Biking in Happy Valley: The Ultimate Guide to Roads, Paths, and Trails
A comprehensive guide to roads, paths, and trails for cyclists
Happy Valley offers cyclists exceptional opportunities for recreation and commuting, featuring low-traffic roads and vast public lands that invite riders to immerse themselves in nature.
Don't just take our word for it—ask Allan Stoekl and Nan Moschella, former State College residents now living in Mount Airy, Pennsylvania. These passionate cyclists have ridden in Vermont, Colorado, and even southern France with friends. Yet they return to Happy Valley annually.
They began exploring the area in the 1990s, inspired by Scott Adams' "Bike Rides from Beaver Stadium." Despite the elevation gains on most routes, the wealth of quiet roads and serene central Pennsylvania landscapes deliver safe, scenic rides.
In State College, biking serves as both practical transportation and leisure on nearby shared-use trails. The Centre Region Council of Governments offers detailed maps of shared-use and bike-only trails, many maintained year-round, including winter. Class 1 e-bikes are permitted on shared-use paths.
Beyond urban areas, farms and countryside roads wind through central Pennsylvania's towns and villages, drawing cyclists. Nearby mountains and public lands host mountain biking trails for all skill levels and intensities.
"Happy Valley has routes in every style," Stoekl notes. Cyclists experience roads intimately in ways cars never can.
Moschella calls Pennsylvania a "hidden gem" for bikers, far safer than Philadelphia's busy streets. Her tip for road newcomers wary of traffic: "Stay predictable, signal clearly, and give ample notice before turns."
CentreBike, a local 501(c)(3) advocacy group, promotes safe recreational and commuter cycling. Visit centrebike.org for safety resources, bike-friendly route maps around State College, and scenic options like the easy 18.5-mile Circleville Loop or the challenging 25-mile Purdue Mountain Loop, with stunning Bald Eagle Valley vistas.
The Nittany Mountain Biking Association (NMBA), another 501(c)(3) volunteer group, builds and maintains sustainable trails, promotes the sport, and organizes rides. Their site provides maps and tips for Happy Valley and Pennsylvania trails.
Centre County's state parks, forests, and game lands offer abundant mountain biking. Note: Game lands fund diverse recreation via hunting fees—wear blaze orange, stay alert around hunters, and NMBA advises avoiding them during hunting seasons.
Rothrock State Forest, a beloved 97,000-acre haven, features hotspots like Shingletown Gap, Tussey Mountain, and Galbraith Gap. Enjoy 290 miles of mountain bike-friendly trails (including Class 1 e-bikes). Access maps from the Pennsylvania DCNR at dcnr.pa.gov or the interactive MTB Project at mtbproject.com.
Explore more at Black Moshannon State Park and Bald Eagle State Forest.
Happy Valley's three specialty shops—The Bicycle Shop, Eddie's Bikes, and FreezeThaw Bicycles in State College—provide expert advice and gear for every rider.
