Port Jervis
Photo: Newsday
Overview:
The Port Jervis Watershed Trails are located on the border between New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Many of the trails are bikes specific, and some are downhill-only trails. There are two summits within the park, one with an overlook, and another higher one in the middle of the woods. I first visited Port Jervis after hearing about a new trail there called Painted Apron, and it seems there are two other signature trails there called Cosmic Charlie and 5 Bridges.
Pros:
First and foremost, the trail signage here is amazing. I think this is one of the only trails I would be able to ride without the help of trail forks. There are signs around every corner that show the trail difficulty. Another big standout is the elevation here. Painted Apron offers a two-mile long descent which is really rare for the area. However, if you think it’s a hassle getting there, think again. The climb to the top is on a very mellow fire road and goes by surprisingly fast. Finally, there are the trails themselves. If you like fast and loose riding, Cosmic Charlie is where it’s at. Want some uphill woodwork on an enduro run? 5 Bridges is the answer. Finally, there’s Painted Apron which is just awesome. Two miles of high-quality flow connected by gnar with plenty of doubles to be found. It might be one of my favorite trails in the area. Did I forget to mention all of this is legal?!
Cons:
Although it’s on the East Coast, there isn’t anything too gnarly at Port Jervis. However, I did hear there is a tech trail there called Dejay Downs that I didn’t get a chance to ride. Furthermore, there isn’t much variety here. There are only 3-4 downhill trails which isn’t enough for a long day of riding.
Rating: 6.5/10
Despite already being gifted with great terrain, the builders at Port Jervis have gone the extra mile and designed trails that run so well they belong in New Hampshire. Although its somewhat lacking in descents, I think we will start to see even more trails being built following in the footsteps of Painted Apron. But for now, this place is still awesome!
Update (11/25):
Recently, the trail crew just added a new trail called Flintlock! It’s not yet been added to trailforks, but it starts by Painted Apron and is a similar distance, but a step up in difficulty. With a mini road gap, tons of doubles and jumps, and even a rock lili pad, this is easily my favorite local flow trail outside of a bike park and it’s definitely on par with Vermont trails like Little River and Cady Hill! Plus, basically everything is either rollable or has a go-around, so beginners can enjoy most of this trail too! With new jumplines popping up everywhere from Powder Ridge to Mt Penn, it really is a good time to be a mountain biker in the Northeast!