Trans-PA Trail - Vertical Edition

So...

I'm in the midst of developing a route that traverses Pennsylvania, centrally, but vertically (north to south / south to north). The inspiration for this was some stuff I found from the "Gravel Bicycle" people out there - and the goal was to be on "unimproved" roads as much as possible.

It's about 335 miles in length - not sure how much is accessible / feasible - but when finished, it should be "big-bike friendly".

I need to get out there and prove it all out, as so far its mostly hypothetical. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Here is a LINK to the proposed track on Google maps.

!! UPDATE !! - This track has now been proven out and is ready for your use! You can read the ride report of the "prove out" trip, HERE.

The final track is 335 miles ion length, and is a very good mix of mostly dirt and gravel with some very nice asphalt mixed in. The GPX file contains 3 tracks. This main track (shown above in red) and 2 side connectors. ! connector is to the Huntington Motor Inn, a good place to stay along the way, and the other is to the Wilderness Lodge - a great place for food and beer. There are also waypoints included for possible lodging at both ends of the track. The main track is definitely "big-bike" friendly (in the right hands), and is an absolute hoot to complete.

GPX file is attached...

Well, after much closer scrutiny, I found a bunch of gates that needed to be routed around, didn't affect the proposed route much. I updated the Google Maps link in the post above.

Just for reference, this route manages to go through all of the following public lands in PA...

• Michaux State Forest
• Caledonia State Park
• Pine Grove Furnace State Park
• Tuscarora State Forest
• Greenwood Furnace State Park
• Rothrock State Forest
• Penn-Roosevelt State Park
• Poe Valley State Park
• Bald Eagle State Forest
• McAlls Dam State Park
• Ravensburg State Park
• Tiadaghton State Forest
• Susquehannock State Forest
• Leonard Harrison State Park
• Colton Point State Park
• Tioga State Forest
• Tioga / Hammond Recreation Area
• Cowanesque Lake Recreation Area

Not sure I'm really happy with the section north of RTE 6 - that needs some work.

So...

Somehow I managed to "miss" a ton of unimproved roads north of the Grand Canyon of PA (I just knew that section needed help). Here is the latest version...



Also, here is the updated LINK to Google Maps.

I think I'm done with all the theoretical map work - now is the time for reality. I'm planning on proving this route out on Memorial Day weekend - I've started a Trip Planning thread HERE (for any interested parties).

Hey, this looks awesome. I saw your post about running it Memorial Day but unfortunately I won't able to join.

I thought you might find this helpful in the future though if you plan to extend or run into routing issues: http://maps.psiee.psu.edu/preview/map.ashx?layer=260

Good luck! Let me know how it goes. I'd be interested in trying it sometime.

Thanks for the link - I had already come across it a couple of years ago - but it's an excellent resource for others. I just wish I could get a GPX file of that data.

Too bad you cant join in this time around, but we have lots of plans to tackle similar pursuits in PA.

Ah, I figured there was a good chance you did. But thought I'd throw it out there just in case.

Have you worked any tracks to the east of your route?

Not much as of yet. There seems to be a lot of good stuff in the Northeast quadrant of the state - southeast (where I'm at) not so much.

I have a big week-long trip down south coming up after this (mid June), but after that I'm gonna put together an East/West version for the fall. I know there is already another TPAT out there, but it doesn't run east / west across PA in its entirety. It starts from the east, then runs northwest to about the middle of PA, before turning decidedly south.

Most of the really good stuff is in the mid to western part of PA, as I'm sure you probably know.

Once I get a "proper" bike for more off-road (don't own one right now, so the Scrambler will have to do, but I'm buying a KTM 690 Enduro soon - and plan to make a decent adventure bike out of it) it will be "game on".

Not being very tech savvy...how would I obtain or convert the routing into a GPX file (if possible)? Thanks.

GPX file will be posted when I prove the route out - which is happening next weekend.

Looks like a great route. I have done the southern portion of that route (up to Bald Eagle) on both my WR250 and Ural.

Very cool! Thanks for your work on this! I have ridden some of your southernmost stuff shown. I look forward to trying it ALL out myself this summer. Anxiously await your report back and I will check your RR.

I also want to try to put this on my Montana GPS unit and also my Iphone's Motion X GPS.

hey, hey, hey.. this is exactly what i have been trying to add to the TAT( but a little more west into Huntingdon).... I own a hotel there, and my garage is always open to fellow inmates.. i ride this area on sleds.. and make it as far as milroy area, "the wilderness lodge" and come back to huntingdon. there are state game land roads within ten miles of the hotel.. and back roads... lets get in touch, i'll help

Dude, you rock!

Well...

This trail has been revised (base on some helpful input from a fellow inmate). It is now 343 miles in total length, and we have added 2 connector tracks to good lodging located just about the mid-point. One of these - the Huntington Motor Inn - is owned by advrider "brokenhiplegarm", and he also has a fully stocked garage close by.

Here is what it looks like now...



And HERE is a link to Google Maps version.

Just about set to prove this out next weekend!

For those who want a longer ride, it looks like this route is near or crosses one of my routes.

So you could consider this route as a 'feeder' into my route... it's all good!

This is a little longer - about 5k miles - and goes to the west coast.
http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/the-northern-route-east.1066585/

It was designed to connect into the TPAT and from that to the TET, but the TET is currently unavailable.

So, we gotta work on extending it to the East Coast....

Hey Northern, how are you?

I'm gonna be doing the TAT in another year or so, and plan on using your Northern route for the trip back.

Getting restless. Doing the Alaska run in mid August, but thinking I'm gonna do a couple week run before then - heck August is almost 3 months away!

Time to prove this sucker out!!

Here is a LINK to the ride report...

Looking forward to the ride report. Without pulling this into my other gps data, it looks like this will connect right up to the TET, as well as the TPAT.