The 10 Best Places to Go Mountain Biking Near Philadelphia
From family-friendly loops to technical runs, these trails boast a mix of all the outdoors has to offer.
Check out these 10 trails for mountain biking within a two-hour drive of Philadelphia. / Photograph by Sage Thompson.
Whether you’re an avid rider or a beginner who wants to spend more time outdoors, Philly and its surrounding areas offer great trails for sharpening your mountain biking skills while enjoying stunning views of nature and wildlife. Hitting the trails on a mountain bike offers thrill seekers adventure beyond the end of the paved road, and induces adrenaline rushes with each climb, obstacle, and downhill slope.
No matter your skill level, these 10 trails — all within a two-hour drive of Philly — are here for all your biking needs.
Blue Marsh Lake
Where: Leesport, PA
Drive from Philadelphia: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Plan to spend the day at Blue Marsh Lake with over 30 miles worth of trails. The Lake Border Trail will put your endurance to the test with an approximately 28-mile loop and is your one-stop shop for terrain variety, featuring single-track, double-track, dirt roads, and even some paved sections. Bird watchers and equestrians often frequent this trail, too, so make sure to share the path. Extending off the Lake Border Trail is the five-mile Union Canal Trail, which presents IG-worthy scenery, plus the Gring’s Mill Snack Bar to replenish and refuel before the ride back.
Fair Hill Mountain
Where: Elkton, MD
Drive from Philadelphia: 1 hour, 10 minutes
With over 70 miles worth of trails, this natural resource management area offers something for bikers of all skill levels. For the beginner rider, the Red Trail will take you through open fields, woodlands, and across the Grammies Run Creek. The Yellow Trail gives riders a more moderate ride with elevation change, a rapid downhill descent, and bridge crossings, while the Orange Trail provides a more difficult ride featuring rolling hills and steep climbs.
Harmony Hill
Where: Downingtown, PA
Drive from Philadelphia: 50 minutes
Downhill trails and intense climbs with the thrill of obstacles are some of the many factors drawing riders to check out Harmony Hill, with over seven miles of trails covered in rocks, roots, and logs. The White/Black Trail is the most difficult trail and takes riders through the twisting forest, across two different peaks of the nature area, and includes a sharp drop off, so be on the lookout. The trails of Harmony Hill are relatively short in distance, allowing riders ample time to explore them all and perfect each ride.
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Nockamixon State Park
Where: Quakertown, PA
Drive from Philadelphia: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Great for both beginners and intermediate riders, the 10 miles of trails around Lake Nockamixon are filled with beautiful scenic views of the foliage and the lake itself. The two-mile northern loops are geared towards beginner riders, with minimal rocks and mild terrain. Moving south down the lake, trails for seasoned riders boast steep hills, shallow streams and rock gardens to cross, and trees to weave through.
Smedley Park
Where: Springfield, PA
Drive from Philadelphia: 35 minutes
With 120 acres to explore, Smedley Park has a lot to offer. The nearly six-mile Springfield Trail gives riders access to many other smaller trails such as the Whiskey Run, a single track that will test your skills with rapid descents weaving through the trees, creek crossings, uphill climbs, and several uneven root crossings. As the ride is mostly through wooded area, this spot is a great way to see wildlife and experience the serenity of the scenic outdoors.
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Spring Mountain
Where: Schwenksville, PA
Drive from Philadelphia: 1 hour, 10 minutes
If you like hills, then Spring Mountain is the perfect place to hit. Known for their winter sports like skiing and snowboarding, Spring Mountain is also a great place for mountain biking in the warmer months. Offering one of the most technical rides in the area, the four-mile all-mountain XC loop will get your heart pumping and quads working. Right away, riders are faced with a vigorous hill and rock gardens, followed by ladder bridges, winding switchbacks and — you guessed it — more hills. The final section of the loop will demand a strong finish, as you’ll descend the backside of the mountain with several large rock drops.
Tohickon Valley Park
Where: Point Pleasant, PA
Drive from Philadelphia: 1 hour
Tohickon Valley Park is home to the High Rocks Trail and is a both rocky and technical experience for intermediate and advanced riders. Featuring some rocky drop offs and sprint climbs, this trail is not for the faint of heart. Along the trail you will find nature enthusiasts taking in the picturesque scenery, flowers, and wildlife, along with avid hikers scaling cliffs over the Tohickon Creek. The challenging ride becomes totally worth it as you make it to the cliff overlook, signaling your tremendous feat.
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Valley Forge National Historical Park
Where: King of Prussia, PA
Drive from Philadelphia: 30 minutes
If history sparks your interest, then Valley Forge National Historical Park is the perfect place to exercise and learn about the past. The paved 6.6-mile Joseph Plumb Martin Trail is great for an easy to moderate ride, passing monuments and valley views. The 4.5-mile Chapel Trail is another great family-friendly ride, offering mostly flat terrain and ending at one of most popular monuments in the park of Washington’s headquarters. With almost 20 miles of trails total, the park proves to be a full day’s worth of fun for the entire family.
White Clay Creek State Park
Where: Newark, DE
Drive from Philadelphia: 1 hour, 10 minutes
With over 3,600 acres of preserved forest, White Clay Creek offers several trails for mountain bikers of all skill levels to explore. The 10-mile Triple Loop is super scenic, as it highlights some beginner-friendly paths like Whitley Farms Trail, Bryan’s Field Trail, and the David English Trail. For the more advanced rider, there is a skills park that contains long and narrow elevated bridges, a rope-suspended ladder bridge, a rock garden to navigate, and lots of twists and turns. Be sure to check trail openings during hunting season as some may be closed for safety precautions.
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Wissahickon Valley Park
Where: Wissahickon, Philadelphia, PA
Drive from Philadelphia: 25 minutes
If you are looking for a ride with a variety of terrain types within city limits, then Wissahickon Valley Park is the perfect spot for you. The 10.5-mile Wissahickon Loop is the main trail in the park that takes riders through a rubble-filled descent, over a balance beam, and consists of steep climbs with log crossings and jumps. If you like exploring off the beaten path, there are other trails extending off the main loop so you can ride as long or short as you please.
