SIGNATURE BIKE LOOP 1

Bicycle Itinerary For PA Route 6 Signature Loop 1
Great Lakes, Presque Isle, and the Bayfront

The Great Lakes Region provides excellent cycling opportunities for riders of all skill levels. With minimal elevation gains, cyclists can focus more on the ride and less on pumping up steep grades. The result is a pleasant cruise through an area rich in culture and scenery. Along the way, you’ll find numerous places to grab a bite to eat or enjoy a cold, refreshing drink. You might also want to stay overnight in Erie at the Spencer House Bed & Breakfast, a designated Bike Friendly Business.

This loop begins and ends in the 108-acre Scott Park. Start the ride by heading west on West 6th Street to Peninsula Drive for a peaceful jaunt around the Presque Isle State Park. The peninsula was formed 11,000 years ago by natural wind and wave action from Lake Erie, which deposited sand into this unique formation extending from the mainland. It’s said that the peninsula actually originated over three miles west of its present-day location. 

After returning to the mainland, continue west on West 6th Street/West Lake Road to Manchester Road. If you feel like making a short detour, turn right toward Lake Erie and stop by Manchester Beach and Walnut Creek, one of the main fishing destinations for steelhead anglers in northwestern Pennsylvania. From fall through winter, spawning steelhead can be seen working their way up into Walnut Creek, sometimes in large numbers, before falling back to the lake in early spring. 

From West Lake Road, turn left onto Manchester Road,then left onto US 20/West Ridge Road, then veering off to the  right onto Swanville Road. Turn right onto Culpepper Road, and make another right onto Millfair Road. In about a half-mile, turn left onto West 38th Street, where you’ll eventually come to the intersection with Asbury Road. Turning right will take you to Asbury Woods, a 234-acre nature reserve where you can stop and stretch and take in the beauty of the area. Asbury Woods offers year-round programming, so consider timing your ride with one of their many events. 

Continuing on West 38th Street, turn left onto Cherry Street to West 18th Street. Within just a few blocks, you can view murals of Anone’s Bakery (564 W. 18th St.), Nuova Aurora (1518 Walnut St.) and the Trajan Market of Little Italy (1626 Sassafras St.) before continuing to the Bayfront Bikeway.  

The Bayfront Bikeway (Bayfront Connector Trail) is a 9-mile point-to-point trail through a variety of landscapes around the city and through wooded areas and eventually lots of views of Lake Erie. Follow Bayfront Bikeway all the way to the Frontier Bikeway and then pick up West 6th Street at Frontier Park. From there, cruise back to Scot Park to complete the loop. 

LOOP NOTES & STOPS:

• Scott Park 
• Presque Isle State Park 
• Tom Ridge Environmental Center 
• Walnut Creek Steelhead Run (fall-spring) 
• Asbury Woods 
• Murals and Public Art Displays 
• Bayfront Bikeway 
• Frontier Park 
• Abundant Night Life and Lodging Options 
• Bike Friendly Businesses: Spencer House Bed and Breakfast