SIGNATURE BIKE LOOP 3
Signature Loop 3 – Ride Through the Dark Skies
Potter County in northcentral PA is often referred as the “Dark Skies” and Cherry Spring State Park is designated an International Dark Sky Park because the night sky here is relatively unaffected by light pollution. Stargazers come from all across the country to view and photograph the night sky at Cherry Springs.
This loop consists of approximately 70% paved roads, but even the paved roads in this region are not heavily traveled and offer safe bike travel. Weighing in at 94 miles, Ride Through the Dark Skies is another loop with excellent bikepacking potential. Be sure to pack plenty of water and supplies, as there’s quite a bit of distance between amenities and your options can be limited based on the hours of operation of local stores.
Ride Through the Dark Skies begins in Coudersport at Mitchell Park. Jump on PA Route 6 West and turn left onto Olastead Road and then right onto Old Shovel Road. Turn left onto Elm Flat Road, right onto Mina Road, which provides a challenging uphill ride to Odin Road. The only redeeming factor of this painful climb is the rest you get as you glide down the other side to Matt Ward Road.
Follow Matt Ward Road to and make a sharp right onto Upper Bark Shanty Road. Make a slight left onto Reed Run Road, and then quick little jaunts on PA 607 and PA 155 to Bush Hill Road and then Cowley Hill Road to Ridge Road.
Ridge Road and Bailey Run Road are gravel roads through heavily forested parts of two state forest, the Susquehannock and the Elk. This wild and scenic ride is a treat for nature lovers, providing peace and solitude in one of the more desolate parts of Potter County.
Keep in mind that if you do venture off your bicycle to explore the surrounding woods that this is also rattlesnake country. Be aware of your surroundings and don’t step over obstructions where you cannot see what lies on the other side. Rattlesnakes are not aggressive creatures and will not strike unless provoked. If you encounter one, simply take note of your surroundings and back away slowly.
Bailey Run Road leads down to Route 872 just south of Wharton. From here you can continue approximately 7 miles north on 872 to Austin, home of the Austin Dam, the site of the 1912 disaster that killed 72 people. Learn about the history of the area at Austin Dam Memorial Park, which also offers free campsites.
If you’d prefer to cut this loop short, continue north on Route 872 for 14 miles to Coudersport and Mitchell Park. However, for a complete cycling experience in Dark Skies country, head south on Route 872 to Wharton and take East Fork Road all the way to Cherry Springs. During the daytime, Cherry Springs is an old air strip with a 180 degree view of the night sky. By night, it’s a hopping epicenter of stargazers and photographers hoping to view the stars in a way they’ve never seen before.
Cross over PA 44 onto West Branch Road. In 6 miles, turn left onto Lyman Run Road through Lyman Run State Park. It’s a gradual, 1,000-foot climb to Billy Lewis Road, but it’s also a very scenic stretch. Turn right onto Billy Lewis Road and cross over PA Route 6 to Irish Farm Road. In about 2.5 miles, turn right onto Brookland Road, left onto Sweden Hill Road, and then left onto North Hollow Road, which will take you to Coudersport, where you’ll pick up PA Route 6 and return to Mitchell Park.
Loop Notes and Stops:
- Gravel grinding through Elk and Susquehannock state forests
- Austin Dam Memorial Park
- Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park
- Lyman Run State Park
