I *really* suggest using a topographic map in conjunction with a road map. It will make some of the road layout make more sense.

PA 147 isn't a road I've ever been on. Usually, semi traffic heading straight north routes on 11/15, so it *should* be comparatively light traffic. Since it ends at 22/322 in Duncannon, I'm not sure it buys you anything. Now that Dauphin has been upgraded, 322 is also a 4 lane highway for a lot of its length - the plan is eventually it will be 4 lane limited access all the way to State College from Hershey.

PA 225 theoretically buys you something, since it does get you as far south as Dauphin. I've never been on it. I don't know what the grade is on that giant zig is north of Dauphin, but I can make guesses. They are not happy guesses - that is *not* a normal little hill. From Dauphin, it looks like you could pick up PA 325 over to 443 and then down 72 to get to Lebanon and Lancaster. I can't think of a way to get from Dauphin to Fort Hunter without 322 being involved, but if there is a way, then you're in Riverfront Park and have (relatively) clear sailing down to the PENNdot building (past there you'll have a lot more on street parking, but it should be manageable if you're used to city riding).

The river *is* beautiful. And well... the ridges north of Harrisburg are beautiful too. And they run right into the river. The bends and twists you see are usually the foot of a ridge, not a meander. This is the longest non-navigable river in the world. At a ridgeline, it may only be 6 inches deep... and a mile wide. (oh, and did I mention the *other* reason why they don't want to blast through the ridges? mining rights... the ridges mark the lower edge of the Coal Region.)

I know that the standard through the ridges is just don't route trucks through on minor roads. Grades may exceed 15%, and there will be no emergency stop ramps. On bigger roads, emergency stop ramps are standard, and there is often some blasting to reduce the grade. The only way they can afford to do enough blasting to keep the grade down to 5% is with interstate funding. That's why I-83 and I-81 go basically east-west through central PA.