fault, not the rider!

We avoided "Suicide Slide" this time. (the red on eastern side of forest)

@CloudSplitter, so in the context of the rest of the park's trails/driveable trails that "red" section on the lower west side is a joke and super easy but it is a little rockier and has some sand that the more well-groomed "easy" dual sport only trails hugging the western parking lot have so it may be considered hard if those are all you're doing, but if you're going across the forest and back following purple that section is a walk in the park.

Lunch and gas at Harvey's was good as well!

I was there yesterday too, I did all of the west side and most of the purple mid section.

It indeed is an amazing place for riding, I'm lucky I'm only 20 min away from it :)

Here is the pic from the same spot as your bottom right pic:

Here's a question for those that may know the forest. The first pic here is the dual sport map online. The trail circled in blue is a non motorized. Yet on the second pic, which is the overall forest use map, the same trail is circled in blue and it shows that it is motorized. anybody know if that's rideable?

Someone can probably confirm this, but I believe that used to be the other half of the drivable trail " hightop" . I think its it's been closed for a little while. You can start down it from the east side, but it quickly dead ends.

I will confirm this is not drivable. This is a troublesome portion of trail for DCNR. Forest users are following it down and coming out on private property at the bottom where it dead ends. DCNR has put multiple signs at the top that indicate no motorcycles but they keep getting torn down.

Please don't use this section of trail. The future of the dual sport trail system depends on us as responsible riders.

Well I can confirm that also. When I poked my head down there in early April there wasn't a sign around except for some reminents of the white drivable trail sign. Not sure where this information was posted, but I think it's gone

Nothing to worry about. I won't be riding it. I figured someone here would know officially.

Where are you guys camping when you are in this area? I'm hoping to find a free site (primative). Looks like there's a few in rothrock Forest but I'm still unsure.

Thanks

I'll PM you the contact number. There's about 30 or 40 primitive sites in bald eagle. You just need to reserve them through DCNR. They can provide you with a map of there locations on request. Used to be free, but it's been a while since I used one.

Thank you kindly, sir.