Cycling the Top Bike Climbs in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania does not have the hardest bike climbs in the country, but it has some challenging and fun bike climbs. Our favorites are listed below:
PENNSYLVANIA’S #1 BIKE CLIMB
PAVIA ROAD - BLUE KNOB STATE PARK
Cycling Pavia Road, Blue Knob State Park
Ride 4.4 miles gaining 1,633’ at 7% average grade.
Pavia Road in Blue Knob State Park is the most difficult bike climb in Pennsylvania. While the grade never reaches the intolerable levels of the extremely difficult climb category, there are certainly challenging segments on this climb. The steepest quarter-mile is 11% and the steepest half-mile 9.6%. This makes our most favorite list because it is number one in the state and also a fun and scenic climb.
PENNSYLVANIA’S #2 BIKE CLIMB
OVERLAND PASS
Overland Pass is in Blue Knob State Park, right on the other side of PA’s #1 hardest climb, Pavia Road.
PENNSYLVANIA’S #3 BIKE CLIMB
HENRIETTA MOUNTAIN ROAD
Cycling Henrietta Mountain Road
Ride 1.9 miles gaining 1,035’ at 10.6% average grade.
This climb is an absolute brute. Not only does it average 10.6%, it has several short segments over 15%. We include this in our list because it is Pennsylvania #2 and also because it is a fun and super hard bike climb.
PENNSYLVANIA’S #4 BIKE CLIMB
ROUTE 44 EAST
Cycling Route 44 East
Ride 3.1 miles gaining 1,313’ at 8% average grade.
This is a gorgeous climb during fall colors. Just seven miles from Williamsport, this climb offers at real challenge with a quarter near the top at 12% (half mile at 11%).
Exceptional scenery during fall colors.
We include this in our favorite three because it is #3 hardest in Pennsylvania, and also because its a fun and scenic ride. It really is a coincidence that our three favorite and most memorable climbs happen to also be the three hardest in the state!