| Scamp 'n' Rascal Cycling Adventures Black Bear Routes |
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Click here for route maps and profiles
The 32 mile route - After crossing the Delaware River at the Water Gap, this route will head north along the river to Millbrook Viillage. The
terrain is rolling with no steep climbs.
Gently rolling terrain; one rest stop
The 41 mile route– Not all of our favorite roads are within the parks. This route takes you down the PA side of the river until you cross at
Portland. From there you’ll pedal some fantastic, tiny roads past horse farms, over one lane bridges and up Bear Cave Rd. (we had to put that
one in!). You’ll pass a pretty cool glider airport while you work your way up to the top of the Appalachian Trail ridge. Make sure you take a
moment to absorb the views of the entire Delaware Valley and the Pocono Mountains beyond. Then it’s a screaming descent of one of
Bicycling Magazine’s 100 Toughest Hills in America. Your rest stop will be at the bottom of the hill, in Millbrook Village. If you’re feeling frisky
you’re free to turn around and climb the hill you just ripped down. When you’re tired of playing that game, you can head down Copper Mine
Road, cruising along the Delaware River back to the start.
Overall, the climbing on this route ranges from mild to moderate. There are a couple of slightly longer or steeper pitches but any fit cyclist will
be fine. One challenging climb. One rest stop.
The 47 mile route – Riding up Old Mine Road will give you an easy going warm up before you have to do any serious work. Your first rest
stop will be at Millbrook Village; a little snack to stoke you for the next leg of your journey. There are three roads out of Millbrook. The one you
just came up, the one declared by Bicycling Magazine as one of the toughest hills in the US, and the third choice. Lucky you! Three is the
charm. Make sure you stop at the top to gape at the view from the porch of the Dela-View House. It’s an eye-popping Wow! Once you get to
the bottom of the other side, you’ll find yourself on the 20 mile loop from which the Black Bear got its name. We generally refer to it as The
Bear Loop and it’s some of our favorite riding. These roads are exceptionally empty of traffic; well, car traffic. It’s a popular thoroughfare for
wildlife though. The loop will bring you back to the road over to Millbrook. (Ahh! Another snack!) Then you’ll have that very sweet sail down
along the Delaware back to the cars.
Copper Mine Rd. is gently rolling. The Bear Loop is hilly. There are two big climbs. Two rest stops.
The 65 mile route– In the beginning you’ll follow the same roads as The 41 until you get to Millbrook Village. From there you’ll go over the
mountain and pick up the first leg of the Bear Loop, riding north to the cross roads of Peters Valley Craft Center, your second rest stop. You
may want to take a few minutes to poke around in their gallery. It is chock full of beautiful creations made by the instructors and friends of this
remarkable artist community. When you’re ready to head back, you’ll pick up the far side of the Bear Loop, circling around to the road that
leads you back to Millbrook Village. From there it’s a joy cruising back to the beginning.
The road to Millbrook is moderately hilly. The Bear Loop is hilly. There are three significant climbs. Three rest stops.
The 88 mile route– Follow The 65 to Peters Valley. From there it’s a short climb over the mountain and down to River Road, which runs from
Dingman’s Bridge (the only privately owned toll bridge in America!) north along the Delaware. This is a fantastic bit of road; seven very pretty,
nearly flat miles. It’s a nice respite from your earlier adventures. Enjoy the breather. At the end of it you’ll turn away from the river and start to
climb. The top of New Mashipacong is where you abandon those headed to High Point and point your wheels south again. You’ll be surprised
how much faster it is to get back than it was to come out. Viva Gravity! (This route does not go to High Point State Park).
This route is hilly with four significant climbs; one a real grinder. Four rest stops
The 98 mile route- This route crosses the Delaware River at Delaware Water Gap (there is a pedestrian walk way). Then have a ball flying
up Old Mine Road to the first rest stop at Millbrook Village. From here you'll be following the 107 route to High Point State Park, On your way
be sure to stoke up at your second rest stop at Peters Vally Craft Center, then enjoy some relatively flat riding along the river until you turn
onto New Mishipacong and start the serious climb up to the top of New Jersey. The return takes you down a long descent back to the river
valley and your second visits to the rest stops.
This route is hilly with four challenging climbs. Five rest stops.
The 107 mile route– You’re cruising along with the folks doing The 88 until you get to the top of New Mashipacong. There, they go right and
you go up. All the way up. Up to the highest point in New Jersey. The top of the mountain is engulfed by High Point State Park, your
destination. Surprisingly, once you get to the park, most of the roads are essentially flat. There are even lakes at the top! Who knew?! We’ll
meet you at the monument with your lunch rest stop, and wish you god-speed when you’re ready to head back to base. In between you can
eat your lunch looking over a hundred-plus mile view in every direction, all of it in vivid fall colors. When you’re ready, you’ll head off the
mountain and rejoin the combination of routes that take you back to the start, knowing when all is said and done that you clawed your way to
the top of the Black Bear Century. That’s saying quite a lot!
This route is hilly with many significant climbs. You’ll definitely know what you’re made of when you get to the top! Five rest stops.
The 32 mile route - After crossing the Delaware River at the Water Gap, this route will head north along the river to Millbrook Viillage. The
terrain is rolling with no steep climbs.
Gently rolling terrain; one rest stop
The 41 mile route– Not all of our favorite roads are within the parks. This route takes you down the PA side of the river until you cross at
Portland. From there you’ll pedal some fantastic, tiny roads past horse farms, over one lane bridges and up Bear Cave Rd. (we had to put that
one in!). You’ll pass a pretty cool glider airport while you work your way up to the top of the Appalachian Trail ridge. Make sure you take a
moment to absorb the views of the entire Delaware Valley and the Pocono Mountains beyond. Then it’s a screaming descent of one of
Bicycling Magazine’s 100 Toughest Hills in America. Your rest stop will be at the bottom of the hill, in Millbrook Village. If you’re feeling frisky
you’re free to turn around and climb the hill you just ripped down. When you’re tired of playing that game, you can head down Copper Mine
Road, cruising along the Delaware River back to the start.
Overall, the climbing on this route ranges from mild to moderate. There are a couple of slightly longer or steeper pitches but any fit cyclist will
be fine. One challenging climb. One rest stop.
The 47 mile route – Riding up Old Mine Road will give you an easy going warm up before you have to do any serious work. Your first rest
stop will be at Millbrook Village; a little snack to stoke you for the next leg of your journey. There are three roads out of Millbrook. The one you
just came up, the one declared by Bicycling Magazine as one of the toughest hills in the US, and the third choice. Lucky you! Three is the
charm. Make sure you stop at the top to gape at the view from the porch of the Dela-View House. It’s an eye-popping Wow! Once you get to
the bottom of the other side, you’ll find yourself on the 20 mile loop from which the Black Bear got its name. We generally refer to it as The
Bear Loop and it’s some of our favorite riding. These roads are exceptionally empty of traffic; well, car traffic. It’s a popular thoroughfare for
wildlife though. The loop will bring you back to the road over to Millbrook. (Ahh! Another snack!) Then you’ll have that very sweet sail down
along the Delaware back to the cars.
Copper Mine Rd. is gently rolling. The Bear Loop is hilly. There are two big climbs. Two rest stops.
The 65 mile route– In the beginning you’ll follow the same roads as The 41 until you get to Millbrook Village. From there you’ll go over the
mountain and pick up the first leg of the Bear Loop, riding north to the cross roads of Peters Valley Craft Center, your second rest stop. You
may want to take a few minutes to poke around in their gallery. It is chock full of beautiful creations made by the instructors and friends of this
remarkable artist community. When you’re ready to head back, you’ll pick up the far side of the Bear Loop, circling around to the road that
leads you back to Millbrook Village. From there it’s a joy cruising back to the beginning.
The road to Millbrook is moderately hilly. The Bear Loop is hilly. There are three significant climbs. Three rest stops.
The 88 mile route– Follow The 65 to Peters Valley. From there it’s a short climb over the mountain and down to River Road, which runs from
Dingman’s Bridge (the only privately owned toll bridge in America!) north along the Delaware. This is a fantastic bit of road; seven very pretty,
nearly flat miles. It’s a nice respite from your earlier adventures. Enjoy the breather. At the end of it you’ll turn away from the river and start to
climb. The top of New Mashipacong is where you abandon those headed to High Point and point your wheels south again. You’ll be surprised
how much faster it is to get back than it was to come out. Viva Gravity! (This route does not go to High Point State Park).
This route is hilly with four significant climbs; one a real grinder. Four rest stops
The 98 mile route- This route crosses the Delaware River at Delaware Water Gap (there is a pedestrian walk way). Then have a ball flying
up Old Mine Road to the first rest stop at Millbrook Village. From here you'll be following the 107 route to High Point State Park, On your way
be sure to stoke up at your second rest stop at Peters Vally Craft Center, then enjoy some relatively flat riding along the river until you turn
onto New Mishipacong and start the serious climb up to the top of New Jersey. The return takes you down a long descent back to the river
valley and your second visits to the rest stops.
This route is hilly with four challenging climbs. Five rest stops.
The 107 mile route– You’re cruising along with the folks doing The 88 until you get to the top of New Mashipacong. There, they go right and
you go up. All the way up. Up to the highest point in New Jersey. The top of the mountain is engulfed by High Point State Park, your
destination. Surprisingly, once you get to the park, most of the roads are essentially flat. There are even lakes at the top! Who knew?! We’ll
meet you at the monument with your lunch rest stop, and wish you god-speed when you’re ready to head back to base. In between you can
eat your lunch looking over a hundred-plus mile view in every direction, all of it in vivid fall colors. When you’re ready, you’ll head off the
mountain and rejoin the combination of routes that take you back to the start, knowing when all is said and done that you clawed your way to
the top of the Black Bear Century. That’s saying quite a lot!
This route is hilly with many significant climbs. You’ll definitely know what you’re made of when you get to the top! Five rest stops.
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GOOD NEWS from the National Park Service
The 2011 Black Bear Century required significant re-routing due to road closures within the Delaware Water Gap National
Recreation Area. We've learned that funds to repair the damage done by Irene and Lee have been allocated. The 2012 Black
Bear Century will be able to return to our traditional routes on even better roads! We're jumping with joy!
The 2011 Black Bear Century required significant re-routing due to road closures within the Delaware Water Gap National
Recreation Area. We've learned that funds to repair the damage done by Irene and Lee have been allocated. The 2012 Black
Bear Century will be able to return to our traditional routes on even better roads! We're jumping with joy!