Scenic Bike Routes: Blood Gettysburg Loop

Blood Gettysburg LoopWith today's post, we have decided to begin a weekly series profiling various scenic bike routes around the US. New posts will be released on Friday, giving you something to look forward to as you go into the weekend.

With today being July 4, we thought we'd start the series by profiling the Gettysburg loop. This is a scenic ride you could complete in a few hours without stopping to look at any of the monuments or battlefields. However, if you want to make a day of it, the last portion of the ride goes through the Gettysburg National Military Park where you can spend hours enjoying some of America's most important historical sites.

Beginning Your Journey

The town of Gettysburg is located in south-central Pennsylvania, just north of the border with Maryland. The best way to get to the area is to take Rt. 15 (heading north or south) or Rt. 30 (from the east or west). Both routes are actually quite scenic themselves.

To begin your journey, ride to the east side of town where Rt. 15 meets SR 116. This is the area where the lesser-known battle between J.E.B. Stewart's Confederate Calvary and a small contingent of Union forces took place. From SR 116 (Hanover Road) you'll head north on Low Dutch Rd., then turn left on Gregg Ave./Confederate Calvary Ave. You'll end up on the northeast end of the battlefield on Calvary Field Road. Take that to the end and turn east on Rt. 30.

During this first leg of your journey, you'll be greeted by rolling hills of green grass, old barns, and peaceful pastures. Many riders are surprised at just how quiet and tranquil the outskirts of Gettysburg actually are.

Stage Two

The second stage of the journey takes you briefly through the center of Gettysburg. Yes, we all enjoy the scenic rides out in the countryside, but downtown Gettysburg is an experience not to be missed. You can imagine what it must have been like for the soldiers marching through town in the days leading up to the battle.

Stay on Route 30 until you reach Route 34, then head north. You'll cover a few miles before reaching Goldenville Rd.; turn left, heading east. A few more miles will bring you to Mummasburg Rd. where you will once again turn south. This is just a loop around the northern outskirts of Gettysburg. The road is smooth and quite enjoyable.

Final Stage

The final stage takes you on a journey to see all of the active fields of the three-day battle. To get started, follow Mummasburg Rd. back into town, taking a left onto W. Lincoln Ave., a right on Route 34, and another right back onto Route 30. Then simply follow the signs to Reynolds Avenue, where the battlefield loop begins.

The battlefield loop consists of three portions. The first portion starts at Reynolds Avenue and heads north; this is a smaller, closed loop that will bring you back to Rt. 30. At the conclusion of the loop, you will cross Rt. 30 onto Reynolds Ave. South. Make a left on SR 116 and a right on W. Confederate Ave.; from here, your ride will cover the rest of the park. Just follow the signs.

Favorite stops along the route include the Robert E. Lee Memorial, Devils Den, Little Round Top and the dozens of monuments that line Hancock Ave.

Not only is the Gettysburg ride incredibly beautiful and stirring, there is actually no better way to see the park than on a motorcycle. If you enjoy American history and beautiful Pennsylvania countryside, the Gettysburg loop is a great choice. The best time to take your journey is from the week after Labor Day through the end of October.

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