Review Date
August 3, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: nabilkamal ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This place is incredible! It has everything any mountain biker would ever want. It's not for beginners unless you are going to stick to the fire roads. The trails are endless!

Review Date
July 31, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: CU-Murph ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
The rock gardens here rule! They are challenging, but doable. The best is the one on John Wert Path; its got one that is over a football field long! If you are looking for fast hardpacked single track Longberger Path is for you. Most of the trails seem to have a great mix of rock gardens and smooth trail. Hills here aren't too bad, but there is some steady climbing in spots, and some great downhills. And there's plenty of ramps over deadfall.

Rode the 3 Bridges to Longberger to Tussey Mt. Trail to John Werth and back down Longberger loop. Fun, but long. Bring plenty of water and food. Trails in great shape. Some nice bench cutting, curves, and switch backs in places. 80% single track. Thanks to the NittanyMBA for the awesome trails!

Also rode several of the trails in the Greenwood area. These are fun too, but you have to ride more road here. Several new trails have been put in, so the milage is up on this side of Rothrock. Hope the trails last. Thanks to the guys building them!

Check out the NittanyMBA for more info. www.nittanymba.org on the trails.

Recommended Route:
From the Tussey Mt. (Ski Resort) side parking lot I did the route mentioned above. If you want rock gardens this one is for you. Just remember lots of time, water, and food.

Review Date
July 29, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: Gears ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I used to ride here a ton in college but now only make it up here a few weekends each year. Most of the good stuff drops off from near the fire tower. There really is something for everyone here though. The IMB3 route covers most of the good stuff but there is one trail (forget the name) that drops straight down and is basically unrideable. Laurel run trail west off the MST from the fire tower down is also unrideable in spots due to wash outs.

Recommended Route:
Up Shingletown, right at the road, right at the top past the yellow gate, down the grassy 2 track to sand springs trail. Left on the road and right at the next intersection up the hill. At the top there is a nice overlook and Wildcat trail drops steeply down to sand springs. I usually continue across the top of the mountain and down bear meadows road where you can really get some speed and take in the view. Left at the bottom and onto Lonberger (aka Magic Carpet Ride) for a fast roling descent. I usually take it to the bottom but you can cut out at 3 bridges up to laurel run road. Up laurel run and right back into shingletown for the final descent to your car. This loop is about 17 miles and takes about 3 1/2 hours. Throw in another lap up old laurel run road and down spruce gap (the "edge") if your legs are still up to it.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Detwiler run to Long Mountain, Bald Eagle State Forest

Review Date
August 29, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: rob412 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Great variety of trails in the Bear Meadows area. Start behind Tussey Mountain ski area and climb Laurel Run Road to Shingletown Gap Trail. Miles of hardpack and rock gardens winding through the meadows of the gap.

If you want to scare yourself, take Spruce Gap Trail from the top of the mountain where Mid-state trail and New Laurel Run trail converge. Let off the brakes on this trail and scare yourself for over a mile as it plumets down a super-steep and rocky descent.

Three Bridges trail is a short trail which links up with one of the fastest trails in the forest, Longberger Path. This rolling hardpack trail is so fast you just hope nobody is coming from the other direction riding as fast as you. A couple great log piles that are so much fun that you'll want to ride them more than once.

Tussey Mountain Trail is amazing. This scenic trail with repeated technical rocky sections actully balances on the edge of Tussey mountain ridge. The top of the ridge is quite narrow and the mountain literally falls away for hundreds of feet on both sides of the trail. It's awesome.

Recommended Route:
see above

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Laurel Mountain
Seven Springs

Review Date
March 28, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: dukeblaster ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
i've ridden this place a few times and it reminds me of New England type riding. alot of rocks and steep stuff. its fun. not alot of stunt riding like jumps and logrides but alot of natural overland type stuff good for cross country type riders.
i like starting at singleton area, riding up and around everywhere to the fire tower or whatever, and then bombing down tussey ski area. good time.

only draw back is i don't have a car, and i bike there from statecollege... thats kinda far and takes a good chunk of time to go there, bike all around, and bike back from tussey, but its worth it.

Recommended Route:
start at shingleton gap area

Other recommended trails in the same area:
nothing that compares...only real trail i found