The Secret Path

One of our family’s greatest pleasures is biking to Millheim for breakfast and coffee at the Inglebean. We only take it during the warm months when Penns Creek is low because you will have to portage your bike at one point along the ride. It’s a remarkable ride that is about 17 miles one way from the cabin and about 10 miles, if you drive to Cherry Run and then ride the rest of the way. If you drive, you will want to park at Cherry Run at the trailhead of the Penns Creek Path. The ride parallels Penns Creek on an old railroad bed and at about 2.5 mile brings you to a beautiful mountain tunnel.

On the other side, the trail opens to an old railroad trestle that offers a breathtaking view of Penns Creek. Stay straight for about another mile and you’ll come to a missing railroad trestle. Ride down down off the railroad bed and look for a path, where you will have to portage your bike. Look upstream and you’ll see the western bridge pier. You’ll want to get to the top of the pier to continue on the path.

Here the trail is not maintained so well, but easily passable. Continue for a mile and you will come to a small encampment of cabins–this is Ingleby, a small forgotten fishing and timbering camp, not to be confused with the Inglebean, your destination coffee shop in Millheim. Continue another mile or two and you will come to a pedestrian bridge (best to dismount because the opening of the bridge is narrow). Then immediately turn right onto a dirt road and follow the pools and riffles of Penns Creek as it meanders around rocks and mountains. 

You will eventually arrive at the paved Main Street of Coburn, and pass the Feathered Hook Flyshop on your left. Continue out of town. Millheim is now 2 miles down Coburn Road. The Inglebean is on Main Street. Feel free to ride around back and leave your bikes on the open-air patio and enjoy your coffee!