Hawk Mountain Philly 300K Brevet

Start Location

Manayunk Start & Chamounix Finish

Trendy Manayunk hugs the Schuylkill River banks. It has a small-town vibe, with rowhouses, lofts and Victorian homes occupied by young families and long-time residents. Along its hilly streets, the steep incline of "The Manayunk Wall" punishes riders in an annual bike race. Galleries and boutiques line Main Street, while its trendy eateries and boisterous bars evoke the area's Lenape name, "the place to drink.”

The start controle is located in the shared parking lot for the Regal UA Theatre, Cadence Cycling Center, and Fine Wine.

There are no services, food, indoor space, or access to bathrooms at the start location itself, although there are numerous options nearby. The closest 24 hour convenience store for early morning coffee, food, and bathrooms is the Sunoco/Dunkin on 4168 Ridge Ave. 

 

Parking

Park in the large lot shared by Cadence Cycles, the UA Theater, and the State store.  Park near Main St, away from the stores, so as to allow store customers the closest spots.

Lodging

Immediately at the Start/Finish is the Residence Inn. There are many other nearby hotels.  Call them directly to make reservations.

Finish

The finish control is at the Chamounix Mansion in West Fairmount Park. Note that this is a different location than the start - about 3 miles away. After you climb up Greenland Drive, turn right onto Chamounix Drive and ride to the end of the drive. The Mansion is located at the back of the cul-de-sac. Volunteers will be awaiting your arrival with refreshments and eager to hear your stories, some of which might even be true.

To return to the parking lot after the finish: continue straight on Chamounix Drive. Then turn left on Ford Road and enjoy the long descent down towards the Schuylkill River. Next, at the stop sign before the Strawberry Mansion Bridge, turn left onto the ramp to MLK Drive. Continue on the Drive and then cross the East Falls Bridge and Kelly Drive. Turn left onto Ridge Avenue and continue one mile until you see the parking lot on your left.

Volunteer

This event needs volunteers for the following jobs:

• Finish Controle
• Start Controle

Contact Organizer to Volunteer.

Ride Description

Nestled in Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain ridge, Hawk Mountain is renowned as one of North America’s premier raptor migration watchsites, where thousands of hawks, eagles, and falcons pass each autumn. The ascent up the mountain’s access road climbs 826 feet over two miles, averaging an 8.2 percent gradient—enough to test even seasoned riders. Thanks to the recent completion of the Schuylkill River Trail segment between Auburn and Hamburg, it’s now possible to pedal from Philadelphia to Hawk Mountain and back in a single day, without climbing back over the mountain, enjoying seamless riverside riding on this epic 300K brevet. This ride will also give club members one more chance to notch a 300K for the 2025 calendar year. 

We’ll roll out from the Cadence Cycling Center parking lot near Manayunk and head north through Wissahickon Park. Your first true refuel comes at Henning’s Market in Harleysville, purveyor of the legendary Mr. Sticky’s cinnamon buns—warm, gooey, and the perfect sweet boost before tackling the hills. Beyond pastries, Henning’s offers a full deli, coffee bar, and homemade sandwiches, all served in a cozy seating area around a crackling fireplace. Whether you want to refuel fast or linger for a bit of warmth and conversation, Henning’s has you covered.

From Harleysville we head west into the rolling farmland surrounding Oley Valley. This section delivers back-to-back climbs and descents on quiet, tree-lined roads. Keep an eye out for classic stone barns, and be ready for a few playful dips in temperature as you dip into the valley bottoms.

Next up is Kutztown, with its charming Main Street and historic college campus. It’s a great spot to stretch your legs, top off your bottles, and grab a handful of snacks before the big climb. There is a Turkey Hill available for convenience store staples and a local coffee shop called Four Monkeys Coffee & Roastery.

Brace yourself for the ride’s signature challenge: Hawk Mountain. This is where grit meets glory—reward yourself at the summit with sweeping views of the ridge and, if timing’s right, migrating hawks soaring beneath you.

After descending Hawk Mountain, we use the new section of SRT from Auburn to Hamburg and make our way south to Reading. There is a control in West Reading with a Wawa stop for sandwiches, coffee, or whatever you need to recharge.

From Reading we tackle a final series of rollers on the edge of the Schuylkill River Valley. There is a Wawa control outside of Pottstown - this “last chance” control lets you pick up any last-minute snacks or water before the home stretch.

The final 25 miles follow the Schuylkill River Trail back into Philadelphia. Enjoy the smooth pavement and riverside scenery as you make your way back to the city, climb one last little grunt up to Chamounix.

 

Course History

Date	Finishers
2025-09-27	17

General Info

This ride is a randonneur style bicycle event under the sanction of Randonneurs USA. Completing this event can help you train for Paris-Brest-Paris and earn RUSA  awards.  You need a current RUSA membership to ride this event. You can sign up for RUSA here.

First time riding with PA Randonneurs? Read an overview of what to expect on your first PA brevet. All participants are obliged to follow the rules for riders as well as local vehicle laws (PA, NJ, NY). Safety is a primary concern. All riders must sign a waiver. Please read these Safety Instructions.

To receive credit for finishing a randonneuring event you must complete a brevet card as required by the rules. PA Randonneurs accepts traditional brevet cards filled out with stamps/signatures and backed up with merchant receipts. PA Randonneurs encourages use of the eBrevet cell phone app. (Version 1.3 minimum required) as an electronic brevet card assistant. Nevertheless, you must check into all controls on the app -- or provide traditional proof for each control. Your finish time and finish code from the  app must be written on the paper card, along with your signature, or you may be disqualified.

These events are not for beginners.  The courses are hilly. You may face extremes of weather: heat, cold, wind, rain. The roads are unmarked and open to automobile traffic. There will be night riding in the longer events.   Complete several ordinary century cycling events before starting a 200K brevet;  complete several 200Ks before starting a longer brevet.

Registration

Registration Fee

Includes

Dinner at finish. No food provided at the start.

Schedule

04:00 Sign-in, Bike Inspection
04:50 Rider meeting
05:00 EDT Riders depart

Conditions

Finish Cutoff: 01:00 EDT 28 September 2025 (20 hours)

Daylight Hours

Sunrise: 06:54
Sunset: 18:48

Weather

Weather forecast for start location: Philadelphia, PA.

This event runs rain or shine. Rides are sometimes postponed or canceled if there is a significant chance of extreme conditions that threaten safety (e.g. ice, snow, high winds). Check the message board for last minute announcements.

Questions About This Event?

Please click here to ask the organizer a question about this event.

The online URL for this event info page is

https://parando.org/info/event/2025-09-27/300

For all other information about Pennsylvania Randonneurs, visit our web site https://parando.org/