After postponing our bike camping festivals & events in 2020, we’ve been busy testing new ways of empowering people to travel by bike. To inspire you to plan your own bike trips during a time when we can’t ride together, we’re excited to launch our first digital bike camping Guide, Culture and Camping on the Delaware Canal.

Developed in partnership with the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, our Guide focuses on the D&L Trail and celebrates the vibrant culture and beautiful scenery of Bucks County and the surrounding towns. We believe this area is perfect for those looking to plan to plan their first independent bike camping trip and for more advanced riders seeking a new experience. We’ve included the necessary information and tools that will take your mind off the details of planning so that you can focus on having an amazing experience on your bike.

This Guide follows a choose-your-own-adventure format so that it’s easy for riders to build an experience around their own abilities and interests. We’ve included a map that features more than 25 curated points of interest that fall directly on our route or are just a short distance from the trail. No matter how you build your itinerary, you’ll begin at Yardley Regional Rail Station which is under an hour from Philadelphia by car or train, and only an hour-and-a-half from New York City. For easy navigation, you’ll be able to reference live turn-by-turn directions on your phone, or a printable cue sheet available for download. As you leave the train station you’ll travel down Main Street in Yardley where you can stop at delicious local spots we’ve recommended to grab a coffee, breakfast, use the restroom, and fuel up before beginning your ride on the trail.

Leaving Yardley, riders will embark on the D&L Trail which is nestled in the beautiful Delaware Canal State Park and delivers gorgeous views of the Delaware River and its adjacent canal. On the first leg riders will explore 10 miles of this protected pathway with the option to break and explore sights like a wildflower preserve, internationally recognized artist’s studio, a revolutionary war memorial, and more. After a scenic journey, you will arrive in the historic and charming town of New Hope which is home to a bustling community of artisans, brewers, chefs and other inspiring makers. From discovering eclectic shops and galleries on Main Street, enjoying a farm to glass brew, or a local bite from one of the many vendors we’ve suggested, there’s no shortage of experiences to fill your afternoon. 

After discovering the sights of New Hope, riders can opt to continue on the trail for another picturesque 10 miles of bike riding before arriving at one of our recommended overnight destinations. If you choose, you’ll relax around a fire and enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep in your tent, or at a local bed-and-breakfast, before returning back to Yardley on the same route the next day. If you prefer, our guide offers the option to turn around in New Hope for a rewarding day trip.

This Guide costs $10 and includes everything you should need to coordinate a trip like information on public transportation, turn-by-turn directions, a sample itinerary, packing list, discounts from local partners, local Covid-19 resources, and much more. 

Proceeds from this guide benefit the Delaware & Lehigh National Corridor, the organization responsible for protecting and preserving this historic area, while supporting Bikeout’s mission of sharing bike travel with more people. We’re also excited to share that this is the first of three Guides we'll produce about the D&L Trail, which runs 165 miles from Bristol, just outside of Philadelphia, to Wilkes-Barre in the northeast part of Pennsylvania. 

This unique partnership is the culmination of time spent exploring how we could contribute to a growing need for outdoor adventures that are close to home and the desire to support our community in experiencing bike travel. We can’t think of a better way to accomplish this than empowering riders to plan their own Bikeout experience. We hope this digital guide provides you with the necessary tool set for planning self-guided bike trip, and most of all inspires you to take advantage of the beauty and culture in your own backyard.