PHOTO PROVIDED Competitors are seen during a previous Grinduro event.

PHOTO PROVIDED
Competitors are seen during a previous Grinduro event.

LOCK HAVEN — In just one week, cyclists from across the country will descend on Clinton County as Grinduro Pennsylvania returns on Saturday, July 18, bringing one of the world’s most celebrated gravel cycling events to the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Riders will kick off Grinduro weekend with a “Welcome to Our Region” Party on Friday, July 17, from 3 to 8 p.m., at the new Rox & River Adventure Co., 124 E. Main St., in downtown Lock Haven. The community is invited to stop by to welcome cyclists from across the country, meet the riders before race day, explore Lock Haven’s newest outdoor adventure store and enjoy an evening of shopping, dining and discovering everything downtown has to offer.

With registration nearing its close, the event has already attracted 317 participants representing 20 states and Washington, D.C., underscoring Grinduro PA’s growing reputation as a premier destination cycling event and a significant driver of tourism for Clinton County.

“This event has become much more than a bike race,” said Melissa Dally, tourism director for the Clinton County Economic Partnership. “Grinduro introduces hundreds of visitors to our great outdoors, our communities, our local businesses and the incredible outdoor recreation opportunities that make Clinton County unique. We’re excited to welcome riders and their families from across the country next weekend.”

The event’s registration data demonstrates a remarkable tourism impact for the region: 180 participants (56.8 percent) are traveling from outside Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania remains the largest market with 137 riders (43.2 percent), but more than three-quarters of those Pennsylvania participants are traveling from outside the immediate Lock Haven area. Approximately 77 percent of Pennsylvania registrants are coming from beyond a 50-mile radius of Lock Haven, representing communities throughout the Pittsburgh region, Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley, Lancaster and York and Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The strongest out-of-state markets include: New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Massachusetts, Ohio and Maryland.

Together, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey account for 212 registered participants, while riders from the Northeast Corridor– including Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island and New Hampshire — represent 239 participants, or more than 75 percent of the field.

The influx of cyclists, family members, volunteers and spectators is expected to generate a strong economic impact for local lodging properties, restaurants, retailers and attractions throughout Grinduro weekend.

Friday’s Welcome to Our Region Party at Rox & River Adventure Co. and the East Main Street Parking Lot will showcase the best of Clinton County’s outdoor recreation community, featuring local vendors and partners including New Trail Brewing Company, Train, Recover & Repeat, The Bike Gallery, and Bald Eagle Valley Kayak Company, alongside live music and family-friendly activities. The evening is designed to welcome riders from across the country while highlighting the businesses, experiences, and community spirit that make the region a premier outdoor destination.

Known for striking the perfect balance between world-class competition and festival atmosphere, Grinduro combines challenging gravel riding with live music, great food, community celebration and unforgettable scenery.

Riders will tackle four timed segments through the rugged gravel roads of Sproul State Forest while enjoying festive aid stations, on-site camping and a lively post-race hootenanny in downtown Lock Haven.

“Since its first edition, the Pennsylvania event took the Grinduro concept and made it their own,” said Paul Errington, Grinduro Global Custodian and 2026 Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame inductee. “The event now represents a cornerstone of our global series and we will never tire of the passion and enthusiasm poured into this event every year by both promoters and participants alike. If your geography allows — or you can figure a special visit — it is unlikely you would leave Grinduro PA not wanting to return every year after.”

New for 2026, Grinduro Pennsylvania has relocated to Lock Haven and the surrounding Sproul State Forest, showcasing a new course through some of Pennsylvania’s most scenic public lands while making the event more accessible with a renewed focus on Saturday’s signature race.

“It’s so exciting to add a downtown Pennsylvania experience to the ‘Party-to-Race Ratio’ of Grinduro,” says Dave Pryor, event director of Grinduro PA. “Especially since Lock Haven and Clinton County have been such an excited community with lots of support from tourism and economic partnerships, the shops and restaurants, our hosts, emergency services and local authorities, as well as the town of Renovo which will be a welcome oasis mid-way through the Grinduro course. I can’t wait for all the gravel cyclists to see what I find so exciting about this place!”

Proceeds from Grinduro PA benefit the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League, helping inspire the next generation of cyclists through its #MoreKidsOnBikes initiative.

The Clinton County Economic Partnership serves as the presenting sponsor of Grinduro PA alongside Backyard Beans Coffee Company, New Trail Brewing Company, Endo Tune-Up, Breezer Bikes, Freeze Thaw Cycles, Clinton County Recreation Authority, The Bike Gallery and Nittany Mountain Works. Global sponsors include Kamoot, Schwalbe, Shimano, Fabric, All Mountain Style and Marin Bikes.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to come downtown Friday and Saturday to experience the excitement, cheer on riders and welcome participants who are traveling from across the United States to experience everything Clinton County has to offer.

For event information, visit grinduro.com/pennsylvania.

To plan a weekend in Clinton County, including lodging, dining, attractions and outdoor recreation, visit exploreclintoncountypa.com or contact 570-748-5782 and CCEP staff can help plan your stay.