The quantity of thrilling trails in the Lehigh Valley—and how close so many of them are to the Valley’s city centers—make this one of the best areas for mountain biking in the East Coast.
ach is a hidden gem. Enthusiast riders enjoy sending the jumps on the brand new Jack O’ Diamonds trail at Trexler Nature Preserve, or the rocky goodness of Salisbury Walking Purchase Park. Newer riders flock to the flatter and smoother trails at Jordan Creek Park and Lake Nockamixon State Park.
Jump on the smooth asphalt path winding through SouthSide Bethlehem, past Bonn Place Brewing and Lehigh Pizza on your way to a hard-to-spot entrance behind St. Luke's Hospital. Or cruise along the bubbling Jordan Creek from downtown Allentown to the 270-acre Jordan Creek Park. Or, while visiting the Lehigh Valley Zoo, look up to the savannah-like hills and scan the forest for narrow dirt trails.
Hand-hewn mountain bike trails are everywhere, running through the Lehigh Valley’s parks and preserves. And on most days you’ll find cyclists of every age and ability spinning down these forest paths, enjoying the rewards of a hard effort and buzzing from the natural beauty surrounding them.
Many of the trails have been built in the past 15 years by the Valley Mountain Bikers, a group of mountain bike enthusiasts who volunteer more than 2,000 hours annually maintaining these trail systems.
The sport’s popularity is soaring and on some summer days trailhead parking lots are jammed with cars. But on most days, you’ll experience the Lehigh Valley’s most scenic areas with few distractions other than the blissful sounds of your bike rolling over pristine mountain trails.
4935 Orchard Rd, Schnecksville
Riding the jumps, drops, and high-speed turns of the Valley’s newest trail system at Trexler Nature Preserve is every bit as thrilling as a ride on Dorney Park’s Steel Force roller coaster. Don’t miss Jack O’ Diamonds—the trail is one of the country’s first with BMX-style jumps built on public land.
1375 Lehnert Rd, Whitehall
Practically hugging Route 22, the trails at Jordan Creek Park are ideal for beginners or experts. The narrow dirt single track dips and swirls around Jordan Creek, where you might steal a glimpse of a blue heron as you bomb along the trails.
400 Belfast Rd., Nazareth
At Jaconsburg Environmental Education Center and State Park, the 18 miles of dirt, grass, and gravel paths spiraling around the Bushkill Creek are great for casual riders looking for an easy spin.
Salisbury Township
Tucked behind St. Luke’s hospital in Southside, Bethlehem, 11 miles of trails unfurl through nearly 500 acres of wild, remote-feeling open space at Salisbury Walking Purchase Park. The steep, rocky hillside makes these handbuilt trails popular with advanced riders, hikers, and trailrunners.
Quakertown
Every inch of these smooth mountain bike trails was handcrafted by Valley Mountain Bikers’ volunteers. Even more impressive: The stunning lake views.
Emmaus
Emmaus may be the closest thing the Lehigh Valley has to a mountain town, and the trails rising from this hamlet are a playground for the adventurous. Huff your way to the top of South Mountain Preserve and you’ll pass house-size glacial boulders, take in views of the entire Valley, and be rewarded with thrilling descents back down. New to the preserve and named after the native wildflower, the 1.6-mile Bloodroot Trail allows trail-goers to explore the farthest reach of the upper north side of the mountain that was once inaccessible. The trail features a mix of terrains and beautiful views allowing for an awesome day adventure!
