Skip to main content

Mountain Biking in the New York Adirondack Regions

Experiencing the Adirondacks by bike offers an incredible way to see the region. Easy, moderate and advanced biking trails wind through boreal forests, cross streams and navigate switch-backs. Mountain biking clubs and organizations have constructed trails that incorporate the landscape naturally - offering a one-of-a-kind playground for two-wheels.

mountain biking in the Adirondacks at Whiteface Mountain

Mountain biking opportunities can be found in forests, around state parks and down 3,000+ feet of vertical in New York's Adirondack Park. As one of the state's premier mountain biking destinations, as well as a host to nationally recognized races - the Adirondack Park's six million acres may just be one of the best-kept mountain biking secrets on the East Coast.

Adirondack Mountain Biking

Experiencing the Adirondacks by bike offers an incredible way to see the region. Easy, moderate and advanced biking trails wind through boreal forests, cross streams and navigate switch-backs. Mountain biking clubs and organizations have constructed trails that incorporate the landscape naturally - offering a one-of-a-kind playground for two-wheels.

Get off the beaten path in the Adirondack Region. Test your bike's shocks in the Moose River Plains. Expand your limits, and have a great time doing it.

  • Inlet Area Mt Bike Trails Guide (PDF) - Download - This map provides multiple routes and options for mountain biking in the Inlet area. Includes information on Morgan's Miles & Sargent Ponds trails.
  • Essex County Mountain Bike Routes  - View all the mountain biking in Essex County with this comprehensive map and route listings.
  • Ride-On Mountain Bike Trail Guide - Do you love mountain biking? You've come to the right place! This Warren County mountain biking resource offers trails for beginners to experts, pro-built single track, and winding long climbs to mountain summits. There is flow-and-go, old-school singletrack and buffered cruisers, rock-face ledge, skills park challenges, and more. With seven parks to choose from, there is a mountain biking experience for everyone.
Mountain Biker in the Adirondacks

List of Some of the Best Adirondack Mountain Biking Trails

Ausable Chasm

Enjoy 15 miles of mountain bike trails at Ausable Chasm for all abilities from challenging single track to wider cruising loops for beginners. Rentals are available. 2144 State Route 9, Ausable Chasm, NY 12911.

Crane Pond Road

A 3-mile mountain bike trail that leads to the scenic Crane Pond and Pharaoh Mountain Trailhead. Crane Pond Road, Schroon Lake, NY 12870.

Gurney Lane Mountain Bike Trails

Located in the town of Queensbury, this system was rated #1 in New York State by Singletracks, featuring 11.2 km of singletrack and 9.7km double track trails traversing 152 acres. Ride technical rocky trails with hard lines and easier alternative lines, to wider bench cut trails featuring berms, rollers and endless amounts of flow. Includes winter fat tire biking. 118 Gurney Lane, Queensbury.

Feeder Canal Park Heritage Trail

On the Feeder Canal Park Heritage Trail, mountain bikers can travel for nine miles along the original towpath from the Feeder Dam in Queensbury to McIntyre Park in Fort Edward. 65 Ride Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801.

Moose River Plains

Moose River Plains in Indian Lake offers over 27 miles of bike trails and free access, though registration at either the Limekiln or Cedar River Road Gate is required.

Speculator "Loop" Trails 

Located in Speculator near the Oak Mountain Ski Area, two loops - an outer and inner - called the Kunjamuk Loop - offer 14 and 7 miles of mountain biking trails respectively. Elm Lake Road, Speculator NY 12164. 

Carpenter Road Recreation Trails

Located in the Tug Hill Region, these trails offer gorgeous woodland scenery and routes perfect for beginners. Carpenter Road, Turin, NY 13473.

Bloomingdale Bog Trail

This multi-season, multi-use trail offers miles of flat off-road biking for anyone who is interested in getting into mountain biking, but not quite ready for the more difficult trails. off NY-86, Saranac Lake, NY 12983.

mountain biking in Bloomingdale

List of Regional Mountain Biking Parks

Gore Mountain Downhill Mountain Biking in North Creek - Test your stamina on Gore's 1,700 feet of vertical accessed by the Northwoods Gondola. Frequent riders can purchase an off-season gondola pass for unlimited rides to the top of Gore. Mountain bike rentals are not available (see below for where to rent bikes in the region). Downhill Mountain Biking Camps are offered from June through September with professional instructors for children and adults.

Ausable Chasm Mountain Bike Center in Ausable Chasm - Find 15 miles of mountain bike trails for beginner to expert. Easy cruising loops and single-track trails with steeper hills lead through unspoiled forest. Expert riders can connect to the Wickham Marsh State Trails, which lead out to Lake Champlain. The Mountain Riders Demo Center at Ausable Chasm also offers high-performance mountain bike rentals for $25 a day. Kids can race in three divisions during the annual Sunday race series call Chasm Riders.

Dewey Mountain Recreation Center in Saranac Lake - BETA recently completed about four miles of free mountain biking trails that include steep climbs, winding descents, and wooded terrain. Find great views at the top of Dewey Mountain, two beginner trails, one intermediate, and two expert trails.

mountain biking in the Adirondacks

Where to Rent Bikes and Buy Equipment

  • Bike Rentals & Equipment - Lake Placid Area
    • High Peaks Cyclery - 2733 Main Street Lake Placid, NY 12946. Phone: (518) 523-3764
    • Placid Planet - 2242 Saranac Avenue Lake Placid, NY 12946. Phone: (518) 523-4128
    • Mt. VanHoevenberg - 220 Bobsled Run Ln, Lake Placid, NY 12946
  • Bike Service - Lake George Area
    • The Inside Edge - 643 Upper Glen St. Queensbury, NY 12804. Phone: (518) 793-5676
  • Bike Shops & Rentals - Adirondack Coast
    • Mountain Riders - 30 City Hall Place, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Phone: (518) 324-9900
    • Ausable Chasm - 2144 Route 9, Ausable Chasm, NY 12911. Phone: (518) 834-7454

Partial List of Annual Adirondack Mountain Bike Events and Races

Black Fly Challenge

An Adirondack tradition, the Black Fly Challenge is held the second Saturday in June. Sign up and race mountain bikes from Indian Lake to Inlet.

Wilmington-Whiteface Mountain Bike Race

Held in early June, the Wilmington-Whiteface MTB offers a fun and challenging course through the scenic High Peaks region of New York. Enjoy a mix of uphill, downhill, and serious competition.

Mountain Biking event; image credit to QJ Media

Adirondack Region Mountain Biking Groups and Resources

The Barkeater Trails Alliance, or BETA, is a small group of volunteer mountain bikers who gather throughout the year to break, maintain, plan and nurture mountain biking trail systems around Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, and Wilmington. The organization is part of the non-profit Adirondack Ski Touring Council, and provides maps of area trails that have been carved, cut and maintained by BETA's members for a suggested donation. BETA's mountain biking trail systems include:

  • Hardy Road Trails in Wilmington 
  • Flume Trails in Wilmington
  • Poor Man's Downhill in Wilmington
  • Loggers/Lussi Trails in Lake Placid
  • Craig Wood Trails in Lake Placid
  • Dewey Mountain in Saranac Lake
  • Mount Pisgah in Saranac Lake 
  • Otis Mountain in Elizabeth Town
  • Blueberry Hill in Elizabeth Town

Mountain bikers can download free bike trail maps off BETA's website or sign up for a $35 donation, which grants users access to the organization's exclusive maps and trail info for 12 months.

There were 3 listings found.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 listings