Adirondack Mountain Biking & Cycling
Pure Adirondacks
Adirondack Mountain Biking & Cycling
20+ trail systems spanning the full park — from beginner flow trails and family-friendly rail paths to technical backcountry singletrack and shuttled descents.
On the Trail — Weekend MTB Trip
A full weekend of mountain biking in the ADK — filmed and edited by Evan Williams / Pure Adirondacks
The Adirondack Park has more mountain biking than most people realize — and it's only getting better. Below is our field guide to the trail systems, events, and organizations that make riding here worth planning a trip around.
Featured Trail Systems
From beginner-friendly flow trails to expert descents — singletrack spanning the full Adirondack Park.
The Flume
Wilmington, NY
The original mountain bike destination in the Adirondacks' Whiteface Region. Smooth and flowing lower trails transition to increasingly technical terrain on the shoulder of Marble Mountain — the largest trail network in the area.
Hardy Road (Beaver Brook)
Wilmington, NY
The first mountain bike-specific trail system built in the Adirondack Park. Eleven miles of classic singletrack traverse both sides of the Beaver Brook Valley — from mellow warm-ups to the 800-vertical-foot All In loop with sweeping Whiteface views. Lies in a rain shadow so it dries fast.
Three Sisters Preserve
Wilmington, NY
Smooth, flowy singletrack on Adirondack Land Trust land, maintained by BETA. The Three Sisters Trail climbs 300 feet over 1.2 miles with berms and optional jumps throughout. Flobus — a machine-built downhill-only trail added in 2023 — brings the flow back down. Town Connector Trail links directly to the Wilmington Bike Park.
East Branch Community Trails
Keene, NY
Beginner-friendly loops, rolling intermediate terrain, and new black diamond descents — set against forests, meadows, and East Branch Ausable River views. One of the fastest-growing trail systems in the park.
Mt. Van Hoevenberg
Lake Placid, NY
An Olympic venue turned mountain bike destination. The trail network follows XC and biathlon routes from the 1980 Winter Olympics — beginner loops to technical descents. Bike rentals available on-site at the Mountain Pass Lodge. Trail pass required.
Craig Wood
Lake Placid, NY
Machine-built trails on Scott's Cobble — a defunct 1970s ski area — adjacent to Craig Wood Golf Course. Owned by the Town of North Elba.
Lussi & Loggers
Lake Placid, NY
Lussi Trails behind the Lake Placid Club offer the highest concentration of singletrack close to town. Loggers Loops 1, 2 & 3 escalate progressively into East Coast tech-gnar.
Dewey Mountain
Saranac Lake, NY
Singletrack and XC ski trails coexist on 450 vertical feet of terrain. Summit views overlook the Saranac Chain of Lakes.
Mount Pisgah
Saranac Lake, NY
Fun and flowy trails for all non-motorized users. Home to The Cure — the region's only machine-built flow trail — with trail names honoring Saranac Lake's history.
Fowler's Crossing
Saranac Lake, NY
Fast, smooth singletrack through plantation pine forest on well-drained sandy soils — great for beginners and families. About 2 miles built with a 6-7 mile goal pending DEC approval. Note: e-bikes not permitted on Forest Preserve trails here.
McCauley Mountain
Old Forge, NY
Professionally built trails with more in development. One of the most significant vertical drops in the park — 600 ft drop over 2,077 ft total descent.
Blueberry Hill
Elizabethtown, NY
900 acres of town-owned property with a well-balanced mix of wide rolling doubletrack and technical, sometimes challenging singletrack.
North Creek Ski Bowl
North Creek, NY
Purpose-built mountain bike trails in Ski Bowl Park — single and doubletrack with switchbacks and challenging climbs suited to more experienced riders.
Garnet Hill
North River, NY
New dedicated singletrack in the Log House Area, plus an extensive network of existing trails, XC ski routes, and dirt roads for longer rides.
Mount Sabattis
Long Lake, NY
Phase 2 recently opened, expanding the trail system to 4+ kilometers in the heart of the park. An emerging destination worth watching.
Wheelerville
Caroga, NY
Newly-constructed biking and hiking trails in the southern Adirondacks. Affiliated with Adirondack Foothills Trails Alliance and the Town of Caroga.
Brant Lake Bike Park
Brant Lake, NY
Professionally built singletrack over 200 acres. A 1.3-mile climb rewards riders with an unobstructed panorama of Brant Lake and varied trail surfaces throughout.
Daniels Road State Forest
Saratoga region
Designated mountain bike trails in a 523-acre state forest, maintained by the Saratoga Mountain Bike Association.
Gurney Lane / Rush Pond
Queensbury, NY
A 22km mountain bike park with 15km of singletrack and 7km of doubletrack. Gurney South adds newer trails near Rush Pond for more exploration.
Otis Mountain
Elizabethtown, NY
A 1940s ski hill reinvented as a mountain bike, ski, and trail running destination. Lowland cruisers to technical climbs with natural and man-made features throughout.
Ausable Chasm
Ausable Chasm, NY
25 miles spanning all skill levels. Wide beginner and intermediate doubles are perfect for side-by-side riding; the advanced singletrack loop adds steep, narrow terrain.
Adirondack Bike Events
Gravel grinders, trail fests, and community rides throughout the season
Black Fly Challenge
Second Saturday in June • Indian Lake / Inlet
A classic Adirondack gravel grinder alternating start and finish between Indian Lake and Inlet each year. Over half of the 40-mile course cuts through the rugged Moose River Recreation Area on mountain roads of dirt, gravel, sand, and exposed boulders — with several steep elevation changes.
Visit WebsiteWhiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race
Annually in June • Wilmington, NY
3,500 feet of climbing over 8 miles up the Whiteface Mountain Veterans' Memorial Highway to the summit of New York's 5th highest peak. A USATF-certified course over an 8% grade with 360 degree views at the top. Prefer to go on foot? There's an Uphill Foot Race too.
Visit WebsiteThe Forge Quad-Athlon
Saturday, June 27, 2026 • Old Forge, NY
A 26.5-mile multi-sport challenge: 13-mile MTB on the Tobie Trail, 4.5-mile hike on Vista Mountain, 2.6-mile trail run, and 5.4-mile paddle down the Moose River. Free BBQ at the finish. Limited to 200 participants.
Visit WebsiteRide for the River
Annually in July • Ausable River Watershed
A fun annual fundraiser supporting the Ausable River Association and their mission to protect the clean waters, healthy streams, biodiverse habitats, and scenic beauty of the Ausable River watershed.
Visit WebsiteThe Forge Gravel Grinder
Saturday, August 22, 2026 • Old Forge, NY
A standalone 26.2-mile gravel grinder at the George T. Hiltebrant Recreation Center. One course — loose rock, rolling terrain, serious bike handling. Complete under 1:42 (1:50 for women) to earn the custom hammer award.
Visit WebsiteWheelerville Trails MTB Festival
Annually in August • Southern Adirondacks
A two-day celebration at Wheelerville Trails with skills clinics, group rides, a downhill race, jump jam, kids events with Saratoga Shredders and LL Bean, gear raffles, and a Saturday night after-party with live music.
Visit WebsiteAdirondack Trail Ride (TATR)
Grand Depart: Second Friday of September • Northville, NY
A 585-mile solo, self-supported bikepacking route through the Adirondack Mountains. No entry fee — riders donate to an organization of their choosing. The 2026 Grand Depart rolls out September 11 from Northville at 8am.
Visit WebsiteWilmington MTB Fest
Annually in Early September • Wilmington, NY
A 3-day celebration with on-site camping, live music, local food and beer, bike demos, group rides, shuttles, and a kids MTB race. A major fundraiser for BETA — proceeds go directly back to the trails.
Visit WebsiteHandlebarley Gravel Tour
Annually in Mid-September • Southern Adirondacks
This mixed-surface ride delivers the full Adirondack backroads experience — 95% of the route runs on rural southern Adirondack roads ranging from smooth pavement to gravel lanes that see more horse traffic than vehicles.
Visit WebsiteAdirondack MTB Fest
Annually in Early October • Adirondack Park
An open invitation for experienced riders, novices, and the curious to test out the region's trails, demo new bikes, join guided tours, and spend a couple of days immersed in food, music, and the great outdoors.
Visit WebsiteBike the Barns
Annually in Late September • Champlain Valley
A casual 25-30 mile tour of the Champlain Valley's working agricultural landscape, visiting Reber Rock, Juniper Hill, and Echo Farms. Finishes with local foods, craft beverages, and live music.
Visit WebsiteLocal Trail Alliances
The volunteer organizations building and protecting Adirondack trails
High Peaks Region
Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA)
Builds, maintains, and advocates for a network of community and backcountry trails for mountain biking and ski touring in the greater High Peaks region of the Adirondack Park.
Visit WebsiteSouthern ADK / Utica
Adirondack Foothills Trails Alliance (AFTA)
An all-volunteer group of mountain bikers dedicated to maintaining and developing trails in the greater Utica area and the Southern Adirondacks.
Visit WebsiteUpper Hudson
Upper Hudson Trails Alliance (UHTA)
Focused on planning, maintaining, and advocating for trails and trail infrastructure for non-motorized, human-powered recreation in and around Johnsburg, NY and the Upper Hudson region.
Visit WebsiteCapital / Saratoga
Saratoga Mountain Bike Association (SMBA)
A nonprofit dedicated to fostering and protecting mountain biking resources across the Capital, Saratoga, and southern Adirondack region.
Visit WebsiteFeatured Partner
Organizations we trust in the Adirondack biking community
Adirondack Biking Resource
BikeADK
BikeADK is an Adirondack-owned and operated bicycle-powered company based in Saranac Lake, NY. They create and execute bike events, curate a library of routes and trail networks, promote community-driven riding, build custom tours, and sell gear. Whether you're looking for your next route, a guided experience, or a way to connect with the local biking community — BikeADK is a go-to resource.
Visit BikeADKOn the Trail
Riders and creators we follow in the Adirondack biking community
Featured Creator • Upstate NY
New York Nick
Nick documents mountain biking trails across Upstate New York with a heavy focus on Adirondack riding — from beginner-friendly routes to deep backcountry singletrack. His channel also covers wildlife, snowboarding, and other outdoor adventures, making it a great resource for anyone exploring the region on two wheels.
Explore Trails by Region
Curated trail resources from across the Adirondack Park
Links below open external websites outside of PureADK