Old Forge Bike Trails in the Adirondacks

Old Forge Bike Trail System

Adirondack Region

Location: Between Old Forge and Eagle Bay, in Herkimer County, New York

Length/Configuration: Up to 100 miles. Design your own loop ride using system of snowmobile / mountain bike trails. You can also access the system via the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.

Terrain/Surface: Well-groomed, dirt and gravel doubletrack logging roads, snowmobile and some singletrack trails.

Technical Difficulty: Easy to moderate. Not very technical but challenging if covering long distances.

Elevation Change: Mostly flat with rolling hills and a few steep climbs.

Caution: Shared use with hikers. Black flies may be brutal until late June or early July. Wet and mud season during the spring.

Directions:

Exit 31 off I-90 onto Rt.12/28 north. Travel north for about 25 miles and turn right onto Rt.28. Travel about 27 miles to Old Forge.

Exit 25 off I-87 (Northway) Rt.8/Chestertown. Turn left at end of exit ramp onto Rt.8 west. Pass through Wevertown, turn right (west) onto Rt.28 and travel about 70 miles to Old Forge.

General Description:

See Adirondack Forest Preserve for trail regulations and other important information.

Experience the Adirondacks in a different and exciting way, from the Old Forge Mountain Bike Trail System. The region is known as one of the best four-season destinations in the northeast with state recreation areas, hundreds of trails and 150 miles of shoreline, all surrounded by spectacular wilderness areas. Enjoy the natural beauty, rich green forest, mountain vistas and many lakes and streams. Relive the railroading era aboard the Adirondack Scenic Railroad or take a riverboat cruise through the Fulton Chain of Lakes. For more details read our feature article "Bikes, Barges and Trains". Shopping, accommodations and dining for every taste and budget are available in and around town. Don't forget the spectacular fall foliage season.

The Trails:

Up to 100 miles of groomed, well-maintained scenic mountain bike trails make up this extensive network of snowmobile trails and dirt and gravel logging roads. The variety of terrain offers mountain bikers the opportunity to create customized rides of varying distance, terrain and ability level using the many interconnecting loops. The trails, for the most part, are flat and easy with some rolling hills and a few steep climbs.

You can access the trails from Old Forge (take North St. north out of town) or you can hop on board the Adirondack Scenic Railroad with your bike. Embark at Thendara Station, ride through the Adirondack wilderness, and get off at Carter Station where you can access the Old Forge trail system. You can ride any number of interconnecting loops and return by train or make the long trip back to town by bike. For a challenge try some of the narrow singletrack spurs branching off the main trail.

The area is host to two mountain bike events. The Annual Mountain Bike Challenge is a NORBA sanctioned race with events for beginners- pros. The Black Fly Challenge, from nearby Inlet, is the longest sanctioned race in the east.

For more information:
Tourist Information Center
Old Forge, NY 13420

Phone: 315-369-6983

Authors: Barbara & Peter Lynn
Adirondacks Mountain Bike Trails in New York

Old Forge Bike Trails in the Adirondacks