October 22, 2023 - For mountain bikers, it doesn’t get much better than the new Endless Mountains Gravel Bikepacking Loop (EMGBL) in northeastern Pennsylvania. The over 400-mile route features mixed-surfaces and more than 32,000 feet in elevation changes.

The awesome trails utilize a large portion of the award- winning 38-mile Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Rail-Trail in Susquehanna County, recognized as the 2021 Pennsylvania Trail of the Year.

Organizers have also installed a divider route creating eastern and western sections so all levels of riders can enjoy the trail system. The route can be tackled as one mammoth cycling adventure, or riders can bike sections over time. Class 1 e-bikes are welcome on most trails.

Traversing four counties, including Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Wyoming, the route passes through or nearby five state parks, including Ricketts Glen, Worlds End, Mt. Pisgah, Salt Springs and Vosburg Neck, along with the Loyalsock State Forest.

In 2022, Grinduro, the first truly global gravel/mountain bike enduro event series, selected Sullivan County as their U.S. stop. This year, the fabulous event offered four stellar rides there from June 16 to 18.

The area boasts countless accommodation options, from rental cabins to tent and trailer campsites, inns, bed and breakfasts, hotels and more. For re-fuelling, there are plenty of restaurants, wineries, microbreweries, pubs, cafés and farmer’s markets, along with museums and historical societies, theatres, festivals and events, retreats, spas and wellness boutiques.

The Endless Mountains are also home to the historic Tunkhannock Viaduct, built in classic Roman-style and considered one of the engineering wonders of the world.

Created in conjunction with the EMGBL, the Endless Mountains Bicycle Friendly Business Program provides the opportunity for various local businesses and organizations in the region to ensure cyclists have hospitable access to repairs and charging stations, supplies and lodging for their trip.

There is an interactive map with various points of interest that riders can use to plot out their trip. The route can then be downloaded via Strava or Ride with GPS.

The Endless Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania are a haven for mountain bikers, and the bikepacking route is a “work in progress” that’s being improved over time with feedback and input from testers and cyclists.

For more information, visit here.