Kinzua Dam

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May 4, 2012 | 09:21 AM

Turbinesaint

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From: Salinas, CA

Kinzua Dam

Taking a personal day on Wednesday and riding out from Erie to the Kinzua Dam area and going to go over Route 666 (just because) on the way home. I was thinking about packing a lunch and eating at the dam but figured I'd ask to see if anyone has any cool places to eat close to there that are a "must visit" type of place. I have never been there before and was looking for suggestions from those who have.

May 5, 2012 | 04:20 AM

Geezr Glidr

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From: Wellsboro, PA

I don't know much about cool places to eat, west of the dam, without Googling something that I wouldn't know anyway --- like in Warren or something like that. I know a couple places east & south of there, that are a little too out-of-the-way on a daytrip like that. Might as well pack a lunch. If you're going to the dam, you should also go east, maybe another 20 (?) more miles on 59, and go to Kinzua Bridge State Park. Keep alert so you don't miss the little sign to turn right, off of 59! (It's a few miles before Ormsby PA, on 59.) Kinzua Bridge is a cool must-stop for bike trips across route 6. There used to be an excursion/sight seeing train out of Kane that went over this real high bridge there. The bridge was blown down in a tornado a few years ago, and never been cleaned up. There's a new walkway out to view the gorge. It was just finished last year. Definitely worth an extra few miles, and there are picnic tables there too, and lots of parking. When you leave Kinzua Bridge, make a right & go to route 6 in Mt Jewett (rather than back to 59) and take 6 west through Kane, to 666. That'll be a nice day for you.

May 5, 2012 | 04:37 AM

Geezr Glidr

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From: Wellsboro, PA

By the way, on route 6 on your way back toward Kane, there's a little bike-friendly bar/restaurant on the left, at the corner of 6 & 219. Don't remember the name of it, but I've eaten there twice & I remember that it wasn't that great, so I didn't recommend it. I won't take the time to stop there again when I'm over that way. I'd rather have a sandwich from Sheetz!

May 6, 2012 | 07:54 PM

hooter23

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We stopped at Kinzua state park last year and that walkway was pretty cool, it was very windy and the wife was a little freaked out at the end of the walkway. The park is free and there is picnic tables on site. It is well worth the extra miles great riding up that way.

May 7, 2012 | 10:03 AM

Turbinesaint

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From: Salinas, CA

Thanks for all the feedback! I was planning on checking out the walkway and heading back on 6 to 666. Should be a fun day. I think I'll probably just pack a couple sadwiches and enjoy the view while having lunch. I definitely want to make my way out to Wellsboro to check out the PA Grand Canyon. There are so many cool places to ride here in PA. . . coming from out west, I never realized how scenic PA is. It's so easy to ride 20 minutes and be enjoying some great back roads.

Last edited by Turbinesaint; May 7, 2012 at 10:06 AM.

May 7, 2012 | 01:30 PM

Geezr Glidr

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From: Wellsboro, PA

Some GREAT riding in NW PA. You'll love route 6 to the canyon. (Access to the west rim of the canyon is on 6.) Also, if you go south a little more, route 120 is another great ride. Real nice smooth road, and you might be lucky to pass 2 dozen cars, the whole length of it. Couple of good places to eat down there too. Google & map out Hyner View State Park, and also Benezette PA --- not far south of 120. Benezette has the largest population of free-roaming elk east of CO. I see a few almost every time I go there. The Benezette Hotel does a pretty good burger, and you can probably see elk just roamin' around the village. Even if you don't see any elk, you'll love the ride getting there. (Route 555.) Benezette's not far from 219 so you can get home pretty easily. It's not a whole lot more than 30 to 40 minutes north of Dubois, and route 80 also.