Potter County, Pennsylvania. God’s Country! And, the location of The Hub’s Lyman Run 25 Gravel Route. The county is so aptly nicknamed because of its remote, vast, and largely uninhabited landscape.
The Commonwealth owns over 40% of Potter County. Much of it reverted to the Commonwealth subsequent to the decline of the timber industry in the late-1800s to early-1900s. Fortunately for us, it is now public lands where we can get out, explore, and enjoy! On route, you will feel a sense of remoteness that is so freeing and beauty that is breathtaking. We are sure that you will agree that you are in God’s Country. . . .
Lyman Run 25 Gravel Route Profile
- Mileage: 24.1 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,542 feet (Ride with GPS)
- Gravel Category: 1-3 (See Industry Standard Guide to Gravel Summary)
- Bike Suggestion: Gravel with plenty of climbing gears (or MTB due to steep climbs)
- Tire Suggestion: 700×38 or greater
- Fuel Stops: No
Route Description
The Lyman Run 25 Gravel Route is rather short, at 24.1 miles, but it packs in a lot over those miles. The route starts and ends in Lyman Run State Park, which is located at the northern end of the Susquehannock State Forest. You are treated to two wonderful vistas, and start on the beautiful Lyman Run Lake. Much of the route is on smooth to slightly rocky dirt roads. Riders also visit nearby Denton Hill State Park (formerly operated as a ski area). The trails in Denton Hill are somewhat rocky and can be a bit overgrown in the warmer months. There are three major climbs. The climb on Losey Trail at mile 7.5 and on the Sidewinder Trail at mile 13.5 are doozies. Bring your climbing legs (and gears) for those. The reward? Once you summit Denton Hill at mile 18.2, you are in for an exhilarating descent pretty much the entire way back to the parking lot.
The Hub intends on releasing another route next year that launches from Cherry Springs State Park and heads north toward Lyman Run State Park. As such, you will have the option of riding two shorter routes, or linking them together for one epic day in a slice of God’s Country.
Personal Note from JB – Roots in God’s Country
First, I am extremely proud and thrilled to add this route to The Hub’s collection and make the area a bit more accessible for those unfamiliar. Potter County has been a part of my life for as long as I can recall. After serving in World War II, my maternal grandfather (“Pap”) was introduced to this vast, magnificent land. His brother-in-law worked at a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Potter County and introduced Pap to the area after he returned from the war. He loved the area so much that he leased land near one of the larger boroughs in the county, Galeton. Pap staked his claim and built a quaint cottage and split his time between Galeton and his hometown in western PA.
Potter Exploration
Over the years, Pap would spend more and more time in Potter (as we referred to it). As he did, so did I. My Mom, Dad, and I would visit often. Pap, my Dad, and I would fish together. My favorite was night fishing at Lyman Run State Park, which is home to some of the darkest skies in the eastern United States. I would play in streams and ride bikes in the woods and on dirt roads with my cousins. We would roam free, exploring what seemed like endless territory. We went to many of the festivals held in the area. A favorite of mine was the Cherry Springs Woodsmen Show, which we called the Woodsmen’s Carnival. We would check out other nearby PA gems, such as the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, the Woolrich factory near Lock Haven, and the “Little Grand Canyon,” also known as the Pine Creek Gorge or PA Grand Canyon near Wellsboro. I could go on and on about opportunities to explore, but I digress. . . .
Love of Public Lands
It is no surprise that upon retirement, Pap made Potter his home. He was one with the land he laid claim to all those years ago. Pap was never one to sit idle. Soon after taking full-time residence, he took a job on the maintenance crew of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (DER), now the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. He serviced all of the area’s state parks. I remember occasionally tagging along while he worked. I think that it was there that the seeds of my love of PA public lands and the woods were planted.
Death, Rebirth, and the Lyman Run 25 Gravel Route
Tragically, in 1992, Pap was shot and killed while taking a lunch break from hunting near his Potter home. I was devastated. Although I never lost love for Potter, I wouldn’t return until this September. I am not sure whether the delayed return was due to the pain surrounding the circumstances of his death or the fact that Pap wasn’t there to experience it with.
Nonetheless, ever since launching The Hub in the spring of 2020, I intended on getting back to Potter and sharing a little bit of God’s Country, Pap’s country with all of you. This route is in his loving memory! I hope that you enjoy it and the area as much as I do. As much as Pap did.
Lyman Run 25 Gravel Route Surfaces
Below you will find pictures of the terrain out on route. Because the route passes through remote forest that attracts hunters, check out The Hub’s Trail User Best Practices During PA Hunting Season article if you are riding during any hunting seasons.
Route Map
Directions to Route Parking
The Hub hopes that you enjoy the route! If you liked the route summary, please share it with your friends and family or on social media. Also, 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).