ALL TRAILS LEAD TO ICE CREAM

If you tell someone that you mountain bike and that you live in York County the first thing they ask is if you have ridden at  Rocky Ridge.   Rocky Ridge is part of the  York County Parks  system.  For me, Rocky Ridge is usually my last choice for mountain biking...mainly because of my familiarity with it and how crowded it can get (the park is open to mountain bikers, horse back riders, bird watchers, hunters, hikers, & families picnicking.)  But to be honest, if I lived three or four hours away,  Rocky Ridge  would be one of those places I would take time to drive to.  It is a cluster of trails that are truly rocky and technical.  If you are looking for smooth single track this is not the place.   David Raymond & Chris Keller taking a break near the end of Rusty Chair trail 8-9-15 If you are looking for something flat to ride...this is not the place.  On average, you will climb approximately 100 feet per mile ...

TROUGH CREEK STATE PARK TROUGH CREEK STATE PARK in James Creek, PA. Tucked away in the mountains of central Pennsylvania...and often overlooked because of it's proximity to Lake Raystown...is one of the jewels of Pennsylvania's state parks, Trough Creek .  As a child mom and dad would bring my brother and I on day trips to the park for picnics and I thought it would be great to share these memories with my wife. On our way home from Altoona today we took a side trip to  hike a small portion of Trough Creek State Park.   I told my wife, Robin, that I remember that there was a rope bridge, a waterfall, and a "balancing" rock at the park.   My memory served me correctly.   As I drove through the park that is exactly what I found and it was extremely well marked.  The first thing we found was the swinging rope bridge.  Very fun to cross...but don't run.  It would be easy to lose your footing in some of the old planks. The Swinging Br...

I didn't start out planning on riding to York Haven  today...nor did I plan on doing a lot of hills.  Sometimes you just have to go where your bike takes you.  Once I was in York Haven I decided that there was one hill I had to climb.  The weather and I figured the view of the Susquehanna River and Three Mile Island Power Plant would be spectacular.   The climb up the hill  Haring Tree Farm  is Amazing view of the Susquehanna River and Three Mile Island Power Plant from the hill next to Haring Tree Farm just outside of York Haven, PA. tough, but the view did not disappoint. Riding back into and out of York Haven took me across the Conewago Creek and Brunner's Island Power plant.   PPL coal generating power plant located between York Haven, PA and Mount Wolf, PA. Crossing the Conewago Creek just before it flows into the Susquehanna River in York Haven, PA. I ended today's ride with a climb up the Mount Wolf and past the orchards...

Small Amount of Time...Large Amount of Fun. The first thing that you should know about mountain biking at  Michaux State Forest  is that the place is big.  I mean really big.  It really isn't a place you should go to on your own without knowing exactly what you want to ride.  Two days ago, I took a new friend, Matt, to Michaux and introduced him to what the park has to offer.  He was very insistent that his friend Josh come and ride Michaux.  I met Matt and Josh this afternoon in  Pine Grove Furnace State Park  at the Furnace Stack pavilion.  This has always been my favorite place to begin a ride.  Not because of the nice bathrooms or the picnic areas, or the historical iron furnace stack....but because it is at the lowest point. Parking at the old iron furnace stack in Pine Grove Furnace.   2009.  No matter where I ride that day I will end up with a nice downward slope to end the ride.  Because Matt had only...

A day off of the bicycle doesn't mean a day spent inside.  With the end of summer in view, and the school year encroaching soon, I took my sixteen year old son, Alex, and his buddies (Robby and Austin) to Michaux State Forest  for a day of hiking, picnicking, and exploring.   Our day today was split into three parts.  We planned to hike up through Tumbling Run Game Preserve, have a picnic lunch at the furnace stack in  Pine Grove Furnace State Park , and then hike up to the top of Pole Steeple. Although the trail head at   Tumbling Run  is not marked, it is easy to get to if you  know what you are looking for.  After passing  Pine Grove Furnace State Park  on state route 233 (headed South) you will be looking for a obvious gravel parking area located on the right between Woodrow Road and Dead Woman's Hollow Road.  It is important to know that the last "nice" bathrooms are located at the furnace stack at Pine Grove Furnace ...