Sterling Forest NY: 8 Miles of MTB Flow, Tech, and Forgotten Mines

Hit this awesome 8-mile route at Sterling Forest State Park in Tuxedo, NY, where you will ride past historic 18th and 19th-century iron mines! Starting from Laurel Meadow Ponds Trailhead, this intermediate multi-use loop features roughly 1,000 ft of climbing and mixes challenging technical rock sections with sweet flowy trail. Not going to lie, this one kicked our butts. We came back exhausted and busted up from a bad fall or two (we were the only two hardtails that I saw on the trail). 🗺️ The Route Breakdown Start: Laurel Meadow Ponds Trailhead Climb: McKeags Meadow Trail to Augusta Mine Trail (Keep an eye out for the deep, water-filled Augusta Mine pits right off the trail!) Cruise: Turn south onto Hutchinson Trail Descend: Flow onto Redback Trail Circle Back: Connect to McKeags Meadow Trail to return to the parking area 📊 Trail Stats Distance: ~ 8 miles Elevation Gain: ~ 1,000 ft Difficulty: Intermediate / Blue (some technical rock gardens, roots, and punchy climbs) ⚒️ Historic Highlights Sterling Forest was once a massive hub for the American iron industry. As you ride up the Augusta Mine Trail, you will pass right by the remnants of the Augusta Mine, which operated from the late 1700s into the 1800s. The massive stone cuts and flooded pits add an awesome, eerie vibe to the climb! Situated in the Sterling Lake Mining District just west of Tuxedo Lake, this historic magnetite iron mine supplied crucial ore to the nearby Southfield Furnace Ruin during the Civil War. While the historic underground shafts are caved in and flooded, the remnants remain highly visible to hikers. 🛠️ Trail Info Big thanks to the Palisades MTB and the NY-NJ Trail Conference for maintaining and building out these stellar mountain bike-optimized trails! 🔔 Subscribe for more Hudson Valley & NY MTB trails! #mountainbiking #SterlingForest #MTB #NewYorkTrails #RideNJNY