The Public Lands Ride – 2021: Worlds End State Park/Loyalsock State Forest is one of ten DYI routes created by The Pennsylvania Environmental Council as an answer to the pandemic-related distancing protocols of 2020 and 2021 and to further promote our sacred PA public lands. JB rode this route on his way to the Lu Lacka Wyco Hundo in 2022. The Worlds End route was JB’s 8th PEC DYI route. Read on for his report and for links to the other PEC DYI route reports.
The Hub’s Route Takeaways and Highlights
Each route through PA’s state forests is unique, and this one is no different. Its theme: water(falls) for days! The Public Lands Ride – 2021: Worlds End State Park/Loyalsock State Forest route starts in Worlds End State Park near Forksville. Worlds End is ideally situated on the Loyalsock Creek. The sound of the creek next to the route start is emblematic of what’s to come for the day.
Below are some key takeaways and highlights from the route. They are in the order you will encounter them on route. Also, as we always note, check out PEC’s article explaining the route. It contains many details that go beyond this report.
Loyalsock Road Climb
The route exits the park onto State Route 154 for a short distance before hitting the first patch of gravel on Loyalsock Road. This fairly steep and steady two-mile climb is your entrance to the paradise that is Loyalsock State Forest. Your playground for the day and a gem of the Endless Mountains region.
Sones Pond Recreation Area
After the two-mile climb, the route treats riders to unbelievable gravel over gently rolling terrain for the next nine miles! Towards the end of the nine-mile stretch, you pass by Tamarack Run Natural Area, just before Sones Pond Recreation Area. Sones Pond is gorgeous and serves as a nice spot for a food stop.
Rock Run Road Bridge
If that isn’t enough, the route takes riders down the superb descent of Rock Run Road to the valley floor and crosses Loyalsock Creek east of Worlds End State Park. Take in the sweet sounds and views of the Loyalsock on this bridge. Don’t get too eager though. Keep your ear out for the sound of a waterfall before the Rock Run descent. It is a sneaky one about .2 miles from Sones Pond down over a steep ravine off to the right.
Shanersburg Road (first section)
A mellow one-mile climb from the bridge on Rock Run along Mill Creek exits back onto another section of Route 154. The route doubles back along 154 for about two miles to Shanerburg Road. There, the route hits a serene area where Shanersburg Run parallels its namesake road. This section of Shanersburg is second-to-none.
Loyalsock Canyon Vista
Get your climbing legs ready as Shanersburg is a key climb on the way to Loyalsock Canyon Vista. However, the surroundings of the road are sweet, and the climbing is worth the vista overlooking Loyalsock Canyon!
Cold Run Road
The descent from the canyon is on a razor’s edge of a road to Mineral Spring Road. At least it seems that way. Pretty cool (and daunting) feelings on this road!
Mineral Spring Road
Mineral Spring is the site of a spectacular waterfall right off of the road. From there, the route continues on a gradual climb towards High Knob Overlook and a waterfall on Dry Run Road.
High Knob Road Detour
High Knob is a relatively flat two-mile stretch. At about mile 27, there is a forest road to the right (technically the continuation of High Knob Road), which leads to High Knob Overlook. PEC notes that this five-mile out-and-back takes in some spectacular views with only 350 additional feet of climbing. We skipped it. Definitely on the list for our next visit to the area.
Dry Run Road (and waterfall)
Dry Run starts just after the turnoff to High Knob. This is a spectacular four-mile descent on smooth dirt/gravel. This area is lush and has that quintessential PA forest feel. All we got was a pic at the top as the descent was so much fun! We didn’t even get a pic of the Dry Run Waterfall. Don’t make the same mistake – stop!
Ogdonia Road Climb and Deer Lake
Dry Run passes Loyalsock State Forest administration and maintenance buildings at the base of the descent near State Route 87. The route takes a left on the paved 87 for a short distance before a steady six-mile climb starting on the gravel of Ogdonia Road. The climb parallels Ogdonia Creek for about five miles until you hit Deer Lake. The lake is another great place to stop, rest, and take in its beauty. It really feels like a high alpine lake found out West.
Rock Run Road (not the same one as earlier)
There is a bit more climbing after Deer Lake and then the route hits a screamer of a descent to about mile 40. There, it picks up another Rock Run Rd. The start of Rock Run is interesting in that you are in a valley with a huge cliff/hillside to your left and a cluster of private residences to your right.
Rock Run then gets really narrow and it almost seems as if you are in a driveway and shouldn’t be there. Don’t worry, it isn’t driveway. Cool area, but get ready for a brutal climb on Rock Run. The climbs starts out gradual. At mile 41 or so, it jets up for about a half of a mile, and is a doozy with grades reaching upwards of 17-18% in places. There was fresh gravel when we hit the section, which made it even more challenging.
Pavement After Rock Run
Rock Run levels out for a brief minute, and then the route largely trends up for the next six or so miles on pavement. Given that this was early season, Rock Run, in conjunction with the paved climb, did me in. My least favorite portion of the route was the two-mile stretch on State Route 42, which must be a main thoroughfare as there was a fair amount of traffic. On paper, it appears that there is a way to cut off a sizable portion of 42. However, PEC notes that there is a no trespassing sign on a section of the potential cutoff. Bummer!
Although the climb continues once turning off of 42 and onto Laporte Avenue, it travels through some pretty nice neighborhoods near Eagles Mere. The views across the valley from some of these homes are incredible!
Bridle Trail
Near the head of Eagles Mere Lake (mile 48.6), the route busts a right on a gravel path marked Casino Lane, which turns into the Conservancy Narrow Gauge Rail Trail. Rather than continue on it, the route bears left at mile 49 and then right about one-tenth of a mile later eventually becoming the Bridle Trail.
The Bridle Trail is really cool. It was a bit wet and had roots and rough sections, but it takes riders through an area that feels super remote in contrast to the town of Eagles Mere that the route just exited.
The route is on the Bridle Trail for about a mile and then it pops back onto a different section of Shanersburg Road for about a mile. Another cool section of the forest, and the start of the fast descent back to Worlds End.
Public Lands Ride – 2021: Worlds End State Park/Loyalsock State Forest Route Resources
Like every PA adventure, The Hub recommends picking up a Purple Lizard map (Loyalsock-Worlds End Lizard Map) and PADCNR’s State Forest Public Use Map. These are indispensable for planning purposes, and can get you out of a bind if you are having issues with electronics. PADCNR also has several other area specific maps.
Get PDF copies of the DCNR maps on the Loyalsock State Forest website. The Worlds End State Park Visitors Center has some of them as well. The center is also worth a visit for the exhibits and other information about the native wildlife and vegetation in the area.
Also, check out the Endless Mountains Visitor Bureau and Endless Mountains Heritage Region for more resources and ideas for things to do while in the area. The latter organization created an amazingly detailed Endless Mountains Gravel Bikepacking Loop, which is definitely on our list to explore.
Public Lands Ride – 2021: Worlds End State Park/Loyalsock State Forest Route Map
Links to Other PEC Route Reports
If you liked the Public Lands Ride – 2021: Worlds End State Park/Loyalsock State Forest route report, please share it with your friends and family and on social media. Also, check out our series of reports on the Public Lands Ride – 2020, Public Lands Ride – 2021, and Public Lands Ride – 2021: Elk State Forest. If you haven’t already, make sure you keep up-to-date on all The Hub’s content by following us on social media (links on the top and bottom of this page), and by entering your info into the Newsletter signup (to the right and bottom). As always, Ride On!