Where to Ride
Some of the best riding in Upstate New York is within reach of the shop. From lift-served downhill at Greek Peak to purpose built singletrack at Morgan Hill, plus two serious Adirondack day trips worth the drive; here’s your local guide with all distances from Cortland Bike Co.
The home mountain. 18 lift-served downhill trails from green cruisers to double-black tech runs. 950+ vertical feet, wooden features, a jump line, and Wednesday night races all summer. Also 9 miles of XC trails at Hope Lake across the street. A wonderful perk of living in Cortland.
Right in your backyard — 2,497 acres in Virgil, Cortland County. Multi-use trail system with 13+ miles designed for family-based recreation. Mountain biking on designated trails May–October. Rolling terrain, great for beginners and intermediates. The Finger Lakes Trail passes through – hiking only on this section – for days when you need some time off the bike.
James D. Kennedy Memorial State Forest — the most-visited state forest in Cortland County. Over 10 miles of Finger Lakes Trail / North Country Trail through the forest with multiple loop options. Rolling hills, quiet woodland, and Virgil Mountain Trail as a highlight. Gravel riders love the forest access roads.
A quieter option south of Cortland along the Chenango River. Flat to rolling terrain — ideal for families, casual riders, and anyone who needs a recovery spin. Connects to surrounding road routes for longer gravel loops through Broome County farmland. An easy first outing for new riders.
Popular with the local MTB crowd for its variety — crazy downhills, sweet singletrack, and doubletrack truck trails. About 500 feet of total elevation change so the climbing stays fun without becoming a slog. A solid half-day option, and a good one to combine with Morgan Hill or Shindagin.
One of the best MTB destinations in Central NY. 5,284 acres straddling Cortland and Onondaga counties. 15 miles of tight, twisty singletrack built and maintained by Cycle-CNY since 2015. Real climbing, big descents, and Tinker Falls nearby. Connects to Labrador Hollow for an epic full-day ride. Free primitive camping available.
20 miles of well-maintained doubletrack and singletrack near Dryden. One of the highest points in Tompkins County at ~2,000 ft. Long clear corridors, real elevation changes, and a well-signed trail network maintained by Cayuga Nordic and Cycle-CNY. Great for beginners and families. Note: no MTB on snow-covered trails in winter.
A regional destination that gets written up in national MTB magazines every year. 5,318 acres near Caroline with 20 miles of IMBA-maintained singletrack. Berms, tech features, and exposure along the gorge. Blue trails are significantly harder than red or yellow. The Shindagin Shindig festival is held here every fall — worth a trip.
Onondaga County’s flagship park south of Syracuse. 30+ miles of multi-use trails through mature hardwood forest with separate hiking and biking networks. Great for family gravel riding and XC mountain biking. Big views and well-signed trails make this a reliable all-conditions destination heading north on Route 11.
Famous for its electric turquoise meromictic lakes — a genuine geological oddity. Trail loops around the lakes and easy access to the Erie Canalway Trail for longer road and gravel rides. A stunning destination that doubles as a family day out. Worth pairing with a road loop through Fayetteville and the DeWitt area.
The only National Forest in New York State — 16,212 acres between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes on the Hector Backbone ridge. Fast-flowing singletrack and pastoral doubletrack including the famous Backbone Trail. Wineries, gorges, and lake views make this an all-day or multi-day adventure. A destination worth the extra drive.
Onondaga County park near Syracuse with groomed multi-use trails for biking, hiking, and winter skiing. Beginner and intermediate terrain in a well-maintained setting. A good option when you want a low-key spin without navigating state forest logistics. Easy to combine with Morgan Hill or Shindagin on a longer day.
A genuine destination worth every mile of the drive. Located in Caroga, NY in the southern Adirondacks, Wheelerville has grown into one of the most exciting MTB scenes in the Northeast. Town-supported, DEC-backed, and community-built — the trail network keeps expanding year over year. The annual MTB Festival (August) draws riders from across the region with a MAXXIS-sponsored downhill race, an enduro series, and a full weekend of riding. Old school Adirondack singletrack meets machine-built flow trails. Plan a weekend.
Old Forge has gone all-in on mountain biking and it shows. The Town of Webb secured a $250,000 state grant to expand what is now a 30+ mile trail network spanning McCauley Mountain, Maple Ridge, and Little Moose Mountain. Trails are built by AFTA (Adirondack Foothills Trails Alliance) and range from narrow Adirondack-style singletrack to machine-built flow trails with big berms and jumps. The network connects directly to the village of Old Forge via the Maple Ridge Trail — you can ride from the trails to a cold beer. Worth every mile of the drive.
750 miles of connected trail from NYC to Canada and Buffalo to Albany — passing right through Central New York. The local section connects to the Canalway Trail and runs through the Finger Lakes region. Perfect for long road rides, bike-touring day trips, or introducing someone new to cycling. Paved and hard-packed sections accessible straight from the shop.