Shindagin Hollow West Trail Loop

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Shindagin Hollow is a 5,000-acre State forest in the Southern Tier region of New York, near Ithaca. The 20-mile, multi-use trail system is maintained by Cycle-CNY, the local IMBA Chapter.

The trails at Shindagin Hollow are primarily singletrack consisting of dirt, roots, and shale rock with occasional steep slopes carved by glaciers. Many trail sections have been optimized for mountain biking and include berms and technical trail features.

Trails are labeled by color (red, blue, yellow) and number (1-9) and are moderately well-marked but require some attention to follow. There are many ways to connect the various trails at Shindagin Hollow. In general, the Blue trails are significantly more challenging than the Red and Yellow trails. A seasonally high water table, steep slopes, and lackluster drainage do not support riding in wet weather conditions.

The featured West Trail Loop offers a good introduction to the mountain bike trails in Shindagin Hollow State Forest. The ride loops counter-clockwise around the Yellow and Red marked trails on mostly flowing singletrack. The Red and Yellow trails are generally less technical than Shindagin's Blue (East) trails, and also tend to dry out faster. This West Loop is also groomed in the winter for fat bike riding.

The ride starts with its hardest climb, from the parking lot on Braley Hill Rd onto Y1 and Y6 up Bald Hill. As you descend towards the Red trails, you'll be rewarded with fast, flowing trails through a seasoned forest. Looping back, you'll exit the trails via Y1. There are numerous ways to extend the riding if you're inclined.

Cycle-CNY has been developing this trail network over the past 10 years and Shindagin Hollow has become a regional destination for riding. Every autumn, the Shindagin Shindig mountain bike festival showcases this forest's trails.