Looking for new places to spin the cranks?  Want to help disperse the impact of off-road riding? Then check out some of these great and legal mountain bike destinations:

These rides are taken from MAMBO's Joe Surkiewicz's trail guide book, Mountain Bike! The Mid-Atlantic States with 70 rides and maps for off-road destinations from Baltimore to Charleston, SC. Copyright ©2000. All rights reserved

• Cedarville State Forest
  Waldorf, MD

• Fair Hill Natural Resources Area
  Cecil County, MD

• Fort DuPont Park
  Washinngton, DC

• Fountainhead Regional Park
  Lorton, VA

• Greenbrier State Park
  Frederick, MD

• Patuxent River Park/Jug Bay Natural Area
  Upper Marlboro, MD

• Rocky Ridge County Park
  York, PA

• Schaeffer Farms Trails
  Gaithersburg, MD

• Whitetail Ski Resort
  Mercersburg, PA

• Cedarville State Forest, approximately 14 miles of single- and double-track trails located in this small (3,500-acre) state forest in southern Maryland (located about 20 miles southeast of Washington, D.C.) are mostly flat, with a few gentle rollers and the occasional steep--but short--pitch. But the hallmark of these trails--and what makes this a favorite destination for many D.C.- and Baltimore-area riders--is the tight, twisty single track. And because of its coastal location, there's nary a rock, a welcome relief to riders who must regularly do maintenance on their suspension bikes after hammering the rock-strewn trails throughout the rest of the region. With only roots and the occasional soggy spot to get in your way, these trails are a joy to ride. Cedarville is also an excellent destination for novice riders. Without big climbs and relatively non-technical trails, the park provides relatively easy riding for folks looking for undemanding trails. It's a great place to bring a friend or significant other for a relatively painless introduction to real off-road trail riding. While the scenery is nothing extraordinary on these forested trails, the woods are pretty any time of year and frequent stream crossings (via foot bridges) provide some visual variety. Caveat: Unless you arrive after a prolonged dry spell, expect to get wet. Many of the trails follow creeks and you'll find yourself slogging through the occasional bog or mud hole. The Friends of Cedarville State Forest and the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (M.O.R.E.) are working to re-route some of the trails away from low spots and to lay gravel on perennial wet spots; keep your eyes peeled for changes in direction of the trails up the slopes as you ride.
  
  DIRECTIONS:
  Heading south on US 301/MD 5 in Waldorf, turn left on Cedarville Road, drive 4 miles to Bee Oak Road and turn right. After passing the park headquarters on the right (pick up a map), continue about a half-mile to Forest Road and turn right. It's about a mile to Cedarville Pond, on the left; park in the lot.
  
  THE RIDE:
  On your bike, go back on Forest Road a few hundred feet, cross the bridge over Zekiah Run, and turn right onto the Blue Trail on the right. The trail sign is hard to spot; if you miss it, continue a bit farther and turn right onto Mistletoe Road. The blue trail crosses the road within a hundred feet or so of Forest Road; turn left onto the trail.

  There's no one way to ride the numerous trails in Cedarville. The parking lot at the pond puts you near the trailheads of the Brown, Green and Blue trails. The Brown is a good warmup; it's a short, non-technical and mostly double-track trail that loops around the pond. The Blue is probably the best trail and is almost all singletrack. It can be strung together with the Orange to form a long loop. Don't follow any signs for the White Trail; it's an abandoned trail leading to some major bogs. After you've ridden some of the trails and you feel like riding some more, just reverse your direction of travel; everything will look completely different!
  
  Southern Maryland Recreational Complex
  11704 Fenno Road
  Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
  (800) 784-5380 or (301) 888-1410
  

• Fair Hill Natural Resources Area, more than 30 miles of single-track and is located just off I-95 in Cecil Co. The 6,000-acre area (technically not a park, but who cares?) is located north of Elkton, Maryland, near the intersections of MD 273 and MD 213, in Cecil County, Maryland. For riders living in the Baltimore area, it's about a 45-minute ride. What are you waiting for?
  
  DIRECTIONS:
  From I-95, take the first exit in Maryland (Exit 109B, Maryland 279) toward Newark, Delaware. Go 1 mile and turn left onto Maryland 277 (at Pat's Liquors), then drive another mile to Maryland 316 and turn right. Then drive about 2 ½ miles to Maryland 273 and turn left; now you're driving through Fair Hill. Turn left at Gallaher Road for the parking area and the ride that starts at Big Elk Chapel Road. The office is located at the next intersection (Maryland 213), on the left across from the small shopping center (which has a deli that sells cold drinks and sandwiches).
  
  THE RIDE:
  You've got several options for starting a ride at Fair Hill. The easiest--and the one recommended for first-time visitors--is to park across from the chapel at Gallaher Road and Big Elk Chapel Road. Turn south onto Gallaher Road (which intersects MD 273; the chapel is about a mile on the left). On your bike, enter Fair Hill at the gate directly across from the parking lot and next to the small church. Continue straight for descent to Big Elk Creek or bear to the left to get to trails leading to the Saw Mill Field and the equestrian center.

  Other riding options include parking near the barns and racetrack just east of the Fair Hill office on Maryland 273 (rest rooms are located in the white building). On your bike, follow the signs for the Cross Country Trail, which leads through the Saw Mill Field and toward Gallaher Road. On the way, you'll pass horse jumps used by equestrians training for competition. Make a game out of your ride by searching for the tunnel and the bridge that pass under and over Gallaher Road. You can also start a ride by parking at the lot on Tawes Drive (just past the nature center, north of Maryland 273). The highlight of this area is the Big Elk Creek Covered Bridge, built in 1860 and reconstructed in 1992 at a cost of $152,000. It's one of only five covered bridges in Maryland. Most--maybe all--of the trails in Fair Hill are unmarked, so it's easy to get--well, not lost, the area's just too small for that--disoriented. Just keep track of which side of Big Elk Creek you're on and stay inside Fair Hill's fenced boundaries. Take along plenty of food and water, give yourself plenty of time so you're not racing a setting sun at the end of the day and you'll be okay.
  
  Need more info? Call or write:

  Department of Natural Resources, Fair Hill 376 Fair Hill Drive Elkton, MD 21921 (410) 398-1246.

• Fort DuPont Park, a forest oasis located in Anacostia, a neighborhood in southeast Washington, D.C. The park offers 376 rolling wooded acres that make up the second-largest park in the nation's capital. Underutilized because of Anacostia's reputation for unsafe streets, the park welcomes mountain bikers and other users to more than six miles of single-track and double-track trails.

  From the park's highest point near the site of the fort (about 300 feet above the Anacostia River valley) to its lowest point (the creek bed near Randle Circle, about 30 feet above sea level), the trail system in between forms a vast labyrinth. Trail maintenance work led by the Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts (MORE) has cleared truckloads of debris from trails and resurrected a three-quarter-mile downhill that was badly eroded by rain.

  Spade-and-shovel work by MORE was provided for good reasons: Fort Dupont is the only major park inside the Capital Beltway that welcomes mountain bikes on unpaved multi-user trails--and the mountain biking community has tried to do its part to maintain Fort Dupont's trails and to help overcome the neighborhood's negative reputation.
  
  DIRECTIONS:
  From Baltimore, take the Baltimore-Washington Parkway south past the apital Beltway (I-495). At the split for New York Avenue, bear left, which puts you on the Anacostia Parkway. From the Anacostia Freeway, take the Pennsylvania Avenue exit east, away from the Anacostia River. Go to the second major intersection (Minnesota Avenue), turn left and drive north to Randle Circle, only a few blocks away. Turn right off the circle and enter the park on Fort Dupont Drive. Park at the Activity Center on the left. The trail starts beside the Summer Theatre (you'll see it). Take the trail to the right (east). It starts out paved but becomes choppy and gets interesting fast. Trail maps re usually available at the Activity Center (open weekdays year-round and also on Saturdays during the summer). But they don't show all the paths in the park.
  
  THE RIDE:
  The trail system at Fort Dupont Park forms a vast labyrinth, ranging from narrow dirt roads accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicles to long runs of wide groomed gravel trails and obscure segments of single-track.

  Use the trail map as the basis for an exploration to mix and match loops, as well as adding clearly established trails not marked on the map. Because signage and trail blazes are generally lacking, exploration is a must. But don't bushwack; stick to the trails. Because the park is bisected by two access roads and bounded by residential streets, getting genuinely lost is virtually impossible.

  While many potential patrons of this park are put off by Anacostia's reputation for unsafe streets, regular visitors know there is a U.S. Park Police facility on the grounds. Roads and trails in the park are patrolled by car and horseback.

  Still, it's an urban park, so ride with a friend, don't ride after dark, and don't leave any valuables in view in your parked car. While it's unlikely you'll become a crime victim, exercise reasonable caution and turn around if a situation on the trail ahead makes you uncomfortable.
  
  For more information, call or write: National Capital Parks East, 1900 Anacostia Drive, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20020; (202) 426-7745.

• Fountainhead Regional Park, built and maintained by MORE in an area formerly off-limits to fat-tire bikes.
  
  DIRECTIONS:
  To reach Fountainhead Regional Park, take Interstate 95 south from D.C.'s Capital Beltway (I-495) to the Lorton exit. Turn right and head west on VA 642. Next, turn right on Furnace Road, then turn right on Ox Road (VA 123). Finally, turn left on Hampton Road; the park entrance is 3 miles on the left.
  
  THE RIDE:
  Mountain bikers in the Washington, D.C., are fortunate to have one of the most successful trail advocacy groups in the East working for them: the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE). Need proof? Just come to this delightful park in Fairfax County, Virginia, and ride this mountain-bike trail built and maintained by MORE in an area formerly off-limits to fat-tire bikes. It's an example of what happens when mountain bikers get organized and work with local officials . . . in this case, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. No doubt about it: This 4.5-mile single-track trail was designed by mountain bikers who love challenging riding. With lots of short, steep climbs; stream crossings; plenty of downed trees and deadfall; and twists and turns that will keep your eyes firmly fixed to the trail, it's not a trail for novices. While not especially technical or rocky by Appalachian standards, the trail is still a non-stop succession of climbs, drops, turns, and obstacles that will plant a grin on the faces of intermediate and advanced riders.

  The narrow, mostly soft dirt trail passes through a lovely second-growth pine and hardwood forest. When not plunging through small stream valleys, it follows narrow ridges leading out to the shores of Lake Occoquan. The lake views are gorgeous--no vacation homes or lodges spoil the shoreline--and the entire trail system is located in a chunk of forest that imparts a feeling of remoteness unusual in D.C.'s suburban sprawl. The trail doesn't pass by any paved roads or private residences; the scenery is all woods and water. While 4.5 miles isn't a lot of riding, you can extend the ride by going back over some of the loops by riding connecting trails built between them.

  All the trails are marked with red blazes on trees and there are plenty of signs to keep you straight.

  A final note: The park is closed December through mid-March.
  
  

• Greenbrier State Park, with 1288 acres located on South Mountain between the western Maryland towns of Hagerstown and Frederick, is an ideal destination for mountain bikers of moderate abilities. Unlike nearby (and more popular) Gambrill State Park, Greenbrier won't beat you to death on bone-jarring single-track, exhaust you on killer climbs and scare your socks off on white-knuckle descents. Instead, Greenbrier offers well groomed trails where you're continuously climbing or descending on double- track trails winding through an attractive hardwood forest.
  
  DIRECTIONS:
  From Baltimore, take Interstate 70 west and get off on to US 40 after you pass Frederick (there are a couple of exits you can take and some are signed for the park; just make sure you get off the interstate before South Mountain, where the rest area is). Greenbrier State Park is located 10 miles east of Hagerstown on US 40 and a trail map is available at the park's visitor center.
  
  THE RIDE:
  To find the trailhead, drive past the entrance station (there's a fee), turn right at the next intersection, go to the boat ramp parking lot, and park. On your bike, ride on the grassy area bordering the lake (on your left) toward the woods. Don't take the Orienteering Trail that you'll see straight ahead. Instead, follow the lake around to the left a short distance and take the next trailhead on the right into the woods.

  The park's trails are well-marked and easy to follow; you can easily spend half a day exploring. There is an entrance fee Memorial Day through Labor Day, and on weekends the rest of the year.

  The old roads (now double-track trails) follow routes laid out two centuries ago by pioneers who settled in this corner of the Appalachian Mountains. Look close and you can see the outlines and ruins of log cabins, massive stone fences and the remains of iron furnaces; scattered throughout the park are the great flat circular hearths where charcoal was made to fuel the furnaces.

  After the Civil War, the land that makes up the park became a series of wood lots, small parcels of land sold to nearby residents. In the 1960s, the state of Maryland began purchasing the lots; the result is this park and its most popular feature, a 42-acre manmade lake.

  While Greenbrier's lake draws big crowds in the summer, mountain bikers usually don't encounter much traffic (bicycle or foot) on the trails. "This is a really nice, but underutilized park," says Dan Hudson, president of MORE, the Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts. "Once you get out on the trails, you won't see anyone. And the park is really bike-friendly." Dan's advice: After a summer ride, plan on swimming and sunning on the lake's sandy beach.
  
  For more information call or write: South Mountain Recreation Area, 21843 National Pike (US 40), Boonsboro, MD 21713; (301) 791-4767.

• Patuxent River Park/Jug Bay Natural Area, offers 2,000 acres of thick woodlands, hardwood swamps, and tidal wetlands in bustling Prince George's County, Maryland--a remarkable natural setting for mountain bikers to explore. An 8.5-mile system of trails along the shores of the Patuxent River, a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, winds through second-growth forests of ash, oak, dogwood, poplar, and pine. There are frequent glimpses of the wide river, which supports an abundance of waterfowl such as Canada geese, ducks and whistling swans (which makes this place especially fascinating to explore in the winter--there's an amazing amount of birds that winter here).
  
  DIRECTIONS:
  Patuxent River Park is located 20 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. and about 5 miles south of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. From Baltimore, head south on I-97 and follow signs for US 301 south toward Waldorf (don't go north across the Bay Bridge). Jug Bay is located east of US 301, about five miles south of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Heading south on US 301, turn left onto Croom Station Road, 1.5 miles south of the intersection with MD 4. Go 2.5 miles to Croom Road and turn left, then drive 1.3 miles to Croom Airport Road and turn left. Drive two miles to the park entrance on the left; it's another 1.5 miles to the park office and a parking lot.
  
  THE RIDE:
  All hikers and riders must register at the office (where you can pick up a map) and pay either a daily fee or annual fee for a permit to use the trails. On your bike, ride back out the paved road past the gate on the right to the horseshoe-symbol-marked equestrian trails that intersect the road on both sides. The trails on the right (west side of the park) are mostly easy, wide lanes; the extensive system of trails to the left are more technical single-track.

  The trails range from wide, grassy wood lanes to twisting single-track trails littered with downed tree limbs and roots. The trails occasionally plunge into narrow creek valleys, cross wooden footbridges, and then ascend on short, steep climbs. The high clay content in the soil holds water and the paths are often wet long after it rains. In a few spots the trails cross bogs, so, except after prolonged periods of dry weather, expect both you and your bike to get muddy.

  None of the trails are named or numbered, so it's easy to get disoriented. Yet because the park is surrounded by river and paved roads, it's not a problem; just don't start riding late in the day. Novice riders will find many of the trails challenging, while more experienced cyclists can find enough variety to make a visit worthwhile. Virtually all the trails are loops that can be combined with other loops and ridden in two directions to create a full day of off-road riding.

  On Saturdays from April through October you can extend a ride by riding a 4.5- mile (one-way) paved and dirt road to and through the adjacent Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary. The highlight of the easy, out-and-back ride is a 1,000-foot, "S"-shaped boardwalk across Mattaponi Creek and an observation tower for viewing the river. Bring binoculars to view a stunning array of birds and waterfowl. The road is also open on Sundays year-round, but you have to share it with traffic.
  
  For more information, call or write: Patuxent River Park, 16000 Croom Airport Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772; (301) 627-6074.

• Rocky Ridge County Park, Mountain bikers are fortunate to have 750-acre Rocky Ridge County Park, a wooded hilltop with about 12 miles of mostly single-track trails. Most of the nine trails in the park intersect, making it easy for intrepid off-roaders to devise multiple loop rides that can easily keep them rolling through a full day's riding. And they don't call it Rocky Ridge for nothing: You'll encounter long stretches of rock-infested single-track that will give your bike's suspension a workout it will never forget.
  
  DIRECTIONS:
  To reach Rocky Ridge from Baltimore, go north on I-83 to York and take US 30 east a few miles to Mt. Zion Road (PA 24). Drive north for one mile, turn right onto Deininger Road and go one mile to the park entrance.
  
  THE RIDE:
  The small forested park's trails are extremely well-marked, so getting lost shouldn't be problem. You really don't even need a trail map, if you've got the time and energy to simply explore. The paved main road serves as a link between many of the trails, making it easy to connect all the trails in the park for a long ride. In addition, there are numerous short single-track trails that connect the main trails (and aren't shown on the map). Local riders say Rocky Ridge offers the best single-track riding in York County. It's a terrific little park for intermediate and advanced riders.
  
  

• Schaeffer Farms Trails, Working hand in (cycling) glove with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) has created one of the best mountain bike venues in the D.C.-Baltimore area: Schaeffer Farms Trail, a brand-spanking-new trail system in the heart of hectic Montgomery County. Schaeffer Farms features 10 miles or so of mouth-watering single-track trail that will elevate the pulse of any intermediate to advanced mountain biker. With its new recreational mission, this state-owned, 2,000-acre tract of woods and fields bordering Seneca and Little Seneca creeks is now safe from the clutches of housing developers. Instead, it will continue in the years to come as a beautiful patch of countryside serving mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians--the recreational users who all pitched in as volunteers to build and maintain the trail system. Hop on your bike and just ride a few feet down any of the new trail and it's clear that this is a trail built by and for mountain bikers. The hard-packed dirt trail twists and turns as you barrel along through a forest of second-growth mixed hardwood trees. Lots of dips and short climbs, some challenging creek crossings, plenty of downed tree limbs and trunks (most of them easy to jump) and occasional forays to the edge of the forest all add up to a delightful spin in the woods. Rocks and roots are minimal and the single-track is totally dialed-in. Yet the labyrinth of trail demands that a brand-spanking-new trail system in the heart of hectic Montgomery County. Schaeffer Farms features 10 miles or so of mouth-watering single-track trail that will elevate the pulse of any intermediate to advanced mountain biker.
  
  DIRECTIONS:
  From D.C.'s Capital Beltway, take I-70 north to Exit 10 (Clopper Road, MD 117) west. Go about 5 miles; just past the intersection with MD 118, turn left on Schaeffer Road. Drive about 1.5 miles, past Burdette Lane on the left. The entrance, which has a sign, is on the left, next to a house.

  The Ride:
  Loop A, about three miles long, is a great warm up trail and will take most riders about a half-hour to finish. It joins Loop B just beyond the parking lot; turn left to explore Loop B (actually a long out-and-back with a loop) and Loop C. You can re-ride any of the loops in both directions, including Loop A--a great way to end an exploration. Single-track fanatics who live well beyond the borders of Montgomery County--even if they live hours away--can easily justify the drive to this terrific new off-road venue in the heart of suburban Washington. It's easy to do a half-day of riding without getting bored. Hats off to MORE and Maryland DNR for a job well done. The trail heads are at the end of the parking lot; go left to Loop A or right to Loops B and C (and the other end of Loop A).
  
  THE RIDE:
  Working hand in (cycling) glove with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) has created one of the best mountain bike venues in the D.C.-Baltimore area: Schaeffer Farms Trail, a brand-spanking-new trail system in the heart of hectic Montgomery County. Schaeffer Farms features 10 miles or so of mouth-watering single-track trail that will elevate the pulse of any intermediate to advanced mountain biker. With its new recreational mission, this state-owned, 2,000-acre tract of woods and fields bordering Seneca and Little Seneca creeks is now safe from the clutches of housing developers. Instead, it will continue in the years to come as a beautiful patch of countryside serving mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians--the recreational users who all pitched in as volunteers to build and maintain the trail system. Hop on your bike and just ride a few feet down any of the new trail and it's clear that this is a trail built by and for mountain bikers. The hard-packed dirt trail twists and turns as you barrel along through a forest of second-growth mixed hardwood trees. Lots of dips and short climbs, some challenging creek crossings, plenty of downed tree limbs and trunks (most of them easy to jump) and occasional forays to the edge of the forest all add up to a delightful spin in the woods. Rocks and roots are minimal and the single-track is totally dialed-in. Yet the labyrinth of trail demands that eyes stay glued to the patch in front of your wheel as you rock `n' roll along the single track.

  So, occasionally you've got to stop and enjoy the scenery. While Schaeffer Farm doesn't offer dramatic views, the occasional stretches of trail that pop out of the woods provide glimpses across fields to the rolling Montgomery County countryside beyond the park's limits. In the winter, when the leaves are off the trees, the views are better. Year-round, the forest and fields are beautiful and imparts a sense of remoteness that belies its suburban setting.
  
  Seneca Creek State Park 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 (301) 924-2127.

• Whitetail Ski Resort, Cyclists are flocking to Whitetail to explore a new dimension to off-road riding that removes some--but not all--of the exertion from the sport. The ski resort also gives novices and folks who only ride on paved roads and bike paths a chance to try out their mountain bikes where they were meant to be ridden--on a mountain.
  
  DIRECTIONS:
  To get to Whitetail from Washington, Baltimore and points west, take I-70 to Exit 18 (Clear Spring) and MD 68 north to the intersection with US 40. Cross US 40 onto Mill Street and drive north to the stop sign, turn right on Broadfording Road and drive a half-mile. Then turn left on Blairs Valley Road and go 5 miles to the resort entrance.
  
  THE RIDE:
  From the top of Whitetail's chairlift, riders can choose between several routes to explore the ridge. Trails range from twisting technical paths through the forest to a non-technical--but steep--dirt road that leads down the mountain. The resort boasts more than 26 miles of well-marked, maintained trails. The narrow trails, with names such as the High Road, Breakdown Boulevard, Bear Pond Loops, and the Glades, introduce novice mountain bikers to a different world, one without cars, traffic lights or joggers. Instead, two-wheeled explorers at Whitetail pedal their bikes through a mix of pine and deciduous trees and glens full of waist-high mountain laurel. Short, often steep, ups and downs punctuate the trails that honeycomb the top of the mountain.

  Along the way, breaks in the trees reveal valleys below and neighboring mountain ridges to the south. Wildlife is abundant here--and a sharp eye often gets glimpses of whitetail deer, flocks of wild turkeys and a wide variety of bird life. The only sounds are the rustle of wind in the trees, birds (grouse make a sound like someone beating a drum faster and faster) and the occasional high-pitched squeal of brakes from other mountain bikers exploring the mountain ridge.

  A trail pass to ride all the trails at Whitetail is $6. On weekends the chairlift is open; an all-day trail and lift pass is $23. Bike rentals are $50 on weekends (includes trail and lift pass, helmet and a water bottle you can keep) and $40 on weekdays. The trails are open to mountain bikes May through October.