Road	Length	High point
Battlefield Harley-DavidsonStop One of the largest Harley-Davidson dealerships in central Pennsylvania, with 10,000 sq ft of retail floor stocking new and used H-D motorcycles, genuine parts, accessories, and riding gear. Located at 21 Cavalry Field Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325 — minutes from the Gettysburg National Military Park and the historic Lincoln Highway (US-30). The dealership serves as a natural gathering point for riders completing the Lincoln Highway corridor or exploring the Adams County back roads around Gettysburg. Open Mon–Fri 10 am–6 pm, Sat 10 am–5 pm, Sun 10 am–4 pm.	—	—
Baughman Rock OverlookStop A dramatic cliff-top overlook inside Ohiopyle State Park in the Laurel Highlands, reached via a 75-yard walk from a large gravel parking area on Sugarloaf Road off Route 381. From the top of Baughman Rock — a massive sandstone outcropping on Laurel Ridge — the view sweeps across the Youghiogheny River Gorge below, one of the finest vistas in southwestern Pennsylvania. Route 381 and the surrounding Laurel Highlands roads offer tight elevation changes and empty two-lane tarmac that rival any riding in the state.	—	—
Cedar Run InnStop A remote roadhouse at the floor of Pine Creek Gorge in the hamlet of Cedar Run, sitting directly on the Pine Creek Rail Trail at the corridor's midpoint. Listed as a key resupply stop on the Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route and a classic lunch stop for motorcyclists descending into the gorge from PA-414. The inn serves food and drinks daily and offers basic lodging — one of the only services for miles in either direction along the gorge bottom. Address: 281 Beulahland Rd, Cedar Run, PA 17727.	—	—
Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway A roughly 68-mile byway on PA-381 and PA-711 through the Laurel Highlands, linking Donegal, Ohiopyle, and Confluence along the Youghiogheny River, with Fort Necessity and Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater close by. Expect tourist traffic around Ohiopyle on summer weekends.	37 mi	—
Leonard Harrison State Park OverlookStop The premier overlook of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon (Pine Creek Gorge), a 47-mile-long, 1,000-foot-deep canyon carved through north-central PA. The east-rim overlook at 585-acre Leonard Harrison State Park sits at the end of Route 660 west of Wellsboro and looks directly into the gorge with a staffed visitor center, gift shop, picnic areas, and seasonal food truck. Pine Creek Gorge is one of the deepest canyons east of the Mississippi, and on autumn weekends the hardwood canopy creates a wall of color against the evergreens below. PA-44 and PA-144 — two of the best motorcycle roads in the state — converge on this area.	—	—
Lincoln Highway Experience MuseumStop A museum dedicated to the Lincoln Highway — America's first coast-to-coast road, built in 1913 — located at 3435 State Route 30 E, Latrobe, PA, midway between Latrobe and Ligonier in the Laurel Highlands. Exhibits include original road markers, period automobiles, diners, roadside architecture models, and full-scale recreations of Lincoln Highway motor courts. For riders on US-30, it is the definitive detour into the culture of America's road-trip heritage. Open Tuesday–Sunday, April through November.	—	—
PA-120 Bucktail Trail Scenic Byway A 100-mile Pennsylvania Scenic Byway through Sproul and Elk state forests, running from Lock Haven west to Ridgway along the Sinnemahoning Creek corridor. National motorcycling publications describe the full ride as '103 miles of riding bliss' and 'addictive,' with riders flanked by high cliffs, deep hemlock hollows, and drop-offs to mountain streams. The byway follows an ancient Native American trail across the eastern continental divide between the Susquehanna and Allegheny river systems. Wildlife including elk are commonly spotted in Cameron County, and the road is minimally developed throughout — very few traffic lights or commercial interruptions.	104 mi	—
PA-150 Bald Eagle Valley A 41-mile state highway connecting State College (near PA-26) northwest to Avis on US-220, threading the Bald Eagle Valley through Centre and Clinton counties. The route crosses a gap in Bald Eagle Mountain, runs along the northwest shore of the Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir, and parallels Bald Eagle Creek through forested ridge terrain. The DCNR's Bald Eagle State Forest surrounds much of the corridor, and the road provides access to seven documented scenic overlooks within the forest. Bald Eagle State Park sits along the reservoir section. The road links to PA-120 (Bucktail Byway) near Lock Haven, making it a natural connecting segment for north-central Pennsylvania touring loops.	31 mi	—
PA-381 Ohiopyle & Fallingwater Corridor A 49-mile two-lane highway through the core of the Laurel Highlands in Fayette and Westmoreland counties, running from US-30 near Ligonier south through Ohiopyle State Park to the West Virginia border. The road crosses the Youghiogheny River at the Ohiopyle Highway Bridge, passes a half-mile from Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, and traverses Forbes State Forest on tight elevation-change curves. The southern stretch drops into the Youghiogheny River Gorge and is part of the Scenic Byway Routes 711/381 designation by the Laurel Highlands Tourism Authority.	49 mi	—
PA-414 Pine Creek Gorge Floor A two-lane state highway that descends into and travels along the floor of Pine Creek Gorge — Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon — between Waterville in the south and Blackwell in the north. Rider Magazine's 2025 Pennsylvania Wilds feature calls PA-414 'one of Pennsylvania's great motorcycling roads,' citing its winding path along Pine Creek through canyon farmland, the valley villages of Slate Run and Waterville, and the dramatic 1,450-foot gorge walls rising on both sides. The road provides gorge-floor access that rim roads PA-44 and PA-660 cannot, with Cedar Run Inn (hamlet of Cedar Run) as the only services at canyon floor level for most of the route. PA-414 connects at Blackwell to PA-44 for a complete gorge loop.	79 mi	—
PA-66 Allegheny National Forest Gateway A 140-mile state highway running from New Stanton in Westmoreland County north to Kane in McKean County, serving as the primary western gateway into Pennsylvania's only national forest. The northern two-thirds of PA-66 transitions from suburban to deeply rural as it passes through Clarion, Forest, and Elk counties, crossing the Clarion River and entering Allegheny National Forest in Jenks Township. Rider Magazine's Allegheny Plateau route uses PA-66 as the spine approach to Kane, where connecting roads PA-59 and the Longhouse National Scenic Byway provide reservoir views and forest riding through old-growth hardwood. The route also passes close to Cook Forest State Park, home to the tallest trees in the eastern U.S.	60 mi	—
PA-87 Endless Mountains A 64-mile north–south state highway through Lycoming, Sullivan, and Wyoming counties in Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains region, running from Williamsport northeast to Mehoopany. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on motorcycleroads.com by riders who call it 'one of the sweetest roads in PA,' PA-87 follows the Loyalsock Creek bed through sheer rock walls, creek-side vegetation, and picturesque stream crossings. The road offers a well-balanced mix of sweepers and slightly tight corners with minimal traffic and few intersections, making it ideal for continuous spirited riding through lush northern Pennsylvania forest.	69 mi	—
Wellsboro DinerStop A 1939 Sterling Diner car parked on Wellsboro's gas-lit Main Street and operating continuously ever since — rated one of the best classic diners in America by Huffington Post. Known for towering hot roast beef sandwiches, fresh-baked pies, and a no-frills breakfast that fuels riders before a day on PA-44 or PA-144. On summer and fall weekends, rows of motorcycles line the street out front as riders base camp in Wellsboro for Pine Creek Gorge runs. Breakfast and lunch only; street parking for bikes.	—	—

//Rallies & events

Rally

Rally · June, ~3 days

PA Endless Mountains Adventure Rally

Pennsylvania

An annual dual-sport and adventure motorcycle rally based at Hills Creek State Park near Wellsboro, PA, in the northern Tioga County highlands. Organized by Emmaus Moto Tours via US Dual Sports, the rally offers three pre-mapped 130–180 mile day loops through forest roads, overlooks, and small towns of the Endless Mountains and Pine Creek Gorge region. Free to attend (campers pay campsite fees); a Saturday evening pig roast is included. The 2026 running (June 5–7) was the second annual event, making it an established but still-young recurring rally.

NextNext edition TBA

Official site ↗

By Switchback · Updated 2026-07-08

Best season

Late May – October

Helmet law

Partial (under 21, or new riders)

Lane splitting

Illegal

Signature terrain

Gorges, forest plateau, ridge & valley

Pennsylvania is a large, varied state, and it rewards riders who look past the interstates. The north-central highlands hold two of the deepest gorges east of the Mississippi — Pine Creek and the Youghiogheny — connected by a network of two-lane state highways that see almost no commercial traffic. The southwest Laurel Highlands roll toward West Virginia through Forbes State Forest and past Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater. The PA Wilds spread across eleven counties of old-growth plateau, elk country, and Allegheny National Forest, threaded by the Bucktail Byway and US Route 6. Down in Schuylkill County, PA Route 125 and Gold Mine Road offer the tightest hairpin sequence in the Northeast. And holding it all together is the Lincoln Highway — America's first coast-to-coast road — still rideable from the Delaware to the Ohio border. No other mid-Atlantic state packs this range of terrain into one riding trip.

Why Pennsylvania Works as a Riding Destination

Pennsylvania sits in an awkward middle ground in motorcycle culture — not the Blue Ridge, not New England — which means its best roads are genuinely underused. Riders from the mid-Atlantic and Midwest who know the state well treat it as a full-week destination. Those who don't are missing one of the most road-dense touring states on the East Coast.

Pennsylvania offers two federally designated US Scenic Byways, fifteen state-designated byways, and one National Forest Scenic Byway — more than most riders will exhaust in a single trip. The challenge isn't finding good roads; it's choosing between regions that require very different bases of operation.

How to Think About the Regions

The PA Wilds (north-central) is the biggest commitment and the biggest payoff. Plan at least two nights in Wellsboro to access Pine Creek Gorge from the rim overlooks and the gorge floor via PA-414, then build outward to US-6 and the PA-44/PA-144 dark-sky loop toward Cherry Springs State Park. The Bucktail Byway and PA-150 Bald Eagle Valley connect this region southward toward Lock Haven for riders who want to string together a loop rather than an out-and-back.

The Laurel Highlands (southwest) is easier to reach from Pittsburgh and pairs well with a single overnight in the Ohiopyle or Ligonier area. PA-381 is the spine; the Lincoln Highway Experience Museum in Latrobe makes a good morning stop before heading south into Forbes State Forest.

For riders based near Philadelphia or New York City, Gold Mine Road and PA Route 125 near Swatara State Park offer the densest concentration of technical pavement within a day's ride — and the route doesn't require an overnight.

Practical Hazards

Wildlife is a genuine concern on forest roads in the PA Wilds, especially the Cameron County section of the Bucktail Byway, where elk crossings are common near dawn and dusk.
Sand and gravel washed onto road surfaces after rain is common on the gorge-floor roads (PA-414 in particular) and on forest byways after storms.
Tourist traffic clusters around Ohiopyle on summer weekends; PA-381 through the state park can back up around the main falls parking areas.
Fuel planning matters on the Bucktail Byway and the PA-44/PA-144 loop — services are sparse for 50–80 mile stretches.
Deer are active statewide at dawn and dusk through spring and fall; ride accordingly on two-lane forest roads.

Base Camps

Wellsboro serves the PA Wilds. Its gas-lit main street, the Wellsboro Diner, and proximity to both the gorge rim and US-6 make it the natural hub for multi-day northern PA touring. For the Laurel Highlands, smaller towns near Ligonier or Ohiopyle work. For the central Ridge and Valley routes, State College provides services without the remoteness penalty.

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// Frequently asked

Pennsylvania has a partial helmet law. Riders and passengers under 21 must wear a DOT-approved helmet at all times. Riders 21 and older are exempt if they have held a motorcycle license for at least two full calendar years or have completed a PennDOT- or MSF-approved safety course. Eye protection is required for all riders regardless of age or helmet status, unless the motorcycle has an approved windshield.

No. Lane splitting — riding between lanes of moving or stopped traffic — is illegal in Pennsylvania. Motorcyclists must occupy a full lane and follow the same lane-use rules as other vehicles. Two motorcycles may, however, ride side by side in the same lane (lane sharing), which is legal.

Late spring through early fall is the sweet spot. Summer is comfortable in the northern highlands and central mountains, though the southern lowlands can get humid. Fall foliage — typically peaking in mid-to-late October — draws riders to routes like US-6 through the PA Wilds, the Laurel Highlands Byway, and the Pine Creek Gorge roads. Northern mountain roads may carry lingering frost or sand into early May.

Pennsylvania does not have mountain-pass closures like western states, but forest roads and some secondary routes in the northern tier can be gated or rough after winter. The PA Wilds BDR-X and MABDR forest sections may include unpaved segments that are best avoided when wet or in early spring when they're soft. Always check PennDOT road conditions before riding deep into the Sproul, Tiadaghton, or Susquehannock State Forests.

Pennsylvania breaks into four broad riding regions: the PA Wilds (north-central — Pine Creek Gorge, US-6, PA-44/144, Bucktail Byway); the Laurel Highlands (southwest — PA-381, Ohiopyle, Forbes State Forest); the Ridge and Valley / central region (PA-150 Bald Eagle Valley, PA-87 Endless Mountains, Gold Mine Road); and the Lincoln Highway corridor (US-30 east–west, connecting Gettysburg to the Laurel Highlands).

PA Route 125 combined with Gold Mine Road near Swatara State Park in Schuylkill and Lebanon counties is widely cited as Pennsylvania's Tail of the Dragon equivalent — roughly 20–25 miles of steep hill climbs, 180-degree banked turns, and hairpins on smooth pavement, within about 2.5 hours of New York City.

//Sources & references

Pennsylvania Motorcycle Helmet Law – PennDOT FAQ ↗Pennsylvania's Motorcycle Helmet Law Fact Sheet – PennDOT ↗Pennsylvania Motorcycle Helmet Laws – Edgar Snyder & Associates (2026 update) ↗Best Motorcycle Rides in Pennsylvania – GreatMotorcycleRoads.com ↗Lane Splitting in Pennsylvania – ABC27 News ↗