North East Backcountry Discovery Route
Part One of Six
The
Northeast Backcountry Discovery Route (NEBDR) spans seven states; Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, covering approximately 1,300 miles before concluding at the Canadian border. My journey took a full two weeks, logging 1,556 miles and 67 hours of drive time, with just a handful of stops at intriguing historical sites. A typical day involved 4-5 hours behind the wheel, though my overall pace averaged 20-25 mph, slightly above the norm; I attribute this to the route's balanced mix of roughly 50% on-road and 50% off-road sections. Keep in mind that seasonal closures affect portions of the trail, so plan for it to be fully accessible from early June through late October. Depending on winter snowfall, spring and early summer can bring muddy, rutted, and slick conditions, particularly over rocks and in low-lying areas. Flies and mosquitoes are also prevalent during those warmer months, so pack plenty of bug spray. For optimal conditions - mild weather, dry trails, and minimal insects - September and October stand out as the prime window to tackle this adventure.
Having completed over 40 adventure routes in recent years, I'd rank the NEBDR among the very best. While many of those trails leaned heavier on off-road segments (70-90%), with varying lengths, none matched the NEBDR's unique immersion across seven states: lands originally inhabited by Native American tribes for millennia, colonized by Europeans in the early 17th century in pursuit of religious freedom, transformed into pivotal self-governing entities during the American Revolution, industrialized powerhouses in the 19th century, and now a region celebrated for its elite educational institutions, rich cultural heritage, and stunning natural beauty. My recommendation? Carve out 3-4 weeks next September or October to embark on an expedition that's truly in a class of its own.
Here’s a snapshot of my good friend Dennis, a civil engineer with decades of experience on projects across Asia, and his wife, fine-tuning their truck on the morning we embarked on our NEBDR adventure. We first bonded in 2017 at the Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival, hosted by Main Line Overland, and have since explored trails together each year, conquering routes like the Allegheny Discovery Route, Sedona Backcountry Trail, and Green Country Oklahoma Adventure Tour. Dennis’s rugged 2011 Ram Power Wagon, equipped with a 5.7L HEMI, 4.56 gears, an Atlas 3.8:1 transfer case, Scheel-Mann seats, and brand-new 37" Mickey Thompson Baja Boss tires, was primed for the challenge. After a hearty sit-down breakfast and a final top-off of our fuel tanks, we hit the trail, ready to navigate the Northeast’s diverse backcountry.
As a mechanically minded adventurer, I find myself captivated by the engineering of bridges like the green steel girder spanning the West Branch of the Delaware River, but Dennis and I weren’t even supposed to be here - Paul and Matt had orchestrated this NEBDR run while we were locked in for a Colorado trip the same week. In a twist worthy of a sitcom, they convinced us to switch allegiances, only for both to bail last-minute, leaving just the two of us veterans to roll across and disappear into the forest.
Bail early, regret eternally; push through, claim the views.
The NEBDR’s intensity surges along River Road, a rugged seasonal track skirting a sheer drop-off beside the Delaware River. Dennis and I, piloting our full-size trucks fitted with campers, navigated a grueling gauntlet of tight trees and jagged rock outcroppings, creeping at 5 mph or less for over an hour. The only others daring this stretch were a few adventure motorcyclists and side-by-sides, their wide-eyed stares shouting “you’re insane” as they wedged into scarce pull-offs to let our rigs lumber past in the opposite direction. This pulse-pounding section tested our vehicles and resolve, proving early why demanding off-road stretches like these require both skill and grit.
Here’s a tale worth sharing: our descent of over 1,000 feet in under two miles along a narrow, bumpy, unmarked tar-and-chip road turned dramatic when Dennis’s new PowerStop brakes failed, nearly sending him into the back of my truck at a sharp 160-degree turn where I’d slowed down. Unable to stop, he barreled through the bend and up a short, tight path toward a private hunting camp. At the bottom, we halted to inspect his brakes, letting them cool while diagnosing the failure, when two adventure motorcyclists rolled up, noting they’d spotted a Rotopax on the trail a few miles back and asking if we’d lost one. To my astonishment, a quick check confirmed I had lost one, prompting me to drive back up the trail, and fortunately, I retrieved it, transforming my surprise into relief as it became a quirky memento of our chaotic plunge.
Encouraged by the Rotopax's recovery and a burst of optimism during our unplanned stop, I ventured further back up the trail to track down the AT Overland Rotopax Holder side strap that had also become loose enough to fall off since I failed to secure it properly. Relying on a fascinating aspect of human vision - our natural ability to pick out man-made objects amid nature’s randomness, driven by their sharp edges and consistent colors, I scanned the roadside with keen interest. As I drove slowly, I pieced together the mishap in my mind: picturing the canister’s slow shift across the bumpy miles, nudged by tight turns and rough spots until it finally fell. Luck struck again; the strap was right there, sparking a thoughtful pause on how this unfolded - Dennis’s brake failure forced our halt, which brought the adventure riders with their helpful tip, giving me the time to drive back a few miles, search for both lost items, and reclaim them, turning a breakdown into an unexpected triumph on the trail.
This striking image suggests a near-mythical haven, but take a moment to picture the full scene: the trail humming with the rustle of leaves beneath you, the faint calls of hidden birds resonating through towering trees, and the fresh aroma of hardwoods and moist earth wafting through the air - a sensory richness that nature always reveals. My photos fail to do justice to that vibrant reality, a shortcoming I regret, as I am unable to truly capture the wild’s embrace. I encourage everyone to step into nature themselves, where wild beauty, as hinted here, waits to be experienced firsthand.
This BDR is broken down into eight sections approximately 150 miles long, some shorter and a few longer. These first two sections take you in an easterly direction across New York while wandering to the north and south along the way, featuring a mix of minor paved roads, dirt paths, and challenging rocky stretches. What stood out the most to me was the lack of primitive camping and limited ability to procure food and gas. There are a few options for staying at State Parks, private campgrounds, or motels so plan ahead and consider pre-booking during peak seasons to avoid availability issues. All in all, I was impressed with this route through New York and think of the state in a different, more positive way after this trip. You will pass through small towns like Callicoon, Downsville, and Andes; charming rural hamlets in New York's Catskill and Delaware River regions, celebrated for their scenic beauty and outdoor recreation.
Over the years, traveling mostly alone but sometimes with others, I've noticed a daily pattern emerge. We generally wake up with the sunrise, relax in our campers, prepare breakfast, clean up, and then step outside to greet fellow travelers and sketch out loose plans for the day. We hit the trail around 0900-1000 and typically stop for lunch between 1200-1300; if near a small town, we might detour to enjoy each other's company at a restaurant or visit a museum together. Eventually, we return to the trail for a few more hours of exploration before discussing possible campsites - sometimes just minutes away, other times an hour or two further. On this particular day, we stopped in Fleischmanns, New York, a quaint Catskills village in Delaware County with a population of about 210, originally named Griffin Corners and renamed in 1913 after the Fleischmann yeast family who developed it as a luxurious summer resort in the late 19th century, for a relaxing lunch.
God, in His infinite love and wisdom, created the world not as a mere backdrop or a test of endurance, but as a magnificent gift for us to enjoy and steward. This was no accident; it was an act of paternal generosity. The world - its mountains, rivers, creatures, and seasons - was crafted for our delight, to reflect His glory and draw us closer to Him. Even now, in our fallen state, we glimpse this in the splendor of nature, which the Psalms celebrate:
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). We are invited to enjoy it, not as idolaters of the material, but as grateful children who see God's fingerprints everywhere.
Did you exchange
a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
