Adirondack Mountain Biking & Cycling

Mountain biking at McCauley Mountain in the Adirondacks

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

High Peaks

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.

Flow + technical All levels Multiple access points

Hardy Road (Beaver Brook)

Wilmington, NY

High Peaks

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.

11 miles Classic singletrack Dries fast

Three Sisters Preserve

Wilmington, NY

High Peaks

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.

1.2 mi climb Flobus descent Links to Bike Park

East Branch Community Trails

Keene, NY

High Peaks

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.

4+ miles All levels Multi-use

Mt. Van Hoevenberg

Lake Placid, NY

High Peaks

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.

Beginner to advanced Rentals on-site Olympic trails

Craig Wood

Lake Placid, NY

High Peaks

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.

3+ miles Machine-built

Lussi & Loggers

Lake Placid, NY

High Peaks

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.

Singletrack Beginner to expert

Dewey Mountain

Saranac Lake, NY

High Peaks

Singletrack and XC ski trails coexist on 450 vertical feet of terrain. Summit views overlook the Saranac Chain of Lakes.

5.5 mi bike 7.5 mi XC 450 ft climb

Mount Pisgah

Saranac Lake, NY

High Peaks

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.

5 miles Flow trail

Fowler's Crossing

Saranac Lake, NY

High Peaks

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.

2 miles (expanding) Beginner friendly No e-bikes

McCauley Mountain

Old Forge, NY

Central ADK

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.

15 miles 600 ft drop 2,077 ft descent

Blueberry Hill

Elizabethtown, NY

Central ADK

900 acres of town-owned property with a well-balanced mix of wide rolling doubletrack and technical, sometimes challenging singletrack.

12 miles 900 acres Multi-use

North Creek Ski Bowl

North Creek, NY

Central ADK

Purpose-built mountain bike trails in Ski Bowl Park — single and doubletrack with switchbacks and challenging climbs suited to more experienced riders.

20 km Bike-specific

Garnet Hill

North River, NY

Central ADK

New dedicated singletrack in the Log House Area, plus an extensive network of existing trails, XC ski routes, and dirt roads for longer rides.

5+ mi new trail Singletrack

Mount Sabattis

Long Lake, NY

Central ADK

Phase 2 recently opened, expanding the trail system to 4+ kilometers in the heart of the park. An emerging destination worth watching.

4+ km Expanding

Wheelerville

Caroga, NY

Southern ADK

Newly-constructed biking and hiking trails in the southern Adirondacks. Affiliated with Adirondack Foothills Trails Alliance and the Town of Caroga.

New build Hiking + biking

Brant Lake Bike Park

Brant Lake, NY

Southern ADK

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.

5 mi / 10 mi exp. 200 acres

Daniels Road State Forest

Saratoga region

Southern ADK

Designated mountain bike trails in a 523-acre state forest, maintained by the Saratoga Mountain Bike Association.

523 acres SMBA maintained

Gurney Lane / Rush Pond

Queensbury, NY

Southern ADK

A 22km mountain bike park with 15km of singletrack and 7km of doubletrack. Gurney South adds newer trails near Rush Pond for more exploration.

22 km total Single + double

Otis Mountain

Elizabethtown, NY

Champlain Valley

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.

All levels Bike + ski

Ausable Chasm

Ausable Chasm, NY

Champlain Valley

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.

25 miles All levels

Explore the Tri-Lakes Region

Adirondack Rail Trail

A multi-use recreation path connecting Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake along a historic rail corridor — one of the most scenic trail projects in the Northeast.

Learn More

Adirondack Bike Events

Gravel grinders, trail fests, and community rides throughout the season

Gravel Road

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.

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Road Climb

Whiteface 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.

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Multi-Sport Bike + Hike + Paddle + Run

The 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.

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Road Fundraiser

Ride 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.

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Gravel Mixed Surface

The 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.

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MTB

Wheelerville 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.

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Bikepacking Self-Supported

Adirondack 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.

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MTB Fundraiser

Wilmington 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.

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Gravel Mixed Surface

Handlebarley 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.

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MTB

Adirondack 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.

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Road Gravel

Bike 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.

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Local 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.

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Southern 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 Website

Upper 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 Website

Capital / Saratoga

Saratoga Mountain Bike Association (SMBA)

A nonprofit dedicated to fostering and protecting mountain biking resources across the Capital, Saratoga, and southern Adirondack region.

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On the Trail

Riders and creators we follow in the Adirondack biking community

N

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.

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