pennpaul

I'm attending a family reunion in the Poconos this summer and I want to bring my (gravel) bike. We're staying in East Stroudsburg and I see it's close to the McDade Trail, but reviews of the trail seem all over the place from smooth to lots of hike-a-bike. My type of gravel riding is the C&O or the GAP. I'm not afraid of hills but just don't want to hike up/down rocks to move forward.

So should I look harder at the McDade (what sections?), or can anyone recommend some nice roads to ride in the area, too, for a 40-50 mile ride? BTW, I've read about the D&L, too, but it's not close enough to where we're staying.

Thanks,
Paul

indyfabz

Look into the Paulinskill Valley Trail. Don’t know what kind of condition it is in these days.

pennpaul

I think I created a road route that'll work for me.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...lj&usp=sharing

indyfabz

Have you looked at Street View? 447 and 209 can be very busy. Park in Delaware Water Gap, PA, cross over the I-80 bridge and ride Old Mine Rd. on the NJ side of the river. Just watch out for bears. 😀

pennpaul

Thank you for the extra intel. I did try to street view it as much as I could.

209 seemed to have a fairly generous shoulder on Street View. No?

I wasn't sure about 447/191. There is a minimal shoulder, but I'm coming down from Mt. Pocono so I figured my speed would be adequate. I think I'll have to scout the route ahead of time when I get there.

Are bikes allowed over I-80 or further south at Portland? They also both seem to be toll bridges so I didn't know how to manage that on a bike.

Thanks,
Paul

Gundo

Rode it a month ago. It is well taken care of, muddy after rain or snow but very rideable

Gundo

There is a footbridge in Portland, used it many times.

indyfabz

209 only gets acceptable after you enter the National Recreation Area. where commercial vehicles are banned. Before then, there is a good deal of commercialism and traffic. I haven't driven up there is a long time. Maybe they have paved the shoulder better. Parts of it were crappy many years ago. The traffic heading south can back up for a mile or more at the junction with 447.

There is a pedestrian walkway along I-80 between Delaware Water Gap, PA and the NJ side. It's actually part of the Appalachian Trail. To get to Portland from DWG, you go down 611. There is a pedestrian bridge across the river to Columbia, NJ. It's right by the old freight station on the east side of 611. Portland's claim to fame is being the home town of the guy who wrote All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.

indyfabz

Here is a nice loop that starts from the PA Welcome Center:

Bike Route Planner - Ride with GPS

There are services in Blairstown and water and bathrooms in Old Millbrook Village. If you keep heading NE at mile 31 you hit the Wallpack Inn. You need to check their hours. Not sure if they are open for lunch, at least not during the week.

car knocker

The McDade trail is pretty rough. The surface is composed of gravel around 1 inch in diameter,not packed stone dust like the gap. It follows the land contour along the Delaware River,lots of ups and downs,some pretty steep.Its even tough on a full suspension mt.bike.
The old mine road in NJ is rural riding,paved and gravel depending on where you are on it,but better for covering some distance.

pennpaul

Woo! Better bring my climbing legs. Thanks, though. I'll check it out.