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Bike Shops · Trails · Rail Trails · Nearby Parks · Camping Facilities

I have spent many weekends in the Jim Thorpe (Poconos), PA area, and I love it! There are a ton of trails open to the public, and plenty of maps available at the local parks, specifically, Mauch Chunk Lake Park. I bought a trail guide, and during my last two trips, I went on more than half of the trails listed in the guide. I can provide nothing but good reviews for all the trails I have been on so far.

Unfortunately, I lost my copy of the trail guide, so I do not have all the details about all the trails. If you've recently been out on any of the trails in Jim Thorpe, please do me a huge favor and send me the details about the ride using this form.

 

Bike Shops

• Blue Mountain Sports

 

Mountain Bike Trails

For more details on these trails, visit Blue Mountain Sports Trails page.

• Switchback Trail (11-18 miles, Beginner to Intermediate)
• The Lehigh Canal (8-13 miles, Beginner)
• Flagstaff Mountain (Energetic Beginner)
• Mount Pisgah (Intermediate)
• Mauch Chunk Ridge (Advanced Singletrack)
• Twin Peaks (Advanced)
• Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail (21-26 miles, Beginner to Advanced)
• The Coal Cracker (Beginner to Intermediate)
• The Uranium Road (Advanced Singletrack)
• The Broad Mountain Loop (Intermediate)
• The Deer Path (Advanced Singletrack)
• Buzzard's Point (Energetic Beginner)
• Weiser State Forest (Intermediate)
• Drake's Creek (Advanced)

 

Nearby County & State Parks

• Hickory Run State Park - Located in White Haven, this 15,500 acre park has a 17 acre lake with a beach area, swimming pool, playground, snack bar, visitors center, 36 hiking and snowmobile trails, and an historic boulder field. Take exit 273 off I-80, or call (570)443-0400 for more information.

• Mauch Chunk Lake County Park (570)325-4408 - Mauch Chunk park is a great place to spend the night (or weekend). The price is right, and so is the location. You're just moments away from the best trails in the state! The Switchback Railroad Rail-Trail crosses through part of this park.

 

Rail-Trails

• Lehigh Gorge State Park Rail-Trail - 25 miles of pure nature, including small waterfalls, and continuous views of the Lehigh River. Make sure to bring your camera, lunch, and plenty of water for this exciting journey.

  Endpoints: Jim Thorpe to White Haven
  Location: Carbon and Luzerne Counties
  Length: 21 miles (26 miles, if you count the extensions above White Haven and below Glen Onoko)
  Surface: Crushed stone and original ballast
  
  Contact:
  
  Lehigh Gorge State Park
  RR1, Box 81
  White Haven, PA 18661
  (570)443-0400
  

• Switchback Railroad Rail-Trail - The world's first Gravity Railroad is now an easy mountain bike trail. Approximately 18 miles in length when you combine both the upper and lower tracks. This is a very interesting trail, with a very unique history. There are two trails here; the upper and lower trails. The scenery along this trail is great, also.

  Endpoints: Summit Hill to Jim Thorpe
  Location: Carbon County
  Length: 18 miles
  Surface: Original ballast
  
  Contact:
  
  Carbon County Park and Recreation Department
  625 Lentz Trail Road
  Jim Thorpe, PA. 18229
  (570)325-3669
  

• Old Railroad Trail - Located a couple miles east of Jim Thorpe.

  Endpoints: Big Pocono State Park to Crescent Lake
  Location: Monroe County
  Length: 8.4 miles
  Surface: Original ballast
  
  Contact:
  
  Big Pocono State Park
  c/o Tobyhanna State Park
  P.O. Box 387
  Tobyhanna, PA. 18466-0387
  (570)894-8336
  

• Plainfield Township Recreation Trail - Also located a couple miles east of Jim Thorpe, and south of the Old Railroad Trail.

  Endpoints: Plainfield
  Location: Northhampton County
  Length: 6.7 miles
  Surface: Crushed stone and gravel
  
  Contact:
  
  Plainfield Township
  6292 Sullivan Trail
  Nazareth, PA. 18064
  (610)759-6944
  

 

Camping Facilities

• Jim Thorpe Camping Resort 129 Lentz Trail, Jim Thorpe, PA (570)325-2644 - KOA, located only a mile away from Mauch Chunk Lake County Park on Lentz Trail.

• Mauch Chunk Lake County Park (570)325-3669 - Mauch Chunk park is a great place to spend the night (or weekend). The price is right, and so is the location. You're just moments away from the best trails in the state! The Switchback Railroad Rail-Trail crosses through part of this park.