PA Rt. 6 Motorcycle Loops
“Take The High Road” with PA Rt. 6 Motorcycle Loops!
It’s time to “take the high road,” and we’ve made it easy for you with our PA Route 6 Motorcycle Loops! Simply follow the detailed Route 6 Motorcycle Loop Maps and Itineraries for an easy-breezy scenic ride along “Pennsylvania’s best touring route.”
More about Motorcycle Travel on PA Route 6 and Our Motorcycle Loops
If you’re looking for an epic American adventure on one of the nation’s oldest transcontinental highways, US Route 6 in Pennsylvania has all the makings of a fantastic road trip. Scenery, history, small-town charm. It’s all here, and a whole lot more.
US Route 6 in Pennsylvania, known locally as PA Route 6, enjoys a storied past. The route can be traced back to 1807 when state officials mandated a road be cut through the Moosic Mountains to enable easier travel to the western parts of the state. As the state and nation grew, so too did the road. With no interstate system nearby, PA Route 6 became the literal Main Street connecting the many small towns across the state’s northern tier.
Today, those small towns and communities are the backbone of PA Route 6 and are at the center of why this is such a great destination for riders. No big city traffic. No hustle-bustle of too many people crammed into too small of a space. Most of PA Route 6 is two-lane rural road through some of the most scenic parts of Pennsylvania. Here you can relax and enjoy the ride while taking in the charm of small-town America.
There are many ways to explore PA Route 6, starting with a 427-mile cross-state journey. From the east, jump on PA Route 6 near Matamoras in Pike County, and head southwest along the Delaware River to Milford. Continue on PA Route 6 to legendary Lake Wallenpaupack in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. Further along the journey, PA Route 6 climbs north into the Endless Mountains and some spectacular scenic overlooks before heading west to the Allegheny National Forest and then finally descending to the rich, agricultural lands that make up the Great Lakes Region.
You could also explore one of the motorcycle loops offered by the PA Route 6 Alliance, the state heritage area designated to conserve and protect the historical heritage of PA Route 6. Each loop is intended to be a two- to three-day trip that varies in mileage and showcases some of the best riding through each region across PA Route 6.
The Pocono Mountains Loop (191 miles) offers rails, waterfalls, and lakes galore! Weave your way through communities rich in history, impressive architecture, and distinctive landmarks. Make memories at the Stourbridge Line Excursion Trail, D&H Gravity Railroad Museum, Dorflinger Glass Museum, stunning Shohola Falls, historic Grey Towers, and The Columns Museum. Honor our nation’s wars at Matamoras’ Veterans Memorial Park before crossing the Delaware River and finishing the loop with a majestic ride through Delaware State Forest.
The Endless Mountains Loops (189 miles) traverses Pennsylvania’s rolling hills, winding rivers, and historical railroads through the Susquehanna River Valley. Refresh and regroup by the waterfalls of Ricketts Glen State Park before a pleasant ride through historic Tunkhannock’s shop-lined streets. And then it’s on to beautiful Lake Winola and the breathtaking Marie Antoinette Overlook.
The Pennsylvania Wilds East Loop (270 miles) is the longest itinerary offered by PA Route 6 Alliance. Begin in Coudersport with a scenic ride to Austin Dam Memorial Park where you’ll learn the “whole dam story” behind the 1911 flood. After that, cruise down to Sinnemahoning State Park to view elk, then hit the road through the Pine Creek Gorge, Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon. After a stop at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, arrive at Cherry Springs International Dark Sky Park after dark to view the night sky in a way you’ve never imagined.
Beginning and ending in Bradford, the Pennsylvania Wilds West Loop (200 miles) weaves and winds through the Allegheny National Forest. Visit the Kinzua Bridge State Park, the home of the towering Kinzua Sky Walk, “one of the top 10 most scenic skywalks in the world.” Then circle around the Longhouse National Scenic Byway for impressive views of the Allegheny Reservoir and the Kinzua Dam. In Warren, enjoy a relaxing evening at one of the local distilleries or breweries before circling back to Bradford.
The Pennsylvania Great Lakes Loop (245 miles) begins and ends in Erie, the state’s only Great Lakes port city. Enjoy stunning lake- and countryside-views between stops to explore the region’s most interesting and unusual gems, including the lighthouse of Presque Isle, the Spillway in Linesville where ducks walk the fish, PennDOT’s quirky Road Sign Sculpture Garden, and the rural areas that make up Crawford County and Lake Erie’s wine country.
View and download these loops and itineraries and find out why National Geographic called it “One of America’s Most Scenic Drives” and MotorcycleRoads.com rated it in the top 40 for “Best Routes in the US.” This isn’t just a road.
Regions & Counties on Rt. 6
