Spring has hit in NEPA, and while spring is known for green growth and flowers, it seems as though NEPA “grows” new rocks each year too! Inside the 840-acre Merli-Sarnoski Park, you’ll find 13 trails that boast 16 miles (give or take) of single-track mountain biking trails — an absolute rock playground — offering about 2,900 feet of elevation change if you ride them all.

Merli-Sarnoski has an epic entrance into the park that reminds me of the movie Jurassic Park. The massive wooden gate doors that welcome you into the park are unique and majestic and make me think each time: “What’s in here?!” Passing through the gates, you’ll drive up a steep hill. The mountain bike trails parking lot is on your left, right at the top of the entrance road hill. Look for the “Start Loop” along the edge of the grass at that lot; put ’er in park, suit up, and jump on the bike – it’s about to get rowdy and fun!

Rock Gardens and Confidence Builders at Merli-Sarnoski Park

The Start Loop will bring you over to some really fun trails that are full of twisty and rocky terrain, putting your eyes into overdrive trying to decide what features to try first. One of my favorite routes: Start Loop > Boneyard > Squeezeplay.

Squeezeplay is known for the “squeezer” section of the trail – it’s a narrow section between two rock walls that leaves you guessing, “Will my handlebars fit!?” Give it a try – WHEN you get through it, it’s rewarding to brag that you made it! The trail in its entirety offers so many areas to practice your MTB skills with cornering, rocks to ride over and climb on, rocks to roll down, or even attempt dropping. I spent some time doing all of the above, building my confidence. After a successful and accomplished session on this trail, I decided to head over to trails that I haven’t ridden yet since my time coming to this park. I got back on Boneyard and backtracked to head up the Start Loop and over to Fern Trail.

Conquering Twister Uphill

Fern Trail is a bit more mellow in terms of rockiness – it was a nice little break to let my body chill out before making my way to the black diamond trails. Fern Trail is a mile long; it dips into a downhill and then climbs back up to the start of Unnamed MS Trail 3. I took this connector trail to the start of my intended black diamond [most difficult] trail, Twister.

Twister Trail is likely intended as a downhill, probably more fun in that direction, but I wanted to get a bit of a workout in, so I rode the trail uphill. Wow — within a mile and a half, I climbed about 300’ of elevation with lots of switchbacks, a rock-bridge creek crossing, and a beautiful waterfall. Mid-trail, there is a bit of a valley, but it quickly sent me back uphill. Having the new growth and greenery to look at along the way was such a refreshing feeling.

Atop Twister I found the second black diamond: “Porcupine Cliffs” – woah – if you have vertigo or you’re not good with heights, avoid this trail. The name is not bluffing; it’s on a cliff! I, however, enjoyed the trail. Be it known: the trail is quite narrow and leaves little room for error.

Finishing my ride, I jumped onto Zipline trail and switch-backed my way back down to Fern trail and then back to the parking lot. My ride was 11.5 miles with about 1500 feet of elevation change. I will close with saying that mountain biking at Merli-Sarnoski Park offers epic climbs with notable grade changes, having steep and punchy sections, lots of elevation change, all while navigating through twisty turns, rocks upon rocks, and some roots mixed in there. I would recommend Merli-Sarnoski Park to an experienced mountain biker having skills with rocks and difficult climbs. These trails are best suited for an Intermediate level rider or better.