ElectricBikeways explores the secret rough-road networks through the Hudson Valley, Catskills and western Connecticut fields and forests. Our self-guided routes for your electric bike steer you clear of car traffic, following unique and scenic routes through breathtaking countryside. Download-able GPS directions make your ride safe and dependable.

ElectricBikeways and the Rough-Road Network

The scenic hinterlands of the Hudson Valley, Catskill Mountains and western Connecticut are a paradise for bicyclists. Secret rough-road networks of routes through mountain folds, foothills, hemlock ravines, pastures. Lonely byways where wildflowers abound in summer. Colorful, interesting towns; elegant old estates shoulder to shoulder with odd dwellings and mountain homes. Quality coffee and distinctive, local brews. Pet goats. BBQ. 

The roads selected for these routes are perfectly suited to the hybrid, or mountain, electric (or pedal-assist) bicycle. Never too steep or challenging, you leave the monotony of the rail trail behind and open yourself to surprises around the next corner. 

And your e-bike is uniquely suited for these places. If it was the hills that kept you from the country roads, the electric bike flattens them out and lifts you up and over; now is your chance to really explore the Catskills and Berkshire foothills. If your e-bike has wider tires than your traditional road bike, you can turn down those remote, rural, rugged roads and see what few of the skinny tire riders get to see. Dirt roads are self-limiting, and that’s a good thing.

ElectricBikeways.com celebrates taking your time to explore forgotten roads at a somewhat slower pace. For going farther, and seeing more.

Riding in Columbia County, NY

Researching the Routes

Including a busier road here and there as a connector to complete a loop is inevitable, but the whole point of these routes is to take you along backroads with no — or almost no — car traffic. Like a hike on a bike, is how I like to think of them.

I’ve personally ridden every route on this website. I want to make absolutely certain that the real-world routes can be travelled comfortably and safely, and are a) interesting, b) navigable, c) free of car traffic to the greatest extent, and d) routes I would return to, again and again. 

The descriptions of the routes on this website are not meant to be turn-by-turn guides — you can download and print those from the web page, and definitely use the RideWithGPS app! The upshot of the lack of detail means you have more of a chance to be surprised along the way—always a plus.

A couple of cautions:

1. Always print out the turn-by-turn directions, to have with you in case your phone loses power.
2. And speaking of power, bring a back-up battery charger for your phone, as well as a charging cable.
3. I carry a backpack with the absolute necessities: a small repair kit, a little bit of cash, my bike charger, a mini first aid kit, a spare tube and CO2 inflator and a decent pump. I always bring food and water.

And after your ride, spend some time in the towns nearby. These are places that could really use your help as they recover from the pandemic, and get back on their feet. I visit restaurants, cafes, parks, retail shops and other areas of interest (though I am NOT a restaurant reviewer and don’t provide reviews).

I’ve always loved to explore. Electric bikes have opened up, for me, a whole new world of meandering backroads, and I think you’ll like these routes, too. 

The carriage road to Awosting Falls, on the Minnewaska route.