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11 Scenic Bike Routes To Take Now That Will Spoil You For Every Other Season
There’s nothing quite like the crunch of gravel under your tires, the crisp snap of fall air as it fills your lungs, and the color of fiery trees daring you to keep your eyes on the road. And during the fall season, you’re not just pedaling through a route; you’re slicing through an artwork that shifts with every turn.
If roads could tell stories of their past, Skyline Drive would whisper secrets of Civil War marches and moonlit escapades of bootleggers dodging the law. But today, it’s your stage; a place where cobalt skies backdrop leaves in riotous rebellion against the mundane greens of summer now past.
So forget beige suburban mornings filled with plain greenery; these are the kinds of rides that make you feel like you’re starring in life’s boldest adventure instead. And trust me, by the end, you’ll be rethinking every bike scenic ride you’ve taken before.
Cape Cod Rail Trail – Massachusetts
Think you’ve seen autumn? Not until you’ve pedaled the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a 25-mile stretch that feels like riding through a postcard no one’s sending home because they want to keep the secret. Starting in Dennis and winding through towns like Yarmouth, Harwich, and Wellfleet, this paved path is flanked by a painter’s palette of reds, oranges, and golden yellows in the fall.
The cranberry bogs, charmingly scattered along the way, provide both a pop of color and a faintly tart tang in the crisp air. And you’ll cruise alongside stretches of tranquil woodland that seem out of a storybook (minus the overly chatty squirrels).
Mix that with small-town glimpses of old New England charm, and you’ll want to go back daily. This trail is road cycling with a side of serenity and just enough civilization to keep you from feeling like you’ve strayed too far from a warm slice of pie.
Blue Ridge Parkway Bike-Accessible Sections – Virginia & North Carolina
Take a cue from all those soaring hawks and try navigating Blue Ridge Parkway, arguably the most majestic drive for your wheels. Sure, it’s technically a scenic road, but don’t think for a second that it’s just for cars.
Sections of this 469-mile marvel are open to cyclists, and nothing quite says “epic ride” like coasting through the fog-kissed mountains of Appalachia. Start from one of the beloved pull-outs like Craggy Gardens, where rhododendrons sometimes beam with late blooms, or the Linn Cove Viaduct, an engineering marvel practically hanging onto the hillside.
While the mist swirls and the trees morph into fall flames, you’ll swear the forest hums. It’s probably just the wind, but who cares? This is theater, and you’re the star on two wheels with the kind of scenery that makes detours feel like destiny.
Skyline Drive – Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
If there’s one road that deserves a medal for drama, it’s Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. At 105 miles of pure mountaintop ecstasy, it’s more than a bike ride; it’s a living, breathing work of art. Pro tip: start at Front Royal to ease into things before the peaks and twists remind you why mountain goats always look smug.
But it’s not just about the challenge; every overlook makes you feel like you’ve been granted access to the gods’ private art gallery. The orchestra of hues, ranging from blood-red maples to amber-splashed oaks, makes fall here unforgettable.
The occasional scent of damp leaves and woodsmoke adds a touch of nostalgia, compelling you to keep pedaling just to see what’s around the next bend. And when you’re done, your smugness might rival those goats.
Virginia Creeper Trail – Virginia
Stretching 35 glorious miles from Abingdon to Whitetop, the Virginia Creeper Trail is where Appalachian charm cranks itself to eleven. Start your ride in the quaint town of Abingdon (charming enough to make you momentarily question big-city life).
Then glide into a world stitched together by forested tunnels, babbling streams, and wooden trestles that creak just enough to keep you on your toes. Fall steals the show here, drenching the landscape in reds and golds, while the crisp air nips at your cheeks, reminding you why scarves were invented.
The trail’s past carries through every mile, as it was once a busy railway bed. Those abandoned tracks now serve as a haven for cyclists, locals, and thrill-seekers alike. But by the end, you’ll think 35 miles wasn’t nearly long enough.
Franconia Notch Rail Trail – New Hampshire
Ever heard of a place where waterfalls, granite basins, and peaks taller than your ambition stand shoulder to shoulder? That’s Franconia Notch Rail Trail in New Hampshire. And it’s magnificent without even trying.
This 8.7-mile stretch winds through Franconia Notch State Park, offering trail-side passes to Echo Lake (think mirror-like reflections), the Basin (nature’s pop-up hot tub), and the jaw-dropping Flume Gorge. But the trail isn’t just a feast for your legs; it’s a full buffet for your senses.
The smell of pine fills the air as your tires crunch over leaves, while streams crash and trickle in the background, composed like some calming symphony you didn’t realize your life needed. Turns out, cycling here is less about speed and more about wondering how New Hampshire managed to hoard so much beauty.
Kettle Moraine State Forest Trails – Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine is where rolling hills meet a woodland kingdom so magical it practically brushes past cliches. The trails here, interwoven with the Scenic Drive and Ice Age Trail connectors, feature hardwood forests that look hand-painted in fall’s signature palette.
Trestle bridges and rustic terrain add just enough flair to make you feel like the star of your own adventurous montage. And don’t be surprised if breakthroughs (personal, philosophical, or otherwise) happen while pedaling through these ancient glacial formations; it’s just that kind of epic place.
Depending on which entry you choose (Kohler-Andrae, Whitewater, or Campbellsport), you’ll leave convinced that Wisconsin isn’t only about cheese. Though, to be honest, cheeseboard-ing after trail-biking might just seal the deal.
Minnehaha Trail – Minnesota
If trails were judged by sheer gall to offer breathtaking beauty in the shortest distance, Minnehaha Trail’s 1.5 miles would wear the crown. Located between Fort Snelling State Park and Minnehaha Regional Park, this little guy doesn’t mess around with grandeur.
The trail meanders beneath a leafy canopy, flirting with hidden ravines and a creek that unapologetically tricks you into slowing down to take it all in. For you fall enthusiasts, the trees are practically on fire with color (figuratively speaking, of course, at least I hope so).
End your ride basking in the thunderous glory of Minnehaha Falls, where cascading water meets your panoramic daydream. It may be short, but it sure knows how to pack a punch.
Georgetown-Lewes Trail – Delaware
Start your adventure where history meets progress on the Georgetown-Lewes Trail, a rail conversion on a mission to unite downtown Georgetown with the sand-kissed shores of Cape Henlopen State Park. Sure, it’s not entirely finished (call it a work in progress), but the open segments are enough to get your wheels humming and your heart racing.
Imagine cruising past golden fields, under leafy canopies, and through towns that practically shout their stories of colonial roots and unhurried charm. The trail’s eastern terminus near Lewes serves up a salty breeze and that unmistakable tang of the Atlantic, while the western side edges toward Georgetown’s historic streets.
Whether you’re an easy-going wanderer or a pedal-powered explorer-in-training, this trail definitely promises enough to make you regret not planning your next weekend around it.
Katy Trail – Missouri
If Missouri’s Katy Trail had a middle name, it’d be “majestic.” Stretching 240 glorious miles along the skeleton of the old MKT railroad, this path weaves by the resplendent Missouri River, doling out soul-stirring views and leg-burning workouts in equal measure.
Start at Machens, the eastern trailhead, with its sleepy charm, and finish triumphantly at Clinton, feeling like you just conquered something epic. Along the way, the trail cuts through quaint towns that beg you to stop for pie and chat with locals who embody the phrase “Midwestern nice.”
Passing vineyards, limestone bluffs, and sunlit meadows, it’s the kind of route that sneaks up on you, getting under your skin with each turn of the wheel. Warning: it’s addictive, you might just have to pin an annual Katy pilgrimage onto your calendar.
Pine Creek Rail Trail – Pennsylvania
Situated deep within Pine Creek Gorge, or as locals dub it, “Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon,” the Pine Creek Rail Trail offers 65 miles of unspoiled wonder that feels almost smug about its beauty.
Starting just north of Wellsboro, you’ll ride south through forests flaunting fall leaves ablaze in bold yellows and reds. Mountain streams gurgle beside you while wild-raspberry bushes tempt you to brake and indulge.
Jersey Shore (not that one, relax) marks the southern endpoint, leaving you with aching muscles and a scrapbook of mental snapshots. So forget the treadmill, this is the kind of workout where the scenery does most of the heavy lifting.
Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) – Pennsylvania & Maryland
If your perfect fall daydream involves endless tunnels of fire-colored leaves, then the Great Allegheny Passage is your biking soulmate. Stretching an impressive 150 miles from Pittsburgh’s gritty charm to Cumberland’s quiet Maryland vibes, this rail-trail delivers fall scenery so glorious it feels like nature’s giving you an ego boost.
You’ll trace the glittering Youghiogheny River, thread through boldly painted canyons, and pedal through time-bending tunnels like the legendary Big Savage Tunnel. Seriously, all it’s missing is a steam whistle and an old conductor yelling, “All aboard!”
And the trail doesn’t just stop at good looks; it sprinkles in enough small-town charm to make every stop feel scripted by a Hallmark movie. By the end, you’ll swear this epic ride was shorter than the views deserved. Or maybe that’s just you brainstorming excuses for a return trip.
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