The best gravel rides around Bedford Hills

Bedford Hills is known for its hilly landscape, offering a mix of challenging climbs and varied surfaces. You'll find extensive unpaved paths, low-volume roads, and immersive forest settings, often with over 50% gravel. The region features picturesque reservoirs and preserved natural spaces, providing diverse topography for your rides.

Yes, Bedford Hills offers several longer routes. For example, the Cross River Reservoir – Cross River reservoir dam loop from Goldens Bridge is a challenging 40.0-mile (64.4 km) trail that takes about 4 hours to complete, leading through forest settings and around the Cross River Reservoir.

The gravel biking routes in Bedford Hills are predominantly challenging. Out of 18 available routes, 15 are rated as difficult, featuring significant elevation gains and varied terrain. There are also 3 moderate routes for those seeking a slightly less intense experience.

Many routes offer scenic views of natural features. You can cycle past the beautiful Cross River Reservoir, which is a prominent feature in many rides. Other notable highlights include the North County Trailway, which follows an old train track, and the Red Bridge over the Croton Reservoir.

Yes, many of the popular gravel routes in Bedford Hills are loops. For instance, the Cross River reservoir dam – Cross River Reservoir loop from Mianus River Gorge Preserve is a difficult 31.7-mile (51.0 km) circular trail with significant elevation gain around the reservoir.

The komoot community highly rates the gravel biking experience in Bedford Hills, with an average score of 5.0 stars. Riders often praise the diverse landscapes, extensive trail networks, and the scenic beauty of areas like the Cross River Reservoir. The mix of challenging terrain and quiet, low-volume roads also contributes to a rewarding experience.

While specific public transport connections to trailheads are not detailed in the route information, Bedford Hills is accessible by Metro-North Railroad. You may need to plan for a short ride or taxi from the station to reach specific trail starting points. Always check local transport schedules and bike policies.

The region's routes are generally characterized by hilly terrain and are often rated as difficult. While there are no specific 'easy' routes listed, the North County Trailway, a rail trail, typically offers flatter, less technical sections that might be more suitable for families or beginners, though specific family-friendly gravel routes are not highlighted.

Bedford Hills offers enjoyable gravel biking throughout much of the year. Spring and fall provide pleasant temperatures and beautiful foliage. Summer can be warm but routes often feature forest settings for shade. Winter riding is possible, but trail conditions may vary with snow and ice, so checking local conditions is advisable.

The Town of Bedford manages approximately 3,000 acres of nature preserves and sanctuaries, which often include trails suitable for biking. For more detailed information on these local preserves and their trail networks, you can visit the official Town of Bedford website: bedfordny.gov/281/Trails-Preserves.

Yes, gravel biking in Bedford Hills frequently involves routes that combine both paved and unpaved surfaces, often with over 50% gravel. This allows for varied rides, from less technical paths to more demanding routes, and is a characteristic feature of the region's cycling experience.