Find the top rated mountain biking trails in Emmaus, whether you're looking for an easy short mountain biking trail or a long mountain biking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a mountain biking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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The first section from Bruglar Road to Station Road (Paulinskill Viaduct) needs a lot of maintenance but is rideable. Single track with tall grass and multi flora rose branches in the way. They have been removing lots of dead trees from the airport to Blairstown with a bit of truck tire damage. This first 7.5 mile section is beautiful with great views of the river and the viaduct and farms but all of it needs stone dust to level it out. It could easily be as popular as the Columbia trail if the township of Knowltown or the county cared enough to maintain it.
The trail runs about 5 miles so you can get 10mi roundtrip easily. There are a decent amount of hills and descents. I was impressed with the maintenance of the entire trail.
Part of the growing network of multi-use greenways connecting the various communities of the Lehigh Valley, the Tatamy Trail preserves parts of the region's industrial and agricultural past while offering valuable recreation and transportation opportunities.
The 6.6 mile asphalt north-south pathway links the communities of Tatamy, for which it is named, Wilson and West Easton, passing primarily through suburban and semi-rural environments. It also passes several area parks and links to the Penn's Grant/Penn Ridge Pathway, Palmer Twp. Rec, Trail and West Easton Bikeway. Together, these greenways form the Two Rivers Trail, a system that connects several municipalities in the eastern Lehigh Valley.
The northernmost and longest section extends from Main St. in Tatamy south to Edgewood Ave. on the north side of Easton. It follows the route of the former Easton & Northern RR through a mix of quiet, residential neighborhoods, wooded open space and local parks, never straying far from the gently flowing Bushkill Creek.
Since it follows the route of the former Easton & Northern RR, this section has almost no grades and is very user friendly. However, caution is advised when crossing four old repurposed RR bridges due to their narrow width and slick surface when wet.
Observant trail users will also note the three old stone mills along the route, the skeletal remains of an old trolley bridge and several rock walls that were blasted when the RR was built. The dam near Penn Pump Park and former Crayola plant off Edgewood Ave., which is now being redeveloped into the Water's Edge apartment complex, are other vestiges of the corridor's industrial heritage, while the sound of carnival music and rides emanate in the spring and summer from Bushkill Park, a small amusement park situated just west of the trail's crossing at Bushkill Park Drive.
The trail takes a hard turn right, veering away from the RR grade and Bushkill Creek at the parking lot/trailhead off Edgewood Ave. Although shorter than the northern section, the middle segment between Edgewood Ave. and Northampton St. ascends and descends steep slopes as it winds through Hackett and Meuser parks in the suburb of Wilson. Although this section provides some impressive vistas from the top of the ridges, trail users need to watch out for frisbees at the disc golf course on the north side of Hackett Park and use caution crossing Hackett Ave., Wood Ave. and Northampton St.
Two agriculture-themed sculptures located next to the community gardens just north of Wood Ave. are also noteworthy. Like the nearby Karl Stirner Arts Trail, which is basically a linear art museum, these pieces are contributions from the Easton art community.
The trail rejoins the old RR grade near Northampton St., following it south past Easton Area High School to the trail's southern terminus at S. 25th St. in West Easton. Although relatively flat, the southern segment of the trail lacks the shade of the northern section due to the fact that a powerline also utilizes the corridor. S. 25th St., which the trail crosses twice, William Penn Hwy. and Freemansburg Ave. are also among the busiest and most dangerous road crossings on the trail's route.
Highlights of the southern segment of the trail include the hulking old Dixie Cup factory, now getting new life as a mixed use apartment house and office complex, as well as two features on the grounds of Easton Area High School. These include a memorial dedicated to alumni of the school who served in the Vietnam War as well as "Freedom Road," an interpretive walking path lined with several trees representing various past US presidents.
Although the Tatamy Trail officially ends about a mile south of the school at the second S. 25th St. crossing, the aforementioned West Easton Bikeway continues another half mile east into West Easton and will eventually connect to the D&L Trail and Easton riverfront via the planned Easton High Line. In the meantime, greenway users can access the D&L Trail via the Palmer Twp. Recreation Trail, which branches off the Tatamy Trail about a half mile north of the southern terminus.
The trail also connects to the Forks Twp. greenway network via the Penn's Grant Pathway, which it crosses near its midway point, and plans are underway for a northern extension to the Stockertown Rail Trail and Plainfield Rec. Trail, forming a continuous greenway from Easton to the Kittantinny Ridge.
Amenities for the trail include numerous benches along the route, as well as parking at the trailheads in Tatamy and off Edgewood Ave. Parking is also available at Mill Race, Penn Pump, Bushkill, Hackett and Meuser parks, which also include picnic pavilions and public restrooms.
When I first walked this trail I had no clue of it’s true size, starting from a bridge opening over the canal near New Brunswick I was simply on a walk and wanted to wander, to my surprise the trail simply kept going and going though, I was walking for miles seeing plenty of wondrous nature, enjoying the sound of the water flowing by me, ducks and turtles and all manner of fauna around me. I felt like I had walked into another world sitting just at the edge of the highly populated busy cities, but they remained on the other side of the river, while I was out in nature. Quickly I knew I was up against a titan of a trail compared to the 10 mile long paths I had gotten good at overcoming, but only after I had moved off the path and gone home did I truly realize how little I had seen. I felt a sense of giddy wonder and accomplishment, as well as curiosity. I had seen so much that day, but in truth, I was only scratching the surface. If you live near an entrance to this trail I implore you to give it a try, it’s not ideal for biking, but to see how far you can walk? It may be the best option in the state.
This is a top tier rail trail for my riding area. I love riding this trail with my wife on our e-bikes all year round unless we get snow or it’s too cold. Plenty of bathrooms.
Being a novice mountain biker, I’d say this trail is a doozy! We bike-hiked for a good portion and then the hubs somersaulted over his handle bars and still we continued, linking up with other trails, until we reached the Cosmic Cafe for hazy IPAs. Goals. We had goals. Needless to say, Cresheim is not for the faint of heart.
I had a great ride. My wife decided not to join me which was a good thing. I took what was supposed to be the easiest sections. They may have been easy for mountain biking, but I was expecting more of a rail trail in those areas. No problem -I had a gravel bike with 44 mm tires which worked fine. Could’ve been a little better marked in some areas, but I did not get lost. I would highly recommend checking out the website for the park, which gives you details on the easiest to the most difficult sections and the mileage between the access areas. Remember, this is not a flat rail trail. There are a lot of flat areas, but there are a lot of twisty turns, short uphill and downhill climbs -as well as bridges. And the terrain is not the smoothest.
Biking around Valley Forge is the best way to visit. You have to take time to stop at various monuments and read everything. This trail has some very steep grades both up and down.
Beautiful Trail! Bridge out in Pennpack Park
Enjoyable trail ride between Mont Claire and Spring City. Two full streets along Main Street Phoenixville full of restaurants and shops blocked off to cars but very E-bike friendly (rules posted…must be 16 or over and bike must meet certain specifications). This section has some easy inclines and takes you past some of the residential apartments (some still under construction) which show the continual growth of this small yuppie town.
I have cycled the D&R numerous times from Frenchtown to Washington Crossing and from Lawrence Township to New Brunswick. I have not ridden through Trenton because I have been told it isn't very safe for a lone rider who doesn't know exactly where the trail begins and ends. The trail along the Delaware is beautiful and very well kept. The trail is wide with crushed stone and easy to navigate on any kind of bike. The trail along the Raritan is nice until you get closer to New Brunswick. The trail is rockier with many potholes and not as well kept, plus there are a few spots where you need to dismount your bike and walk. I highly recommend the D&R for biking, hiking and running.
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