Endless Mountains Gravel Bikepacking Loop

The Endless Mountains Gravel Bikepacking Loop (EMGBL) circles north-central Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountains Heritage region, just south of the New York State line. The route connects four counties through a series of unending beautiful dirt roads that wind through forests, farmland, and quaint historic rail towns. The best times to ride are late spring and early fall, when temperatures are moderate and blossoms and foliage abound. Expect snow in the winter, and mid-summer can be hot. Riders can expect a physically challenging ride with many climbs with often steep grades, but on relatively smooth unpaved surfaces.

The best bike type is a gravel or adventure bike with 38-48mm tires and low gearing. Services are fairly well spaced out along the route, but some sections might have gaps of 30-50 miles or more between resupply, depending on the day/time you’ll be visiting. Camping opportunities exist, but most sites require reservations on both public and private land. The western half of the route has more camping options in PA State Parks than the eastern part, which mostly has private campgrounds. Indoor lodging in hotels, guesthouses and BnBs exist throughout the route, offing an option for light riding over the region’s hilly terrain.

The route begins in Towanda, PA, and is best ridden counter-clockwise, first heading north towards Sayre-Athens and then continuing south through the Mt. Pisgah SP, Armenia Mountain, and on to Canton. Then head onwards to historic Eagles Mere, Worlds End SP and Ricketts Glen State Park. Next, traverse multiple areas of state game lands, cross the Susquehanna River and wind through the countryside to Union Dale and the start of the D&H rail trail. Finally, link up again to the Susquehanna and wind westward back to Towanda through Mennonite farms and rolling, forested hills.

• Paved: 37%
• Smooth Gravel: 60%
• Rough Gravel: 3%
• 4×4 Road: 0%
• Singletrack: 0%

• Camping on public land is more available on the western half of the route (mostly primitive, reservable primitive campsites in the state parks), but private campgrounds exist throughout.
• The route has many short, sometimes steep climbs, so keep bike weight down as they take their toll. Many riders opt for overnights at local lodging options to keep gear weight down.
• It is not permitted to camp anywhere in Pennsylvania State Game Lands.
• The northern half from Ararat to Melrose of the D&H Rail Trail (miles 305 to 330) is the chunkiest surface of the entire route.

• The route starts/ends in Towanda, PA. Route Stewards are working to establish specific long-term parking options. For now, contact the EMHR for parking coordination (see contact form below). If wanting to start the route further east, there is an option to park long-term at the southern end of the D&H Rail Trail via the local org next to Cable’s General Store.
• The Endless Mountains Heritage Region hosts additional detailed information on their website: Endless Mountains Gravel Bikepacking Loop
• Rick Hiduk wrote an overview of the route for ‘Where & When Pennsylvania’, including some background information, here.
• The route also has an Instagram, @endlessmountainsbikepacking

The EMGBL was the brainchild of then-Sullivan County Commissioner Donna Iannone, who is an avid cyclist and a board member of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region (EMHR), which promotes the preservation and enjoyment of heritage assets in the four-county region northwest of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton metro area and bordering New York state at its northern edge.

David Landis, Bikepacking Roots’ Regional Steward from Virginia has been working with the EMHR to further develop and promote the route and will also be hosting the Grand Depart for the route.

This route traverses the traditional lands of the Susquehannock, Lenape, and Mohican.