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Learn about the Battle of Gettysburg on two wheels, and enjoy the thrill of outdoor, experiential learning.
Maps to Bike Gettysburg No. 3b: Battle Days 2 & 3 Short Loop is for experienced and recreational cyclists who want to combine learning about the Battle of Gettysburg with a first-hand, visceral experience of the battlefield landscape. On a bike, historical touring is not only more personal, but one can gain a better appreciation for battlefield hills and swales and for distances covered.
This book provides color maps and turn-by-turn directions for a safe and educational, 10.7 -mile park ride to visit the most famous landmarks of the July 2-3 battlefield, including Culp's Hill. Designed for a lightweight ride, this book complements Civil War Cycling's more detailed and comprehensive guidebook, Bicycling Gettysburg National Military Park.
Part of a new series of Gettysburg mini-books by Civil War Cycling, Maps to Bike Gettysburg No. 3b contains 17 detailed color maps with corresponding bicycle cue tables; 53 color photos; monument GPS points; and micro-histories for learning about the Battle of Gettysburg.
After a tour of Culp's Hill, East Cemetery Hill, and Confederate monuments on Seminary Ridge, you will cut through The Peach Orchard to ride up Little Round Top and then north along Union positions on Cemetery Ridge. You will enjoy a winding, up-and-down ride (a 653' cumulative gain) through fields and woodlots, some of which are not on the park auto tour. Plan for a 3-4 hour ride with frequent stops to appreciate the beautiful landscape and some of the park's 1,300+ monuments.
Like all Civil War Cycling routes through Gettysburg National Military Park, Route 3b limits exposure to busy roads; provides route-specific health and safety tips; identifies one-way roads; and notes the location of bicycle racks, water, restrooms, and picnic areas.
About the author
Sue Thibodeau is a bicycling enthusiast, computer scientist, and former teacher. "Like a kid on a bike," she explores U.S. national military parks as a way to learn Civil War history. A graduate of Duke University, the University of Notre Dame, and the Rochester Institute of Technology, Sue publishes educational touring materials through Civil War Cycling. She is the author of Bicycling Gettysburg National Military Park (2019), Bicycling Antietam National Battlefield (2020), Bicycling Chickamauga Battlefield (2021), and Bicycling Shiloh National Military Park (forthcoming).
