Routes & Ride Details
The Three Creek Century offers road routes of 25, 29, and 51 miles. All of the road routes start at the Penn Township Volunteer Fire Company site and finish at that same location. You can ride any of those routes or combine them to ride a longer distance.
If you want to do a full century ride, we request that you start with the 51 mile Big Spring Meander, followed by the 29 mile Opossum Lake Loop, and end with the 25 mile Yellow Breeches Ramble.
Our Rest Stop hours and SAG support coverage are staggered. We will close the 51 mile route first and leave the 25 mile route open last.
There is also the option of the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, an 18 mile “out and back” ride that starts and finishes at the Newville Trailhead.
A general description of each route is provided below, along with Ride with GPS links and GPX file downloads.
Big Spring Meander (51 miles)
This pleasant route earns its name by following the meandering paths of the Yellow Breeches, Big Spring, and the Conodoguinet Creeks through rural Cumberland County. It is mostly level riding with some long gradual hills. Total elevation gain over 51 miles is about 1,800 feet. The rest stop for this route is in Shippensburg Township Park just before mile 27.
The 2022 Three Creek Century routes will be released in early September 2022. We anticipate them being the same or similar to the 2021 routes.
To access the 2021 Big Springer Meander route click below
To access the GPX file click the second button below
Big Spring Meander 51 miles gpx file download
Big Spring Meander with South Mountain Challenge (51 miles)
This is a more challenging version of the Big Spring Meander. After the rest stop at Shippensburg Township Park, the route takes you up South Mountain, which is a 6 mile climb at an average grade of 4%. Riders are then treated to an 8 mile descent, followed by another 2 mile climb at average grade of 4.4%. The total distance for this route is still 51 miles but the added climb up South Mountain brings the total elevation gain for the entire route to about 2,900 feet.
Please note that the South Mountain Challenge leg of this route will not have road markings past the Shippensburg Rest Stop. We will have roadside signs as permitted by the State Park. Be prepared to use your cycling computer, phone app, or the cue sheets we provide.
Riders doing the full century should begin with one of these 51 mile routes.
The 2022 Three Creek Century routes will be released in early September 2022. We anticipate them being the same or similar to the 2021 routes.
To access the 2021 South Mountain Challenge route in Ride with GPS click below
south mountian challenge ride ride with gps link
GPX File Download for Big Spring Meander with South Mountain - Click below
South Mountain Challenge ride gpx file download
Opossum Lake
Opossum Lake Loop (29 miles)
This route takes you north and west of Carlisle and features level riding interspersed with a few challenging climbs. The rest stop for this route is at the scenic overlook of Opossum Lake at mile 15.6. The total elevation gain over 29 miles is about 1,100 feet.
Riders doing the full century should ride the Opossum Lake route second, after one of the Big Spring Meander routes.
The 2022 Three Creek Century routes will be released in early September 2022. We anticipate them being the same or similar to the 2021 routes.
To access the 2021 Opossum Lake route in Ride with GPS click below
opossum lake loop ride with gps link
GPX File Download for Opossum Lake - Click below
Opossum Lake Loop gpx file download
Yellow Breeches Ramble (25 miles)
This route features enjoyable riding over gentle terrain, with a few gradual hills along the way. A portion of the route follows the winding Yellow Breeches Creek, known around the world for excellent trout fishing. You will enjoy scenic farmland highlighted by the large mountain ridges to the south. The rest stop for this route is at Trine Park in Mount Holly Springs, at mile 12. The total elevation gain over 25 miles is about 725 feet.
The 2022 Three Creek Century routes will be released in early September 2022. We anticipate them being the same or similar to the 2021 routes.
Riders doing the full century should finish with the Yellow Breeches Ramble.
If you’re feeling adventurous towards the end of the Yellow Breeches Ramble, at mile 23 you can extend your ride with a climb up Kings Gap. See the Kings Gap section below for details.
To access the 2021 Yellow Breeches route in Ride with GPS click below
yellow breeches ramble ride with gps link
GPX File Download for Yellow Breeches Ramble - Click below
yellow Breeches Ramble gpx file download
Optional Kings Gap Climb (7 miles)
The Kings Gap option is a 4 mile gradual climb on the beautiful tree-lined road that leads up to the Kings Gap Environmental Center. The gradient on the climb averages 3.5%, with the steepest part at 5.8%. On a clear day, the view of the Cumberland Valley from the Mansion porch is awesome, but the biggest reward is the exciting ride back down the hill. Depending on the policies of the Environmental Center in September, water and restrooms may be available at the top of Kings Gap
The Kings Gap route is the same each year. To access the Kings Gap route in Ride with GPS click below
kings gap climb option ride with gps link
GPX File Download for Kings Gap Climb - Click below
Kings Gap Climb option gpx file download
View from King’s Gap overlook
Cumberland Valley Rail Trail
The CVRT is a flat rail trail with a crushed gravel surface. It’s a great ride for beginners, kids, and families. Start at the Newville Trailhead 23 McFarland St. The trail goes 9 miles to Shippensburg Township Park, where there is a Rest Stop, and returns 9 miles back to the Newville Trailhead. There is plentiful parking at the Trailhead.
The CVRT route is the same each year. To access the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail route in Ride with GPS click below
cumberland valley trail ride - ride with gps link
GPX File Download for Cumberland Valley Rail Trail - Click below
Cumberland Valley Rail Trail gpx file download