Hawk Mountain Weekend
May 25-27, 2019
The Hawk Mountain Weekend is a three-day unsupported tour over
Memorial Day Weekend.
For 2019 the routes and overnights are the same as last year. The first
day’s route will take us from Gap, PA over a moderately hilly 58-mile route to
West Hamburg, PA where we will have two overnights at the Microtel (610-562-
4234). Enroute to West Hamburg we will visit Blue Marsh Lake National Recreation
Area (Blue Marsh Lake). The next day (Sunday) we will have a choice of three
routes. One choice will take us to quaint New Tripoli for lunch at the New Tripoli
Hotel. The second Day 2 option is a shorter route that visits Roadside America in
Shartlesville and still leaves time to ride the John Bartram Trail (crushed
limestone) that starts near our motel and passes by the historic Port Clinton
railroad station and rail yards with old-time passenger cars and engines. These
routes do not climb over Hawk Mountain. A third option for Day 2 takes us over
Hawk Mountain (an 800-ft. climb in 2 miles) without being encumbered with
overnight gear. On Monday we will return to Gap and Chadds Ford or Newark by
a hilly route through Berks County.
For those wishing to minimize the distances each day, an option is to
spend the nights before and/or after the official tour at a motel near Gap: the
Christiana Motel, 2 miles south of Gap on PA 41 (610 593 5400; 376 PA 41,
Christiana, PA).
There will not be any sag support, so riders must carry their own gear.
The start will be in Gap, PA at the Wawa on PA 41 just south of US 30
(Lincoln Highway) or the Gap Diner across the street from the Wawa at 10:00
am.
Rooms have been blocked at the Microtel under the name White Clay
Bicycle Group with group rates. Participants should make their own reservations
and identify themselves as part of that group.
Microtel, West Hamburg for Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 26 (610-562-
4234) Group rate: $80.40 for 2 queen beds, or $94 for suites per night. Breakfast is
included.
The links to the cues, lodgings, and gps files for the rides are below.
Hawk Mountain
A view of Blue Mountain
Roadside America in Shartlesville
The John Bartram Trail in West Hamburg
Historic Port Clinton Rail Yards viewed from Bartram Trail
