Every Day is a Good Day to Ride on NEPA’s Bike Trails
Between the warm weather and our awesome trails and parks, we’re rekindling our love for cycling. NEPA’s bike trails offer everything from casual family rides along the Luzerne County Levee Trail to rugged mountain runs at the Dick and Nancy Eales Nature Preserve. Local rail trails like the D&H Rail-Trail are perfect for cruising along with the kiddos. Usually flat and smooth with a gentle grade, they’re a fun option for families and beginners. Or, if you’re up for more of an adventure, try the single track mountain biking trails at Lackawanna State Park. Of course, you can always give your skills a test run at Cedar BMX Track.
Dust off your bike. Grab your helmet. And get back into some two wheel action on the Northeastern PA’s bike trails. Check out our list of popular biking destinations.
The Back Mountain Trail extends from Shavertown to Luzerne, following a forested ridge above Memorial Highway. It consists of two short sections, so it’s perfect for a peaceful afternoon ride.
Difficulty Level: Easy
The Bloomsburg Rail Trail is an easy, beginner-friendly ride along Fishing Creek. This out-and-back trail is about six miles round-trip and it’s right outside of Downtown Bloomsburg.
Difficulty Level: Easy
The D&H Rail-Trail is a 38-mile trail that stretches from Carbondale to the New York state border. You’ll pass plenty of rural scenery and historic sites along the way.
Difficulty Level: Easy
The trails at Gardner Spencer Preserve flow through beautiful meadows and cool hemlock groves at this nature preserve in Dalton. The trail system connects to the Ziegler Preserve and Lackawanna State Park—all the better for exploring!
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Take a short drive from the City of Hazleton and escape into nature at Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails in Hazle Township. The main segment is four miles long, so it’s a fun and easy trip for the whole family.
Difficulty Level: Easy
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This historic, multi-use trail rolls along the Lackawanna River and extends through Luzerne, Lackawanna, Susquehanna and Wayne counties. The Scranton section of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail is an accessible, beginner-friendly route just minutes from Downtown Scranton.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Located in the Abingtons, Lackawanna State Park has 15 miles of trails that are open to biking. The trail systems extend beyond the park and onto several nearby nature preserves.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
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The Lehigh Gorge Trail is a 26-mile rail trail that runs along the Lehigh River from White Haven to Jim Thorpe. You can even plan an excursion with Pocono Biking or grab a ticket for the bike train at the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway.
Difficulty Level: Easy
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Take a leisurely ride along the Luzerne County Levee Trail, a smooth, paved pathway along the Susquehanna River. It consists of four different sections throughout the Greater Wilkes-Barre area.
Difficulty Level: Easy
The McDade Recreational Trail will take you on a sightseeing tour of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The trail is 31 miles total, but the convenient trailheads make it easy to break it into shorter sections.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
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Explore the eight-mile trail through the forest and along the lakeshore at Merli-Sarnoski Park. This community park near Carbondale is perfect for cross-country mountain bikers.
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Located within Pinchot State Forest, Moon Lake State Forest Recreation Area is a popular destination for NEPA mountain bikers, and it’s easy to see why. Located near Hunlock Creek, it offers tons of cool single track trails that wind through the forest.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
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This 12.5-mile rail trail follows the Susquehanna River from the Susquehanna Riverlands in Berwick to Canal Park in Nanticoke. The smooth grade and easily accessible trailheads make the Susquehanna Warrior Trail a great option for all ages.
Difficulty Level: Easy
At 2.8-miles, The Trolley Trail in Clarks Summit is fun for all ages and skill levels. The boardwalks and smooth gravel pathways make for a relaxing ride. you can also try other sections of the trail — La Plume to Dalton and La Plume to Factoryville.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Vosburg Neck State Park in Tunkhannock is home to flowy single track trails. Sharpen your mountain biking skills as you explore the woods, meadows and stunning vistas overlooking the Susquehanna River.
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Learn MoreKnow before you go. Trail riding in NEPA can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. For some it’s all about sending it and taking on the trickiest terrain. And for others, it’s more of a kid-friendly, Sunday afternoon ride with snack stops and photo ops. To help you get the most out of your ride, we’ve rated each trail according to our handy trail difficulty guide.
Easy: Mostly flat trail/gentle grade/little to no changes in elevation/often smooth surfaces like gravel or pavement/great for families with small children
Moderate: Slightly steeper grade/occasional obstacles (roots and rocks)/tighter trails/safe for beginners and still fun for advanced riders
Difficult: Steep grade/abrupt elevation changes/many obstacles (roots and rocks)/ideal for advanced trail riders
Tune Up Before You Head Out
Get your bike ready to go with some easy, at-home maintenance.
Even if you ride regularly, you should always give your bike a safety check. Cyclist Phil Cable from the NEPA Velo Cycling Club gave us some tips for simple maintenance you can do at home:
- Pump up the tires to the recommended pressure.
- Squeeze and release the brakes to make sure they’re returning properly.
- Spin the wheels to make sure they’re not bent or rubbing anything.
- Put a little oil on the chain, then wipe it down to make it clean.
- Hold the front wheel between your legs and try to turn the handlebars. They might move with some force, but they shouldn’t move too easily.
- Adjust your seat so you have a slight bend in your leg at the full extension.
After a winter in storage, your bike likely needs a little TLC. Call on your local bike shop for a safety check or basic tune-up before you hit the trails.
Local Bike Shops
Great minds ride a bike. Connect with other local cyclists and find cool rides and races all over NEPA. Check out groups like the NEPA Velo Cycling Club.
Article Updated from its Original Version Published on 5/11/2020.
