North Mountain Trail

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Part of the Pawtuckaway State Park system of trails, the North Mountain Trail is a super tough section of trail that is not for the faint of heart on a bicycle.

Hooking up right across the road from the Round Pond Trail, North Mountain takes you all the way to the peak of the mountain, then back down to hook up with Boulder Trail. This trail is a rough go for a cyclist. While it starts off relatively tame on doubletrack, once you pass North Mountain Bypass (aptly named and you may be wise to take it if you aren't feeling game for lots of hike-a-bike), the singletrack trail shoots up at a brutal grade, over rocks that are far too steep and technical for even the best rider to ascend for the most part.

There are areas where you can get on the bike again for a few-20 secs or so, but it's mostly an on/off affair that will have you hiking more often than biking.

Closer to the peak, the trail levels off somewhat and you can ride for longer periods. You'll encounter a fire tower about 3/4 of the way along the trail with a nice overlook (keep checking to the right before this for overlook opportunities though; there are a few). Then it's down on roughly the same (and occasionally even more daunting) conditions.

There are points where not only is biking impossible, but even hiking the trail is challenging to say the least and with the bike as extra baggage it sure doesn't make it any easier.

Be careful and be prepared if you decide to take on the North Mountain. And good luck!