On a recent trip bike riding at Ohiopyle, one could not help but notice the beautiful wildlife and scenery. Bike riding was made a truly enjoyable experience because of the many animals scurrying across the path and trails that lead you directly down to the Youghiogheny River.

Gwen Poillucci

I was expecting the day to drag on for hours considering we were planning on biking close to 30 miles round trip. At first, that seemed like an eternity, but I quickly realized I was wrong.

We were just riding through the woods, looking at trees and the occasional animal. The path we were riding was filled with sights just waiting to be uncovered.

At the beginning of the trail, we rode over a bridge that truly blends in with the natural elements of the park. It overlooked many rapids and is a great start to a truly magnificent day at Ohiopyle. Children and dogs were swimming in the river and I began to wonder what adventures my family and I would run into. I could not wait to continue our ride and see what else we would uncover along the way.

Once you pass the opening of the trail, you are immediately surrounded by trees and the Youghiogheny River for the rest of your ride. As a person who enjoys the exercise that bike riding provides, biking through the wildlife only added to the experience for me. Along the way, educational posts allowed us to see where we were on the trail and provided interesting historic information.

There was practically no one around us except for a few bikers and runners. This is something you rarely get to experience if you bike around North Park Lake. It was quiet and calming being out in the middle of the woods all alone, but fun in the same way .

However, the fun did not stop on the bike trail. Many paths through the woods allowed us to visit the crystal clear water of the Youghiogheny.

The most enjoyable part of the trip was being able to take a rest on one of the many rocks along the river, and soaking in the sunlight. I was tempted to jump in and cool off, but I knew there was a long ride ahead of us. It was the perfect place to relax and take in the beauty of the park.

The 13-mile bike to a small restaurant near the end of our ride seemed like nothing considering we were surrounded by nature. Who would have thought that traveling this far could be so enjoyable?

After a light lunch and a short break, my family and I started on our 13-mile journey back to the starting point. Not only did this trip provide us with a great way to exercise, we were given the opportunity to truly appreciate the beauty of nature all around us.

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