Hey guys, anybody gone to the pa grand canyon from NEPA? I'm going in a few weeks. Any suggestions for route or stops?

 

Was up there this year. You could take Route 6W to it, where are you located/starting from? There's one fella on here, Geezr Glidr (I think) that lives right next to the PA Grand Canyon and always gives outstanding advice for trips up that way.

 

Livin' in SE Pa I had heard about the Route 6 Grand Canyon and many people recommend it. So after many years of thinking about it I finally decided to hit it last year in a 4 day trip with a riding buddy. My riding buddy had recently moved to Rhode Island and wanted to make the trip as well. So we met in Poughkeepsie, NY and took route 6 west all the way into the Allegheny National Forest and planned originally to return the same way.
To make a long story short I was rather disappointed with route 6 to the point we decided to return a different way. It is very scenic but never saw anything that I could identify as a canyon much the less a grand canyon. I'm a twisties rider and was sorely disappointed in that category. There's plenty of places to stop for food and shelter and the touristy stuff as well. I don't consider myself a hard core iron butt rider but do like to mostly ride that see the sights. 300 miles and 6-8 hours of seat time is a good day for me.
I'm not trying to trash route 6, it is as stated a very scenic ride with plenty of stops to offer just don't expect to be carving it through the canyons either.

BTW, if you are looking for more of the backroad twisty type routes there's a bunch in the area. Our trip back was on route 120 from St. Mary's to Lock Haven which turned out to be one of my favorites in Pa. Very scenic with plenty of twistes to boot along the way. Others were great as well, 44, 144 and 87 were great. You can't seem to go wrong as long as you stay off the main highways like route 6.

As noted above, Geezer Glide lives in Wellsboro and would be a great resource if you decide to take the route 6 trip. Again not trashing it just trying to set the expectations correctly for the type of riding you like to do. Have a safe trip!

 

Hey Bjc7Jr ---- Geezr Glidr here, from Wellsboro. In Low Wider's defense, I'm not crazy about Route 6, east of Troy or Towanda, but I'd bet a paycheck or 2 that 99% of everybody else had a great ride. I think 6 is a great & beautiful scenic ride, the further west you go. Lots of things to stop & look at. Where in NEPA are you, and how many days you wanna be out? Tell me that & I'll give you some good stops & things to see. Most of the scenic "stuff to do & see" is from Wellsboro, heading west. I'll definitely agree with Low Wider on 1 thing though --- Route 120 from St Marys to Lock Haven. Smooth road, no traffic, terrific ride, and a couple of good places to eat. Also some stuff to stop & see if you know where they are. Lemme know. I can help.

 

Hey Geezr, where were you when I made the trip last year?

 

Bought my 1st Harley (09 EG Classic) last year & didn't join up here til June of 09! Sorry 'bout that! Cmon back up, but make sure you call first!

 

Thanks for your input guys. I'm in Honesdale, its right on rt 6. its in the northeast corner of the state. We plan to leave on a Friday morning and head to a friends house in Towanda, stay there that night and head for the canyon/state parks area on Saturday and head back to Towanda that night. Then head home on Sunday. My friend is temporarily is Towanda for work and is not real familiar with the area, so any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

OK Boss --- Here's a nice roundtrip from, and back to Towanda. I mapped it out & it's about 325 miles if you do all of it. Depending on time, below, I'll tell you where you can cut out an hour or 2. I think if you leave Towanda by 8:30 or 9, you can do it all.

6 west out of Towanda, about 50 miles to Wellsboro. Stay on 6 & about 8 or 10 miles out of Wellsboro, in Ansonia, follow signs to Colton Point State Park. This is the west rim of the PA Grand Canyon. Have to go back to 6, the same way you went up to the lookouts.

Continue on 6 west, another 30 (or so) miles to Coudersport. Before you get into Coudersport, just after Charles Cole Hospital, turn left onto route 872. About 40 miles to Sinnamahoning & route 120. Turn right onto 120 west, and about 300 feet is a good place for burgers & a cold one --- The Willows.

Continue on 120 west, about 5 more miles to Driftwood & turn left onto 555. About a half hour to Benezette, in Elk County, where in this area, is the largest population of free-roaming elk, east of CO. I've never seen elk at the elk viewing areas. Just ride around the 3 or 4 blocks of this little village --- that's where I've seen them in people's yards, eating their shrubs, etc. There's also a good burger/cold one place here -- The Benezette Hotel, if you don't feel like stopping at The Willows. There's outdoor seating too & you might be able to watch elk roaming around town, while you're having your beers & burgers.

Back up 555 to 120, and take 120 east. About 5 miles past the town of Renovo, look for the signs to Hyner View & Hyner State Park. If it's a nice day & not too windy, you might be able to watch hang gliders at Hyner View. Kind of a cool, narrow, twisty road up to Hyner View. From Hyner, go back to 120 the same way you went up.

Continue on 120 east about 25 miles to Lock Haven. In Lock Haven, you'll pick up 220 north. Keep following 220 north, and 220 goes right back to Towanda.

Couple of tips, for no extra charge!
1 -- At Colton Point/West Rim of the canyon, there are 2 lookouts, but not all visitors know that. If there's no room to park at the very 1st lookout, keep going past it a few hundred feet, stay on the hard road, and it loops around past another lookout. Stop at both of 'em if you can. Take quarters for the binoculars too!

2 -- If you get pressed for time when you get to 120 from 872, you can always skip the ride to Benezette. Grab a burger at The Willows, and head back to Hyner, Lock Haven, 220, via 120 going east. No guarantees that you'll see any elk anyway --- especially if it's really hot, but hey, it's a nice ride there & you might see some. Depending on how long you stay in Benezette or if you eat, you could save up to 2 hrs by not going. From The Willows to Benezette & back to The Willows, is probably a little less than hour round trip, without stopping.

3 -- Top off the tank in Galeton (about 20 miles west of Wellsboro on 6), unless you go 3 or 4 miles into Coudersport & then come back to 872. There's gas in Benezette, but otherwise nothing on 872 or 120 until you get to Renovo --- probably 60 or 70 miles. Benezette General store was out of gas once when I was there a couple of years ago, so don't take a chance!

Alot of info I know, but hope it helps after you map it out. This'll be a great day for you.

 

Thanks guys, now that was the easy part. How about makin sure it doesn't rain???

 

How about we set you up with a womern and cold beere too??? :-)