Mountain Biking
Surprisingly enough, the NYC metropolitan area is blessed with fine mountain biking venues, both public trails and designated mountain biking parks.
Did you know that New York City is the closest large city to the Appalachian Trail? Well you do now. Not that it is acceptable to ride on the AT on designated hiking sections, but the AT follows some roads, the shoulders of which are the trail, so we do unknowingly ride on the AT at times.
The point is that we are within striking distance of the Appalachian Mountains on mountain bikes via Metro North and NJ Transit. Therefore you don't need a car to portage your mtn bike to these routes and venues.
This section includes trails conducive to mountain biking connected by roads, and access to specific mountain biking venues, all from railheads out of the NYC metropolitan area. Trailforks, a mountain biking website, has an app which has made navigating these mostly unmarked trail systems user-friendly. In a few short years the sport has grown, developing light and nimble machines, designing and building sustainable, diverse and challenging trails, and an increasing number of enthusiasts, many who also ride road bikes.
Consider giving mountain biking a try. It might interject a renewed passion for pedal and wheel.
That's me below, at the end of the descent of Poison Ivy at Ringwood, the only time I have successfully managed to thread my handlebar between those 2 close trees, captured on GoPro. I'll never be very good, but it is so fun I keep coming back. There are worse addictions.
Hank
Name | Level(s) | Distance | Difficulty Rating |
---|---|---|---|
Cold Spring access to Fahnestock State Park | C | 9 | 1 out of 5 |
Brewster access to Ninham State Park | B, C | 7 | 1 out of 5 |
Sloatsburg access to Jungle Habitat | C | 11 | 1 out of 5 |
Sloatsburg access to Sterling Forest at Sterling Lake | C | 7 | 1 out of 5 |
Sterling Forest Singletrack, eastern access from Sloatsburg | C | 4 | 1 out of 5 |
New Brunswick access to Six Mile Run | C | 5 | 1 out of 5 |
Sprain Ridge from Hastings on the Hudson | B | 2.6 | 2 out of 5 |
Garrison/Moneyhole Mtn/Sunken Mine/Stillwater/Cold Spring | A, B | 30 | 2 out of 5 |
New Brunswick to Trenton via 6 Mile Run & the D & R Canal Towpath | B | 35 | 3 out of 5 |
Salisbury Mills access Black Rock Preserve via Hulse Rd | A, B | 7 | 3 out of 5 |