Nicholson: Viaducts & the Underground Railroad
44.4 miles | 3,801’ | 70% unpaved
Explore the scenic back roads surrounding Nicholson on this rewarding gravel loop featuring the Tunkhannock and Martins Creek Viaducts, Dennis Farm, Hop Bottom, and Brooklyn.
If you're looking for a longer loop with grand views and below-average elevation gain for the region, this is an excellent choice. The 44-mile route leaves Nicholson, home to the towering Tunkhannock Viaduct, and gradually climbs north along Martins Creek, passing through Hop Bottom before riding beneath the impressive Martins Creek Viaduct.
Also at mile 8 is the Dennis Farm, the nation's oldest African American family-owned farms. It was originally settled in 1793 by Prince Perkins, a free African American Revolutionary War veteran, and has remained in the Perkins-Dennis family for more than 200 years. The hilltop Perkins-Dennis Cemetery contains the graves of documented African American veterans of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War, and the farm itself later served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Today, the property is preserved as a nationally significant historic site, with guided tours available with advance arrangement through the Dennis Farm at Keystone College (570-945-8150).
Don't miss the short out-and-back at mile 8 for one of the best views of the viaduct before passing directly underneath it. After turning south, the route rewards riders with a thrilling descent on an unmaintained forest road before continuing through the historic borough of Brooklyn. Settled in the early 1800s and named after the New York community, Brooklyn retains much of its small-town character, with several well-preserved 19th-century homes and buildings reflecting its agricultural roots. From there, the final miles return to Nicholson on a rugged farm road that includes a scenic creek crossing.
