Hither Hills State Park Trails: Greater New York City
Mountain bikers know Long Island is one of the best summer mountain biking destinations in New York. For biking at the beach (literally), Hither Hills State Park, located on Long Island's far northeastern shore offers a two and a half miles of white sandy beach along the Atlantic Ocean, adjacent nature preserves, miles of trails for mountain biking, hiking trails and cross-country skiing (winter) as well as bridle paths and nature trails. The trails travel through a variety of habitat and offer opportunities for riders of all skill levels on a combination of singletrack trails and old woods roads. The 168 site campground, located right on the beach, is one of the Top 100 Campgrounds in the nation. This ride is perfect for a summer weekend bike and beach get-away.
Note: Some of the singletrack trails travel through brush habitat. Take proper precautions against ticks.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve : Hudson Valley Region Trails
Minnewaska State Park is our favorite mountain bike destination in all seasons. Over forty miles of gravel carriage roads wind around two emerald green glacial lakes, and along the Shawangunk Mountain ridges, offering panoramic views of the Hudson Valley below. Lake Minnewaska, near the main parking area, is good place for a post ride swim. The swimming area is small and can get quite crowded on weekends, but it is spectacular with surrounding white cliffs. On the other hand, Lake Awosting (pictured above right) requires a mountain bike ride or hike of 3+ miles one-way (no car access thank goodness) and is usually a lot less crowded and more relaxed. It features a beautiful rock beach with scenic vistas and new bathhouse, the perfect place to stop for a snack mid ride.
Willowemoc Wild Forest : Catskill Mountains Region Trails
Tucked in the southwest corner of the Catskill Park, offers an outstanding variety of trails suitable for mountain biking. Trailheads are easily accessible right from the Mongaup Pond Willowemoc Wild Forest campground. After your ride take a dip in the largest body of water in the Catskill Park.The snowmobile trails are great for mountain bikes. For road biking, there are also miles of quiet paved roads ideal for cycling.
Willowemoc contains more than 14,800 acres of Forever Wild Forest Preserve. It surrounds the Mongaup Pond (pictured right) Campground and borders the Big Indian Wilderness. 120 acre Mongaup Pond is the largest body of water in the Catskills outside of the New York City reservoirs. Its cool waters, dense forest environment and remote location make this a most attractive place for a post ride swim. The campground and day use area have a sand beach with lifeguard for swimming. Other facilities include a picnic area with tables and grills and canoe & rowboat rentals.
Moose River Recreation Area : Adirondack Mountains Region Trails
The 50,000 acre Moose River Recreation Area, is the largest open grassland in the Adirondack Preserve. A 40 mile network of abandoned logging roads ideal for mountain biking weave throughout the "plains", leading to many scenic ponds and lakes.
Whether you are based at Inlet or at the Limekiln Lake campgound, swimming in a cool Adirondack lake is a great way to end a day of bike riding.
“Downtown” Inlet offers a large public sand beach with lifeguard at Arrowhead Park. There is parking, a picnic area, docks for boats, a boardwalk and of course, the spectacular sunsets over Fourth Lake.
Limekiln Lake, with its campground, sand beach and swimming area with lifeguard is closer to the trails. Facilities here include a picnic area, bathhouse, nature trail and canoe & rowboat rentals.
Allegany State Park : Allegany Region Trails
The two developed areas of Allegany State Park, Red House and Quaker, make this the largest state park in New York. Both areas offer sand beaches, picnic areas, museums, biking and hiking trails.
The
Red House area, features the Art Roscoe Cross Country Ski Center with over 25 miles of multi-use trails that attract mountain
bikers and equestrians in the summer and fall.
These wide trails wind through mixed oak and hardwood old-growth forests and
offer spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, forests and Red House Lake. Other features of The Red House Area include an historic tudor-style Administration Building, 5 miles of paved bike paths, boat and bike rentals, and a sandy beach for swimming and fishing.
New Jersey Bikes and Beaches Trails
Hartshorne & Huber Woods County Parks :
New Jersey Shore Region Mountain Biking
Located at the eastern end of the Atlantic Highlands both Hartshorne Woods and Huber Woods County Parks together offer about 25 miles of mountain biking on a variety of terrain. You can even access Huber Woods trails from Hartshorne Woods via Navesink Ave. and Claypit run. Each Park offers it's own unique "flavor."
After exploring the trails, head for the shore to cool off. Just a hop and a skip away is Sandy Hook, a 2,044 acre barrier beach peninsula located at the northern tip of the New Jersey shore. It is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. There are seven miles of ocean beaches, salt marshes, hiking trails and a maritime holly forest. Swim only at guarded beaches. Lifeguards are on duty from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. daily in summer at five ocean beaches.
Parvin State Park : New Jersey Southern Shore Mountain Biking
You can easily make a day at Parvin State Park a bike and swim combination. Begin your ride at Parvin Grove (Park Headquarters). Several miles of trail take you through the hardwood and cedar swamp habitiats of this hidden gem. Parvin Grove, on Lake Parvin offers a lifeguard-protected swimming beach. Facilities include a bathhouse, canoe & rowboat rentals, concession with food and beach supplies and picnic tables with grills at either end of the beach. There is a campground at Jaggers Point on the southern shores of Parvin Lake and cabins along Thundergurt Lake.
Stokes State Forest : Skylands Region Mountain Biking
Stokes State Forest is a popular summer mountain bike destination in New Jersey. Over 25 miles of designated marked trails wind along rushing streams, through cool ravines and evergreen forest of eastern hemlock past sparkling waterfalls (pictured right). Then there's also swimming at beautiful Stony Lake with a beach surrounded by woods and picnic tables. Facilities include bathhouse, boating and canoeing:
cartop launch. No boat rentals are available.
Wharton State Forest : Southern Shore
Wharton State Forest is the largest single tract of land within the New Jersey State Park System. Throughout Wharton there are hundreds of miles of unpaved roads and trails for mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding and some of New Jersey's most pristine rivers, lakes and ponds for canoeing and wildlife viewing. The Lower Atsion River, a tributary of the Mullica River, has been designated a Wild and Scenic River under the New Jersey Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
Located in the Western section of Wharton State Forest there is a public recreation area with a beach and swimming at Lake Atsion, across from the Atsion Family Campground. Besides the beautiful wooded fully developed Atsion Campground, facilities include several cabins located along the northern shore of the lake, bath houses, hot showers, lake swimming, picnic facilities with grills, a playground and nature trails. Bathing is permitted from Memorial Day until Labor Day with lifeguards on duty (fee).
