In July, Pennsylvania’s first national designated bike route was approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, making Pennsylvania the 25th state to join the U.S. Bicycle Route System. Bike Route 50 links 538 miles of trails from Washington D.C. to the Indiana/Illinois border.
Pennsylvania’s 163-mile route mostly follows off-road trails, including the popular Great Allegheny Passage, Montour Trail, and the Panhandle Trail, and connects Maryland to West Virginia through a variety of natural and agricultural landscapes, historical sites, thriving small towns, and recreational hot spots. Cyclists can visit restored rail stations; Ohiopyle State Park, which has some of the best white water rafting on the East Coast; Point State Park in Pittsburgh; and the nearby Fort Pitt Museum.
Upon its completion, Route 50 will link D.C. and San Francisco.
To see the route in Pennsylvania, view PennDOT’s interactive bike routes map.