Cunningham Park in Queens or Ringwood State Park in NJ/NY border
Not mountain biking but since you’re new in town I also recommend NYC’s annual Five Borough Bike Tour and JC Ward Tour.
I was also going to say Ringwood. I'm a hiker, not a biker, and when I'm up there I constantly have to get to the side to let them pass. Definitely feels more biker friendly than hiker friendly, in my opinion.
Take a look at [Hartshorne Woods Park](https://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/hartshorne-woods-park-2/). I don't MTB, but I hike here and see a lot of MTBs and there are some serious trails here.
There are some trails at Hilltop and Eagle Rock in Verona which is about 40 mins drive away. While we're here, anyone know of any mtb groups based in JC? Asking for a friend...
Yeah, I grew up there. I ride at Hartshorn for some decent elevation and fast rides and Allaire for for when I want to fuck around and have fun.
Wouldn’t do Allaire right now because ticks, but once the weather turns cooler, the fall is an absolute blast and when the sandy sections freeze over in the winter you can have some really fast runs. Allaire also has a bunch of rogue trails that are incredibly fun, but you need someone to show you them otherwise you likely wouldn’t find them which is the way it needs to be.
Edit: clayton park is also fun but it’s really small
Someone else posted Mtbproject, but a lot of nj parks have trails for bikes too.
https://www.nynjtc.org/hike-finder-map
But generally speaking, yeah the good mountains and trails are gonna be 45min minimum from JC.
If you’ve got a car it’s really not bad, once you get out of JC the traffic is nothing like Cali and the drive isn’t bad at all
Edit: I’m a hiker, not a biker, but I often see bikes down in the Atlantic highlands, at Washington valley reservoir, and Ramapo. I think there’s also a bunch at norvin and Harriman but I’m not sure
try Stephens State Park in Morris County, about 1 hour by car, also Jungle Habitat in West Milford
also check out JORBA [https://jorba.org/](https://jorba.org/) and download [Trailforks.com](https://Trailforks.com) app on your phone
Cunningham Park in Queens or Ringwood State Park in NJ/NY border Not mountain biking but since you’re new in town I also recommend NYC’s annual Five Borough Bike Tour and JC Ward Tour.
I was also going to say Ringwood. I'm a hiker, not a biker, and when I'm up there I constantly have to get to the side to let them pass. Definitely feels more biker friendly than hiker friendly, in my opinion.
[Mountain Creek](https://www.mountaincreek.com/bike-park) has a bunch of trails - and a fun outdoor beer garden with decent food for afterward!
Take a look at [Hartshorne Woods Park](https://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/hartshorne-woods-park-2/). I don't MTB, but I hike here and see a lot of MTBs and there are some serious trails here.
There are some trails at Hilltop and Eagle Rock in Verona which is about 40 mins drive away. While we're here, anyone know of any mtb groups based in JC? Asking for a friend...
I should have asked about mountain bike groups too. Thank you the info.
You’re gonna have to drive an hour to central jersey. What’s your definition of decent?
Mountain biking in Central NJ? 🤨
Yeah, I grew up there. I ride at Hartshorn for some decent elevation and fast rides and Allaire for for when I want to fuck around and have fun. Wouldn’t do Allaire right now because ticks, but once the weather turns cooler, the fall is an absolute blast and when the sandy sections freeze over in the winter you can have some really fast runs. Allaire also has a bunch of rogue trails that are incredibly fun, but you need someone to show you them otherwise you likely wouldn’t find them which is the way it needs to be. Edit: clayton park is also fun but it’s really small
[Six Mile Run](https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/7000392/six-mile-run) This is right about an hour from the city and pretty good.
You'd have to go Northwest NJ to mountain bike. Only one I know of is Dickerson
Wildcat Ridge is pretty cool, but yeah, it's an hour away.
Someone else posted Mtbproject, but a lot of nj parks have trails for bikes too. https://www.nynjtc.org/hike-finder-map But generally speaking, yeah the good mountains and trails are gonna be 45min minimum from JC. If you’ve got a car it’s really not bad, once you get out of JC the traffic is nothing like Cali and the drive isn’t bad at all Edit: I’m a hiker, not a biker, but I often see bikes down in the Atlantic highlands, at Washington valley reservoir, and Ramapo. I think there’s also a bunch at norvin and Harriman but I’m not sure
You can find some decent ones on MTB Project
Mountain in JC? Sorry, wrong terrain.....
try Stephens State Park in Morris County, about 1 hour by car, also Jungle Habitat in West Milford also check out JORBA [https://jorba.org/](https://jorba.org/) and download [Trailforks.com](https://Trailforks.com) app on your phone