Mountain Bike Madness in Central PA

[Slacker]

I have a copy of this book, and it being about 10 years old, I am wondering about a ride described in it:

#13 Hyner View. Had anyone ridden this (recently)? ... and a few details if yes:

It describes part of the route as "...continue on Left Hand Suger Camp Rd, the road deteriorates into an obscure ... that follows the creek to the bottom of the mountain". Is this rideable? or passable by walking?

Fruther along, down the bottom of the mountain, it has you crossing railroad tracks and riding a gravel road along the banks of the Susquehanna river for 5.0 miles into the town of Hyner (it sounds cool, scenic, and idyllic). But is this 5 miles legal? I'm guessing that rr bed along the river valley has lots of signs with the usual warnings posted.

Anybody been there recently?


(edited to correct name of book in title)

[DirtRagArt]

I would ask Griz... http://www.grizguides.com

[jhl99]

I don' have direct experience with the route that you mention... but checking the topo maps http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4578076&e=280467&s=50 it looks like there are trails down both Johnson Run and Ritchie Run. It is not to clear whether that those trails are on state or private land. I believe that the RR tracks are still occassionally active {At one time, Renova was a maintenance depot for the Pennsylvania RR. The Pensy RR operations have ceased operations years ago in Renova.} , but there appears to be a township road along the RR tracks, so the there is no issue about being on RR property.

I would say that the ride is probably doable, but doesn't see much ATB use. Also, it looks like there are some potential trails in the vincinty of Sugar Camp. (Sugar Camp is probably only a single hunting camp named "Sugar Camp".)

Slacker, what you need are the USGS 7.5minute maps for Glen Union and Renova East. You can download them from Penn State (http://www.pasda.psu.edu/access/drg24klist.cgi/)

From the maps and your trail description, you can figure out the legality of the route, and also determine other potential rides. There are tons of opportunities in the PA state forests.

Last summer, I bike toured through that area. I camped at Hyner State park one night... Hyner St. Park is the typical PA State Park Campground, with an added bonus... a swimming pool! (free for campers) nice place to relax after a long day of riding. I departed early the next morning. There is a a mostly paved road that climbs from the State Park to Hyner View (at the top of the mountain). Since I started ridding early in the AM, the fog had not burned off yet... when I reached Hyner View, I was above the fog, the view was of a fog filled valley...
Somewhere I have a picture of this...
One other note... people launch hangliders off Hyner View!

Recently, I've been exploring the state forestes on South of hte Susquehanna and North of I-80... there is some nice stuff back there.

Don't be constrained by guidebooks... get the 7.5' maps from the USGS and go explore!

Jeff