There are plenty of ways to experience outdoor adventures in the Pocono Mountains, but you can't go wrong with a classic activity like Pocono biking. Bike and hike trails in the Poconos are the perfect places to spend a day in the fresh air and offer refreshing experiences for everyone, no matter your skill level.
We’ve broken down cycling in the Poconos based on ability, with paths and routes for both beginners and experts to try. Grab your helmet, bring your own bike, and enjoy a fun and free day out on the beautiful winding trails or plan to rent wheels from local outfitters. Get ready to head to Pocono parks and start pedaling!
1. Beginner Pocono Biking Trails
If you’re still getting the hang of things or biking for the first time, Promised Land State Park offers six and a half miles of paved roads perfect for a smooth and simple ride. Take in the beauty of the park as you spin around Promised Land Lake. Use caution and keep an eye out, as riders do share the road with vehicles.
Insider Tip: Ready to step it up a notch? Promised Land State Park permits mountain biking on designated trails only within Delaware State Forest .
2. Moderate Pocono Biking Trails
The Switchback Railroad Trail is one of the most historic trails in Pennsylvania's Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. The track was originally cleared for a gravity railroad built for transporting coal. In the 1800s, it was operated as a Victorian tourist attraction and is considered one of the world's first roller coasters. The 18-mile, hard-packed dirt path is now clear of railroad ties and offers adventure for bikers and hikers alike. Trace your way through Mauch Chunk Lake Park and along the outskirts of Jim Thorpe.
Insider Tip: Biking downhill towards Jim Thorpe is the easier way to navigate the trail; taking the grade in reverse is more challenging.
3. Adventurous Pocono Biking Trails
The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor runs throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with roughly 26 miles winding through the Poconos from White Haven to Jim Thorpe. You can take on different sections of the corridor for shorter rides or conquer the whole corridor. One of the most stunning stretches is where the D&L Rail Trail carves its way through scenic Lehigh Gorge State Park . Sign up for a 13-mile or 26-mile trip with Whitewater Rafting Adventures , shuttle service included. Be sure to make your reservation in advance!
4. Challenging Pocono Biking Trails
The McDade Recreational Trail runs 32 miles throughout the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. From vertical drops to flat straightaways, this packed gravel path varies in difficulty while runs along the beautiful Delaware River. Bring your own bike or rent one through Edge of the Woods Outfitters .
Insider Tip: Mountain and hybrid bikes are recommended for the more challenging portions of the trail.
5. Pocono Mountain Biking Trails
Ready for an extreme ride? From Eagle Pass to High Ledge, the challenging hiking trails at Prompton State Park are open to mountain bikers! If you want to feel like a BMX pro, head to Blue Mountain Bike Park for downhill thrills at Pennsylvania’s highest vertical. Bring your own full suspension bike or rent one on-site to conquer the varied terrain across 30 trails. Once you reach the bottom, a lift service is waiting to take you back to the top, so you can crush the mountain again and again.
