Inner PA Loop - Route advice ??

[windsorgreen1]

Going to head out this weekend & do an inner loop of East Central PA staring from about 30 miles north of Scranton,PA.

Don't have the route set in stone ( what route really ever is =) ) but here's the initial plan.

-  706 out of Montrose,PA to Wyalusing, PA
- From Wyalusing, PA will take state rd # 2010/2007/2009/2015/ RT 87 to Dushore,PA
- From Dushore, take Rt 487 to Rt 118w to Rt 42 - Laporte, PA
- From LaPorte take RT 154 to Rt 14 (south) to RT 110 then takining RT 973 west to RT 44
- RT 44 to Hyner State park.(picture taking opportunities I hear) Then back to RT 44 & up to the PA Grand Canyon. & probably just take RT 6 back home.

I haven't been on some of these roads in a long time. Are there any I've mentioned that I should avoid ? Any going in the same directions that you recommend ?
Also may do the route in reverse order because of possible rain.


All together I figure it will be some where near the 400 mile mark. Can't wait.


Thanks !!

[foosnut]

Put a call out to iXXion (hope I spelled his name right)..he seems to have all the roads in central PA memorized.

Kirk

[sprint_st]

If you are going down to Hyner you might take 144 up to Galeton.  Out of the way a bit, but my favorite piece of road on the planet is from just south of South Renovo to the top of the hill on 144.  Also, 120 from Loch Haven all the way to Emporia is nice, just watch out for the elk.

[iXXion]

From Wyalusing to Dushore is 2010/2007/2009/1015/87, but its a no brainer....although the route numbers change, its essentially the same physical road.

What route would you plan to take from Hyner back to the Grand Canyon?  You can:

A. Go south from Hyner to Renovo and take 120/144N to Galeton at Rt 6 east back to the Canyon.  
B. Go north from Hyner to 44N/144N/ to Galeton.  
C. Go north from Hyner to 44S/414N through Slate Run/287N to the Canyon.  
D. Go north from Hyner to 44S/4001N in Watertown/287N to the Canyon.

A...a nice run, but longest.
B...44N along the top of the hill is boring, and really rife with forest rats.  Most of your route is anyway, but 44 is super bad.
C...414 is nice until north of Slate Run, where there's about 20 miles of absolute shite road until you get to Morris.  Pretty, though.
D...4001 is a bit bumpy with pavement 5 out of 10.  287 from there to Morris is great, with great pavement.  Additionally, if you were short on time, with this option you can get on 287 and take a quick right on 284.  That's a windy back road also with 5/10 pavement, but you can hop right on Rt 15N at the end, which is 4 lane limited access with stellar 100-150 mph corners and minimal enforcement until you get closer to Mansfield.

Pick one of those and I can shape up the rest of the route to match your mileage and get you home the same day.

[windsorgreen1]

If you are going down to Hyner you might take 144 up to Galeton.  Out of the way a bit, but my favorite piece of road on the planet is from just south of South Renovo to the top of the hill on 144.  Also, 120 from Loch Haven all the way to Emporia is nice, just watch out for the elk.

Any good ways to get there from rt 14 in Troutville to RT 144 ? is 973 ok?

Thanks
Posted on: October 18, 2007, 01:08:50 pm

From Wyalusing to Dushore is 2010/2007/2009/1015/87, but its a no brainer....although the route numbers change, its essentially the same physical road.

What route would you plan to take from Hyner back to the Grand Canyon?  You can:

A. Go south from Hyner to Renovo and take 120/144N to Galeton at Rt 6 east back to the Canyon.  
B. Go north from Hyner to 44N/144N/ to Galeton.  
C. Go north from Hyner to 44S/414N through Slate Run/287N to the Canyon.  
D. Go north from Hyner to 44S/4001N in Watertown/287N to the Canyon.

Pick one of those and I can shape up the rest of the route to match your mileage and get you home the same day.

OK
A) -  RT 44 is out.  
B.) - RT144 seems to be my # 1 choice but
C.)how bad is 414 above Slate Run ?( mmmm lunch at Wolfe's General Store ) Speed isn't a priority on this trip . I'm out to relax & take some pics. I
haven't been up 414 since 95' and I remember absolutely no traffic & a nice smooth, rolling , curvy road.
D.) is out

Thanks !!

[iXXion]

You can take 15 south from Trout Run and take 973 west from there.  (that exit off 15 is EXIT ONLY) 973 is real nice over to 287.  You can take 287 south to 220, then west to 150 and then pick up 120 in Lock Haven.  OR you can stay on 973 (left on 287, then a right back onto 973) which will take you over to 44..left to go south, and pick up 220 to get to 120 west. 973 is not as good between 287 and 44.

From Hyner, south to 120W to 144N up to Galeton/Rt6 is a very nice road, but as I said, much longer.  
Going north from Hyner, 44S to 414N is very nice until you get to Slate Run.  After that, its decent for 10 miles, then is absolute crap.  Its paved, but you'll wish you were on dirt so the bumps wouldn't be so sharp.  Scenery is great, though, and you'll be through that area in 20-30 minutes.

As far as the rest of your route, consider deleting the 487/118/42/220/154 scrotum-like loop.  487 down through Rickett's Glen is nice, but nothing special.  And 154 through the state park from laporte is an exercise in frustration with the traffic.  Instead, consider this.

From 706, instead of travelling through to Wyalusing, take 367 south right after Rush all the way down to Rt6.  Then west to Wyalusing, taking your original route to Dushore. From there, take 87 west, 154 north to Canton, and 14 south to Trout Run.

[windsorgreen1]

here's the plan- give or take....roughly 380 miles

 

[iXXion]

That's a nice ride.

Just a couple suggestions.  Rt6 can get old, although 92 from 6 to Nicholson is nice.  So instead of trekking all the way back on 6, if you still have some energy, take 187 south from Wysox to Wyalusing and get back on Rt6 there.  Or...take 409 through Camptown or 706 from Wyalusing back to Rush, and cut across from Dimock through Brooklyn.  OR do both 187 and 706.  

And Rt6 looping north of Wellsboro is booooring.

What day are ya doing this?

[scootac]

Rt. 154 from 87 over to Canton starts out OK, but gets pretty rough and bumpy the closer you get to Canton. It's doable, just have to take it a little slower.
If you're near Forksville, stop at the Forksville General Store for a bite to eat, great little restaurant! It's at the other end of the covered bridge.
George

[iXXion]

Yeah, it seems forever, but its only 4-6 miles.  That's where 154 leaves Sullivan County and enters Bradford.

[windsorgreen1]

That's a nice ride.

Just a couple suggestions.  Rt6 can get old, although 92 from 6 to Nicholson is nice.  So instead of trekking all the way back on 6, if you still have some energy, take 187 south from Wysox to Wyalusing and get back on Rt6 there.  Or...take 409 through Camptown or 706 from Wyalusing back to Rush, and cut across from Dimock through Brooklyn.  OR do both 187 and 706.  

And Rt6 looping north of Wellsboro is booooring.

What day are ya doing this?

Yeah Rt 6 does get old quick - especially when you've been  on it 100's of times. I am mainly just taking Rt 6 back for times sake. If I feel like I've made good time then I'll probably just wing it on the way home. Rt 6 is the best once you get past Galeton. 92 all the way up into NY is fun, but lots of forest rats to look out for, not to mention the rednecks who have something to prove.  

Going to leave at the butt crack of daylight Saturday or at least that's the plan. Depending on the weather I may do the route backwards from what I've listed. I guess it's supposed to thunderstorm later in the day toward the middle of the state. This will probably be my last ride of the season as I'm getting married next month and will busy until the snow flies I'm sure. I'm just going to chill out & hopefully get a bunch of good pics. I may even try using my sticky pod to put my camcorder to my helmet because I can't get it to stop shaking enough on the bike to get an decent video. Where are you ?

[iXXion]

Well, right now I'm in Glenwood.

By noon I'll be just north of Towanda.

I really get around, huh?  

[windsorgreen1]

Well, right now I'm in Glenwood.

By noon I'll be just north of Towanda.

I really get around, huh?  

Glenwood ? Odd that we've never run into one another. Heck- for that matter the only xx I've ever seen in this area was at home depot earlier this year. hey - you don't work for Met do you ?

[iXXion]

Nope.

All you had to do was pay attention last month and you could have seen us all go through town.  

I came down 858 today to 706.  Quaint little road.   I gotta get me a dual-sport again.

[windsorgreen1]

Nope.

All you had to do was pay attention last month and you could have seen us all go through town.  

I came down 858 today to 706.  Quaint little road.   I gotta get me a dual-sport again.

'
 If you rode today I wish you safe travels. It's nasty out right now- posta get up to 2 inches of rain . I know we need it but...

[iXXion]

It was gorgeous this morning.  And I'm home by noon.  Good luck tomorrow.

[iXXion]

Well?

It was a gorgeous day.

[windsorgreen1]

Well?

It was a gorgeous day.

Ended up going Sunday instead which was a better day yet and leaving later than I wanted so I didn't hit the grand Cayon as i pressed for time.


ok road by road...

706 was awesome. Virtually no cars lots of colors & a great pace l;ed to a great run. I skipped 367 because a school bus & about 5 cars turned down from the opposite direct just as I got there- no thank you.

I may take 220 if I do this route again as the rd from Wyalusing to Dushore just punched my kidneys like a speed bag..

 - Loved RT 87  This road was a blast !! It reminded me a little of RT 28 near the gap but with less traffic. people were even pulling over to let me go by. This happened the whole trip (except for rt 6) which is unheard of in PA. I set out for a nice easy ride but found myself scraping every once in a while. Short but probably the best part of the ride. Thanks for the heads up 

RT 154 was fun too but less so because 1) that stupid process of tar & chipping 1/2 of the lane 2) towards the end there had been recent construction for a few miles & there was loose stone in all of the corners Boooo....
great views on both 87 & 154. Awesome.

Rt 14 started out lame because of traffic & that it seems like it was going to feel like a small interstate. A few miles in and few cages passed & a 70-75mph ride with some nice scenery turned out pretty nice.

973 to Saladasburg was nice & smooth. Lots of twistees. The second stretch wasn't as good. Severe crown, the road was almost pointed, but it was a short stretch so no biggie.

Rt 44 - lots of bicycles being towed on the lower part which slowed everyone one down but not too bad. From where 414 peeled off of 44 to Hyner Mountain road was lots of fun with a big grin factor.

Hyner mountian rd was fun but not in the best of shape. Earlier on rt 44 I passed a bunch of sport bike riders at a pull off who seemed eager to get back on their bikes so they could pass me. They didn't. I could see they turned on the hyner mountain rd behind me about 10 cars lengths but the most I ever saw was one of them ( I think there were probably 6-7 bikes.). On the smooth stuff the one guy was slowly catching me but i don't think his sport bike liked the uneven surfaces in the corners, My connie round them with no issues. Then I rounded one sharp 25mph corner & never saw them again. Seems liked they may have stopped & turned around because a couple miles later I stopped & they never went by. no sign of wreckage on the way back.

Holy freakin Lady Bugs batman!!!! it started at the top of Hyner View . Thousands of them & that's not an exaggeration. As soon as you wiped them off of the front of you another 3 dozen would land in their place. I took about 6 pics & left.  Once I hit 414 they came in swarms . I had to duck behind my sheild to avoid them. never seen anything like it. They were so thick they were actually making my legs sting. Once you see the pic of the from of my bike you'll get an idea.Glad I did 414 because i haven't been up that way in a while but next time I think I'll hit 44 & cross over to 144 via Hyner Mountain rd. which was bumpy but fun none the less. 414 was too bumpy ( like you warned it would be) towards the end and really too slow. I wasn't out to be ricky racer but with all of the bicycle traffic coupled with the road condiditons it took a lot of fun out of it.

287 into Wellsboro was typical. Busy with lots of white haired Sunday drivers. No offense to you white haired STN's out there.
 
RT6 had less traffic than I'd expected which was nice. 6 has lost a lot of it's appeal to me though as I've travelled it so often. I'm originally from western PA and have made the RT 6 trip back & forth literaly hundreds of times over the last almost 15years. it's the best from Galeton to Warren. Before & after i don't care much for it at all. Just another road.

Over all traffic was so so but what never happens actually did...whenever I came up on traffic there was always a place & time enough to pass. What normally takes me almost 2.5 hrs home from Wellsboro took me less that 2hrs and I never went over the speed limit 

I did 370 miles.

I didn't get many pics because everytime I saw something I thought would be a good pic my bike convinced me I was having too much fun riding to stop.

Great day great ride . I post the couple of pics i took when i get a chance. Thanks for the rt tips