Favorite Pittsburgh Mountain Biking Venues

Back on October 27th I started a poll on PORC’s Trail Talk Forum called "PORC Top 10 Favorite Pittsburgh Area Rides" (http://www.porcmtbclub.org/phpBB3/bike-talk-f4/topic2840.html). I have to admit that my motivations weren’t wholly ultraistic – part of my rationale for starting the poll was to see what local mountain biking gems I hadn’t visited yet.

The rules were simple - List your top ten favorite rides within a 3-hour drive of Pittsburgh.

Twenty-six PORC forum users voted yielding a bounty of thirty-nine venues. That’s a lot of places to ride within a three-hour drive of PGH. Due to the plethora of venues voted for I decided to expand the results to a top twenty list.

1 Moraine State Park, PA

2 Bavington (aka Hillman State Park), PA

3 Roaring Run Watershed (Apollo), PA

4 North Park (Allegheny County Park), PA

5 Hartwood Acres (Allegheny County Park), PA

6 Laurel Highlands, PA

7 Big Bear Lake Campground, WV

8 Raystown Lake (Allegrippis Trails), PA

9 Mohican State Park/State Forest, OH

10 Seven Springs Mountain Resort, PA

11 Rothrock State Park, PA

12 Frick Park (Pittsburgh City Park), PA

13 Quebec Run Wild Area, PA

14 South Park (Allegheny County Park), PA

15 Cooper's Rock State Park, WV

16 Blue Knob State Park, PA

17 Kennerdell Tract (Clear Creek State Forest), PA

18 Deer Lakes Park (Allegheny County Park), PA

19 Brady's Run County Park, PA

20 Boyce Park (Allegheny County Park), PA

For me the poll was a great success - at the time of the poll I had ridden sixteen of the top twenty and as a direct result of the poll I have added Seven Springs and Quebec Run Wild Area (check out - http://www.pennsylvaniadirt.com/2009/11/quebec-run-wild-area-trail-guide.html) to my list. Only Deer Lakes and Boyce Park left for me - any suggested routes for these venues would be much appreciated. I hope you find some hidden gems in there too.

It is Pennsylvania Dirt's goal to have Trail Guides for all these and more posted.

Thanks to everyone that voted.

Simon T