The Early Bird Gets the Mud

Want to get your blood pumping and the mud flying? Grab your mountain bike and head to Rothrock State Forest near State College, Pennsylvania. This area offers trails that vary greatly in technical difficulty. The terrain is mainly hilly and there is a good mix of single track and double track trails. The 36-mile Rothrock TrailMix course provides a combination of the best trails within Central Pennsylvania's Rothrock State Forest. The rains of April have drenched everything and heightened the trees' pungent aroma. You'll be mesmerized by the ancient hemlock forest - the country's oldest stand of hemlocks. Another defining highlight of the route is the rocks, or as they are called by some "Tombstones," are awkward-shape stones that stick a few inches out of the ground at all angles. 

Trails are open from April to November. Expected ride times for a pro-rider would be three hours, and up to six hours for the experienced recreational rider. Not a pro-rider, no worries, there are beginner and intermediate trails. For more information on specific trail loops, click here. To access the trails, turn off US Route 322 toward Tussey Mountain Ski Resort (about 5 miles east of State College). Follow the road about a quarter mile past the ski resort to a Bureau of Forestry parking area on your left.

After a day on the trails, treat yourself to an ice cream cone at the famous Penn State Creamery. Try the Peachy Paterno or Lion Tracks. Finish your day with a stay at a nearby Bed & Breakfast.