Laurel Hills Loop Through the Alleghenies

Motorcycle Roads & Rides > Routes > United States > Pennsylvania

Average Rating - This road has been rated by 7 visitors

State: Pennsylvania

Date Submitted: December 31, 1969
Submitted by: Anonymous
Motorcycle Road Length: 130 Miles Miles

Written Directions

Start your route in Donegal, PA which is located about 40 miles south east of Pittsburgh. From here head south on route 381/711 down to and through the towns of Indian Head, Normalville, and on to Farmington. From there take 40 east till you get to 281 which you want to take north up to Somerset. From Somerset you take route 31 east and pass the towns of Roxbury, West End and Manns Choice. Route 31 will merge into 30. Continue on 30 in to the town of Bedford. Leave Bedford by heading back west on US Hwy 30 and stay on 31 through the towns of Schellsburg, Stoystown, and Ligonier. Then complete the route by taking route 711 south towards I-70/76 and your starting point in Donegal PA.

Scenery

About 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, you will find a classic motorcycle route and fall in love with this area of Pennsylvania.

On the route you will be traveling through the Laurel Hills area of the Allegheny Mountains. The route specializes in views of the Youghiogheny River white-water and forests as well as gentle rolling farmlands.

Photo contributed by visitor in Oct 09 - "Flight 93 Ride."

Road Quality

One of the best things about this route is the motorcycle road quality. It alters between hilly twisty mountain riding and rolling farm country. The roads are in generally good condition and you will be rewarded if you take some side trips to try to find your own routes.

Roadside Amenities

One of the first man-made sites you'll find along this route is a home built by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright that literally (yes, literally) hangs over a rushing river. You can take a tour of the home and actually hear the rushing water below some of the floors of the house.

If you love whitewater rivers and thick woods then you need to plan to spend some time at the Ohiopyle State Park off of state road 381. The Youghiogheny River is an Indian word meaning 'white frothy water' ... you will quickly see why the name fits the river so well. The park has a section of the river that passes through a huge gorge. There are plenty of overlooks for you to see the river if you stop and walk around in the park. The park is loaded with trails.

Youghiogheny Lake offers fishing, hiking and camping for those interested.

Laurel Hill State Park is a top quality park that has a visitor's center that can tell you about all the trails and attractions the park has to offer.

In the town of Somerset you can has a large Historical Center where old pioneer-like skills and crafts are on display. Here you can also pickup a brochure and a nearby Covered Bridge Route that may become the favorite part of this route for you.

Take US 31 east to the town of Manns Choice where the route can get a little tricky as you head to Bedford ... don't hesitate to ask for directions if you think your lost.

The town of Bedford dates back to before the declaration of independence and was the location where George Washington once established a headquarters. The town offers a walking tour that will tell you all about the role this town played as a frontier outpost. If you want to visit a recreated Colonial settlement, visit the Old Bedford Village.

On route 30 heading east you will see some Inns and taverns from as long ago as the 1700s. Some are even strategically built 4 miles apart because that was the average daily travel length for people that day.

If you take a detour off of US 30, south on state road 96, you can go to the Shawnee State Park.

At Bald Knob summit you can take in some views of both Maryland and West Virginia.

The route finishes up in the nice little town of Ligonier. Here you can walk or drive down Main street and checkout the beautiful historic buildings.

Laurel Hills Visitors Bureau (800-925-7669).

Additional Info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .

Nickname (optional) Anonymous

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Reviewed by Guest on June 30, 2010 (1 out of 1 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Ralph Couey
motorcycle_year: 1996
motorcycle_make: Kawasaki
motorcycle_type: Cruiser
Comment: Don't forget the stretch of PA 381. Starts at US30 and winds south through beautiful horse farm country to PA 31. Jog west and continue south. Here, you can go all the way to Ohiopyle, or turn back east on Roaring Run Rd through the state park and also some of the most beautiful forests you will ever see as you ride past Seven Springs Resort.
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Reviewed by Guest on October 10, 2009 (1 out of 1 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Dale Evans
motorcycle_year: 2005
motorcycle_make: Ducati
motorcycle_type: Sport-Touring
Comment: A nice route indeed -good write-up. For a more comprehensive write-up on this route and some other roads in the Laurel Highlands area go here: http://www.pa-mag.com/2009/09/06/laurel-highlands-southern-loop/ http://www.pa-mag.com/2009/09/06/laurel-highlands-southern-loop/
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Reviewed by Guest on September 4, 2009 (1 out of 1 members found this review useful.)
Creator: TiM
motorcycle_year: 2008
motorcycle_make: Kawasaki
motorcycle_type: Cruiser
Comment: I've been on all parts of this road, but not the full loop. It is absolutely GORGEOUS!! Rte. 30 from Bedford to Ligonier is a great stretch of old highway, complete with scenic barns, old inns, and a great pie shop in Laughlintown. The trip through to the Yough (Yawk, if you're from around here!) was excellent, and was memorable to me as my first cruise out with my father. Scenery, roads, nature, low traffic, and a good deal of places to stop make this one a MUST RIDE!!
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Reviewed by Guest on August 7, 2009 (1 out of 1 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Jonathon Butler
motorcycle_year: 2007
motorcycle_make: Yamaha
motorcycle_type: Cruiser
Comment: This is a really nice area with allot of well maintained roads going thru the mountians. I just wanted to comment on something else to do while at Ohiopyle state park. Just down the road from where they have all the white water rafting outfitters and the camp grounds is a swimming hole with a natural water slide. It is just a cut in the rocks where the water rushes thru, but it is allot of fun and very refreshing. I was a guide on the river there for some groups while in College and it is a great ride and great area.
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Reviewed by Guest on June 28, 2009 (1 out of 1 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Alan
motorcycle_year: 2000
motorcycle_make: Honda
motorcycle_type: Cruiser
Comment: There is a must see site about 30 miles west of Bedford on US 30. At the time this article was written this areas was a peaceful field. On September 11 2001, that all changed. The crash site of flight 93 is where many go to pay their respects to these heros who helped save our Nation's Capitol.
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Reviewed by Guest on June 30, 2010 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Danny G
motorcycle_year: 2005
motorcycle_make: Harley-Davidson
motorcycle_type: Other
Comment: I believe rounte 381 off of Route 30 is closed due to a bridge out but was told Weaver Mill Road will go around the bridge..
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Reviewed by Guest on March 5, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Erik
Comment: The city labelled "Sumerset" is actually spelled Somerset... Just in case anybody was trying to find some more information on the area.
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