Them Thar Hills...
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Vermont
Them Thar Hills...
I ride mainly in the northeast, and one of my favorite things is riding up mountains or hills to the view at the top. I think I've ridden to all of them in northern New England. I'll be retiring soon and plan to take many trips to the south east and out west. I'm hoping to put together a comprehensive list of all the mountains/hills that have roads to the top, in the USA and Canada, that can be ridden on a street bike. I'll then include them in trip planning as I head out on my (epic to me) rides. I'll put together my list of northeast hills below (some are probably not well known) and ask my fellow forum members for other mountains/hills from other areas of the country. (I know there are many) Please include the state that the mountain/hill is in. Thanks for your Help!
Northern New England/New York Mountains/Hills
Vermont:
Burke Mountain
Mt Ascutney
Mt Equinox
Mt Philo
Mt Mansfield (now car only)
New York:
Whiteface Mountain
Prospect Mountain (Lake George)
New Hampshire:
Mt Washington
Cathedral Ledge (North Conway)
Maine:
Cadillac Mt (Acadia NP)
Mt Battie (Camden)
Massachusetts:
Mt Greylock
Northern New England/New York Mountains/Hills
Vermont:
Burke Mountain
Mt Ascutney
Mt Equinox
Mt Philo
Mt Mansfield (now car only)
New York:
Whiteface Mountain
Prospect Mountain (Lake George)
New Hampshire:
Mt Washington
Cathedral Ledge (North Conway)
Maine:
Cadillac Mt (Acadia NP)
Mt Battie (Camden)
Massachusetts:
Mt Greylock
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,767
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From: North Carolina
North Carolina - Mt. Mitchell - Highest point East of the Mississippi. Blue Ridge Parkway
North Carolina - Beach Mountain
Smoky Mountains - NC & TN
Brasstown Bald - Helen Georgia - You can see several states on a clear day.
North Carolina - Beach Mountain
Smoky Mountains - NC & TN
Brasstown Bald - Helen Georgia - You can see several states on a clear day.
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Joined: Jan 2015
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From: San Francisco
There are a bunch of mountains in the west that you can ride to the top. Colorado has a few. But most of the highest roads are the mountain passes, not the peak of mountain. In the San Francisco Bay Area there are three peaks of notable heights that you can ride your bike to. One is Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County. The second is Mt. Diablo in Contra Costa County. A little bit of trivia about Mt. Diablo. From the top of the mountain on a clear day like you might have in December or January, you can see more of the earth surface than any other place in the world with the exception of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. And the third is Mt. Hamilton in Santa Clara County.
Each is a nice day ride with a lunch somewhere in there. There are a number of possibilities depending on from what direction you approach. And if you want to make it a long day, some do a "Three Peak Ride". I think that's about 150+ miles. And maybe 10-12 hours of riding. There are windy roads and traffic. Two peak day rides with a lunch in the middle is a real nice day ride.
Each is a nice day ride with a lunch somewhere in there. There are a number of possibilities depending on from what direction you approach. And if you want to make it a long day, some do a "Three Peak Ride". I think that's about 150+ miles. And maybe 10-12 hours of riding. There are windy roads and traffic. Two peak day rides with a lunch in the middle is a real nice day ride.
Last edited by Michael Psycle; Apr 17, 2020 at 07:05 PM.
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Cruiser
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From: Vermont
Thanks Cosmic. I've heard of Mt. Mitchell, but not Beech Mt. or Brasstown Bald.
Thanks Michael. I'll definitely check those rides locations out. Is there an observatory or some sort south of San Francisco? Seem to recall a ride around there from a Rider Magazine article a ways back.
Thanks Michael. I'll definitely check those rides locations out. Is there an observatory or some sort south of San Francisco? Seem to recall a ride around there from a Rider Magazine article a ways back.
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Joined: Jan 2015
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From: San Francisco
Thanks Cosmic. I've heard of Mt. Mitchell, but not Beech Mt. or Brasstown Bald.
Thanks Michael. I'll definitely check those rides locations out. Is there an observatory or some sort south of San Francisco? Seem to recall a ride around there from a Rider Magazine article a ways back.
Thanks Michael. I'll definitely check those rides locations out. Is there an observatory or some sort south of San Francisco? Seem to recall a ride around there from a Rider Magazine article a ways back.
One of the nice aspects of the ride to Mt. Hamilton is the informational displays related to the Lick Observatory.
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Joined: Mar 2018
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From: Ft. Wayne IN
eglide vt: Thanks for your thoughts. Riding in "them thar hills" of the Northeast are great. I grew up in the shadow of Mt. Greylock (Pittsfield, MA) and lived for a short time in Bethlehem, NH (very close to Mt. Washington). Beautiful country. I was able to ride my Sportster up Mt. Greylock in 2018 when visiting the old "homestead".
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From: Vermont
Hi Steve,
My best friends family belonged to a ski lodge in Bethlehem. I used to go there pretty much every other weekend in the winter from middle school through high school. Had my first beer and my first kiss in that lodge. I now pass through that way often when traveling from my place in Vermont to my sisters place in Maine. Love that area.
My best friends family belonged to a ski lodge in Bethlehem. I used to go there pretty much every other weekend in the winter from middle school through high school. Had my first beer and my first kiss in that lodge. I now pass through that way often when traveling from my place in Vermont to my sisters place in Maine. Love that area.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: North Arkansas
Lot of excellent vista spots here in Arkieland. Mt Magazine Mt Nebo and Petit Jean Mt all have great overlooks. Pull off and snap some pics from the edge. 3 peaks run. Wihelmena and Talimena byway as well, over by Mena and going into OK
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Wellsboro, PA
eglide vt, OUTSTANDING riding down in WV. I'm in N. Central PA, and ride down there a couple times every summer, just to ride those curvy mountain roads. Write down Spruce ****. Highest point in WV, and there's a short, easy walk to a lookout tower. Looks like ya can see 25 miles up there! Fun & narrow road to get up there too. Also, in my neck of the woods, check out Hyner View State Park near Renovo PA. Another narrow, curvy road to get up there, and the only way down is to go the way you went up! You might see some hanggliding up there too. They go up almost any nice weekend when the breeze is right. My grandparents lived in Greenfield MA, and I used to go there 2 weeks every summer as a kid. I'd like to make time to do some riding up your way now.