​Virtual Rothrock Trail Fest Challenge

The Virtual Rothrock Trail Fest is back for 2021! Due to the success of last year's choose your own adventure (and time) to get out and enjoy a few routes in the forest, we're bringing it back. It is still free to participate and there are still gift cards to local businesses up for grabs when entering a photo in the contest. Round up some friends and head out for some fun on the trails.

WHAT: Four challenges - Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Trail Running, and Equestrian (full descriptions below)
WHERE: Rothrock State Forest
WHEN: August 18th - August 29th
HOW: We have partnered with RideWithGPS for route navigation and tracking of each challenge
COST: Free, but please consider a donation to help support our mission
TO PARTICIPATE:
  1. Visit our event page on RideWithGPS
  2. Complete the registration process and download the RideWithGPS app if needed
  3. Attempt one or more challenges between August 18th and August 29th
  4. Consider a donation to Friends of Rothrock State Forest
  5. Submit a photo from your ride/run for a chance to win a $50 gift card from The Bicycle Shop, Freeze Thaw Cycles, Rapid Transit Sports, or Appalachian Outdoors
  6. The most important thing is to have fun and challenge yourself. You DO NOT need to complete the route to participate or submit photos.
  7. Enjoy and be safe.

    Challenge Photo Entry

    While attempting one or more the challenges be sure to take some photos and share your best one from each challenge with us here. On September 13th, we will upload all provided photos to our Facebook page and the four photos with the most likes before September 20th will win $50 gift cards from one of four local merchants.
    Max file size: 20MB

Challenge Routes

Mountain Biking - 22.5 miles
This challenge route takes you up Greenshoots, along Bald Knob Ridge, down Maguire and back to Laurel Run Road before climbing up to Little Flat fire tower. From there you'll descend New Laurel but climbing Bear Gap Road for a fast & fun trip down Croyle. A quick trip up Gettis Ridge then back down North Meadows Road brings you to a full length run of Lonberger Path and back to the Galbraith Gap trailhead. This route exposes you to some of the best riding in Central PA. A solid mix of rocky singletrack, some fast flow, and glorious ridge tops.

The easiest way to shorten this challenge is to cut out the Greenshoots/Bald Knob/Maguire loop and go straight for New Laurel. You could also skip the Croyle/Gettis/N. Meadows portion to save some energy.
Gravel Biking - 52.6 miles
If you were fortunate enough to join us for Trail Fest 2019, then this route may be somewhat familiar - at least for the first half. Long climbs and long descents but this year the grassy double track of Detweiler and Thickhead have been added before completing the loop through the Coopers Gap area and returning on Bear Meadows Road. A gravel challenge for sure but this one really shows off some of the best multi-surface riding the forest has to offer.

Looking for a way to ease into it, consider a left turn on Bear Meadows Road after descending North Meadows Road then come back another day and complete the other half of the loop by starting/finishing from Penn Roosevelt State Park.
Trail Running - 8.2 miles
Gravel road - check
Rocky singletrack - check
Bridges, ferns, roots - check, check, and check
A great loop awaits by testing your legs on some of the classic trails out of the Galbraith Gap trailhead. A quick scramble up the rocks of Old Laurel Trail ultimately leads you to the high point of the day at the Little Flat fire tower before descending more singletrack, climbing on gravel, then descending rocky singletrack again. A little bonus on the other side of Laurel Run Road with Greenshoots twists and turns finishes things off before heading back.

Two options to make this one a little easier would be to descend Shingletown Gap Trail immediately after Old Laurel, or skip the Greenshoots bonus.
Equestrian - 12 miles
Previous editions of Trail Fest prohibited a true equestrian option due to trail congestion so if there is a silver lining in 2020, we've been able to put this challenge together thanks to some trail work from two of our board members and a hardworking volunteer. This challenge sets out from Penn Roosevelt State Park by heading up Thickhead Road's grassy double track before taking a left on Long Mountain Trail. You'll notice the fresh trail work as you ascend up the singletrack that gets a little steep in spots with a few rocks (equestrian shoes or boots recommended to protect hooves). The gas line cut provides a great view before descending Long Mountain, continuing through Alan Seeger Natural Area and up Bear Meadows Road to Detweiler Path and more grassy double track. A right on Thickhead gets you back to Penn Roosevelt.

One way to shorten this challenge is to take a left on Stone Creek Road at the bottom of Long Mountain then a left on Crowfield Road which leads you right back to Penn Roosevelt.