Whitemarsh Preserve – Mountain Bike Trail

The Whitemarsh Island Preserve is a well-maintained, easy-to-navigate trail system for fun riding. The easy trail has dirt and sand on its surface with a few obstacles that anyone can easily overcome. We recommend you get wider tires for the surface. The best thing about the trail is that it is well-marked with colored discs, so you cannot get lost easily.

Before you go:

Drinking water

Restrooms

Fee required

Lift service

Fat bike grooming

Family Friendly

Night riding

E-bikes allowed

Dogs Allowed

Obstacles

Shuttles

Detailed Trail Description

The Whitemarsh Island Preserve trails are a great place to go mountain biking for a beginner rider or an experienced rider taking a break from technical riding. It is popular among MTB speedsters and Cycle-X riders.

The trail system is fast and flowy with a lot of sand. Some of its parts have easily navigable dirt surfaces. As for technicality, you will only encounter less than five obstacles which are mostly dips with go-arounds and log jam crossings.

You may be tempted to leave the main trail and follow one of the multiple walking trails. You can explore the paths as much as you like without getting lost because they all connect to the main trail. Plus, if you keep a keen eye on the colored disks, you will hardly get lost.

You can use the trailhead to get to the trail at the end of Brian Woods Rd. Take a right turn onto John Mercer Blvd. and another right turn onto the dirt parking lot. We discovered the trail entrance is not well marked as the sign shows an orange trail to the left and a blue trail to the right, yet they are the same trail in different directions.

Sights of Interest, Landscapes, Views

The trees on the trail system provide ample shade on hot sunny days and make you feel deep in nature, away from the noisy, bustling city. You may also spot a few bird species, squirrels, and coyotes.

Recommendations and Precautions

• As there are plenty of walking trails that cross the biking route, beware of hikers and joggers.
• As the trail has a sandy surface, we recommend getting wider tires.
• Some of the trail markings are not very clear, so keep a keen eye on them to avoid getting lost.
• Be mindful of the tight turns on sandy surfaces, especially if you are riding at top speed.