FROM THE RIVER TO THE SUMMIT, RIDE THE
WILD SIDE OF BETHLEHEM
THE SECTORS
MOUNTAIN TOP DESCENTS, SKILLS PARK, CROSS COUNTRY TRAILS, MACHINE FLOW AND SO MUCH MORE.
Get ready for an unforgettable adventure on BTA's trail network! After a tough yet rewarding climb to the summit of Mt. Agassiz, you'll be treated to stunning 180-degree views of Franconia Notch that are simply breathtaking. The top sector is perfect for thrill-seekers, with fast and exciting single-track black diamond trails that will get your adrenaline pumping. Straight from there you head into our famed Shoulder roll trail that is ever growing and provides loads of fun for all riders. As you descend over 1200 feet to the Ammonoosuc River, you'll find more family-friendly, yet still exciting, machine-built trails. Don't forget to sharpen your skills at our skills park, where we've built awesome machine-built features. Whether you're a seasoned rider or just out for a fun day with the family, our trails have something for everyone.
MT. AGASSIZ
WHERE THE MAGIC LIVES
Long descents, rewarding climbs and the best summit views in Bethlehem. This sector is the definition of hand built trails that meet machine refinement.
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Shoulder Roll is BTA’s flagship and OG trail. It descends 663 feet and is downhill only. Shoulder Roll blends fun and fast flowy sections with technical sections tossed in periodically. There is a fun steep granite slab roll, multiple cool wooden bridges and features, a few drops and hips, and multiple tabletop jumps. All features have clear and easy ride-arounds. There are also a ton of mini side features that you can hit along the length of the trail. Shoulder Roll is just giddy fun!
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Truckin’ is a fun, yet sustained black diamond climbing trail used to access the top of Shoulder Roll and provides access to Into the Wild and the summit of Mount Agassiz. The trail climbs 619 feet, but the ascent is not too technical. The joy of this climbing trail is enhanced by the multiple bridges and the amount of granite incorporated into the trail. There are Shoulder Roll access points about 1/2 way and 3/4 way where one can hop onto Shoulder Roll to descend. Please do not park at the Chapel at the entrance to Truckin’.
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Fast Times, as the name suggests, is a high-velocity gravity-fed hand-built downhill-only trail that will keep you on your toes! It is SO FUN! There are multiple small gap jumps and drops, and one larger step-down, that can be bypassed, just before it rejoins Into the Wild. The trail descends 222 feet. From the bottom, you can either head back up Into the Wild for another lap or head back to Shoulder Roll to descend back to the Town or River zones.
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Into the Wild is a bi-directional trail that serves as the climbing trail to the beautiful and impressive summit of Mt. Agassiz. The trail meanders through hardwood forest and feels quite mellow considering the elevation gain - before you know it you have climbed 296 feet and are at the Summit where you can enjoy expansive views of the White Mountains! From the top, you can descend Fast Times or, if you are looking for an easier descent, you can ride back down Into the Wild. Caution: Fast Times crosses Into the Wild in 4 locations, so keep a lookout for downhill riders.
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New to the BTA network in 2024 is Brokedown Palace! This is a gravity-fueled, Squamish-esque, steep trail that follows a granite ribbon down Mount Agassiz's shoulder. This trail is rated double black diamond due to the multiple steep rock rolls, blind drops, and gap jumps that do not have ride arounds. The trail finishes with a “freeride glade” - where there are multiple lines so you can choose your challenge, then head back up to try the others. This trail is not for the faint of heart! Please scout features before riding them. Brokedown Palace ends on Truckin just before the 1/2 way cut off over to Shoulder Roll, so you can either continue your descent on Shoulder Roll or head back to the top!
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Though Shoulder Press is technically a bi-directional trail, most riders use this trail to climb from the bottom of Shoulder Roll back to Truckin’ for another lap on Shoulder Roll, or to access the Mountain (Agassiz) Trails from the River (Ammo) Trails. The trail climbs 320 feet. The trail has sections on a double track and some hand-built single track that get a bit technical in sections.
THE AMMONOOSUC
MACHINE MEETS RIVER
Cool off and take a ride to the river. Want to dip your toes into faster moving mountain bike trails? The Ammo sector is the perfect step from beginner to intermediate while still providing plenty of fun even for the most seasoned rider.
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Belly Rolls is Bethlehem Trails first fully machine built trail! This fun beginner/intermediate trail runs a little over a half mile through the lush wood straight down to the Ammonoosuc river. Being machine built, these trails offer a clean ride with little rocks and roots to interrupt your flow. With well built turns and little bumps to begin learning how to hop, this trail is great for a beginner dipping their toes into more down hill riding. With a 250’ descent, this trail is a rip!
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Ripple, Belly Rolls big brother! Running parallel to each other, Ripple is the next step up. This intermediate trail is another machine built trail that runs a little over a half mile and descends 250’. Ripples is unique for its high lipped machine built berms, fast rolling doubles and tons of booters to launch off of. This trail finishes straight into Ammo Run along the river!
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Ammo run is a beginner connector trail that ties the bottom of Belly Rolls and Ripples to the climbing trail Gruntless. Though an easy cross country connector trail, Ammo Run parallels the river and offers fantastic views and opportunities to pull off and jump in! This connector is a short quarter mile ride to the head of the climbing trail.
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Gruntless gets its name due to the effortless climb. Only half a mile and less than a 200’ accent, this single track climb offers lots of switch backs, sections of relief, and a quick ride back to the top. This climb offers the ability to ride multiple laps of Belly Rolls and Ripple in a short period of time!
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Caddy Shack is a single track cross country trail that connects the bottom of Shoulder Roll at 302 to the rest of the lower network trails. This Trailhead is right off of 302 and there is no cross walk, so please be aware of fast passing cars when you cross!
BEHIND THE TOWN
FAMILY FRIENDLY ADVENTURE
This section is best for the person wanting to enjoy the trails with the whole family, try out mountain biking for the first time, or sharpen your skills. The most multi-use sector of our network, you can catch kids on striders, neighbors walking dogs, or adaptive bikes going on a ride any day.
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This single track is a short connector trail from the middle of town, starting behind the public swimming pool, and ending at the central parking lot on Elm street (the baseball fields). The giant concrete “bench” that is beside the trail is actually the remains of an old dam. This trail helps riders avoid using the main road, and is short at only a quarter of a mile in length and less that 50 feet in elevation change.
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Another single track that's a fun flat trail, and a perfect warm up for your ride. People's Court starts in a nice hardwood forest and then it twists and turns its way through four old clay tennis courts that have been overgrown with pine and poplar trees. Spanning a little over a quarter mile in distance with no elevation change. The courts were actually part of the world famous Chase Tennis Camp that date back to the 1890s. This trail will help you perfect your cornering skills.
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A fine double track that will really allow you to warm up your legs for the day's adventures to come. This is an old rail bed that connects riders from the central parking area to the river and mountain trails. A little over a half mile in length, this is also a popular multi-use trail with people enjoying walks along it as well as bike rides.
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This is an all-ability single track trail that is as fast and fun as you'd like to make it. It's flat but features lots of turns through a forest that was once the clay pigeon shooting range for the Maplewood Hotel. The remnants of those pigeons make up the majority of the tread, so it's usually very tacky. Have fun, go fast! This segment is a short quarter mile ride.
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If you're coming from town, you've reached your first intermediate single track trail. While it can be ridden in both directions, it's best from west to east starting at the intersection with Ryan's Revenge. Harkless features a nice windy single track through forests and meadows. There are a few bridges along the route with faster flowy sections before a switchback climb back out. This trail is a little over a mile long, featuring 150’ of elevation change either way you decide to ride it. This trail is named after Dave Harkless, who helped make mountain biking what it is in this part of New Hampshire. Dave continues to be a great advocate for the sport. Check out Dave’s shop Littleton Bike & Fitness.
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This single track has just enough technicality that it will help build your MTB skills even more. It's modestly up and down with some roots and rocks. A great way to start familiarizing yourself with some of the tighter woods around BTA. This trail is only about half a mile with little change in elevation.
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Bethlehem Trails features a machine built progressive skills park just a short ride from the Elm street parking lot. One of the main features is a progressive jump line that assists you in learning the basics of jumping your bike. Starting out with little rollers increasing up to full size table tops and large gaps. The skills park also features progressive drops to get you comfortable with letting the bike fall off those technical roots and boulders along some of the more advanced trails. Come out and play in the skills park before you hit the trails!
RESPECT THE LAND
Riding trails on public or private lands is a gift, not a right. That hiker we just passed? She might own the land we're riding on. With every ride, let's remember to be grateful for the landowners and others who make it possible.
Enjoy nature, don't ruin it. By keeping on the trails we're mitigating erosion - our single highest impact when we're out riding. Skidding causes erosion, cutting corners can cut off access, and riding muddy trails messes it up for everyone. If we see animals, don't bother them, remember them. Pick up trash, pack it out, carpool here and back.
We share the trails with others, and they have the same rights and responsibilities as each of us. If someone needs help, we help. If someone needs encouragement, we share our enthusiasm. And if it's going to make the situation better, we dismount. Be nice, yield to others, and give a smile.
We know our limits, and we ride within them. Beyond the ride, let’s park where we’re supposed to keep the tunes to a dull roar, and leave the IPAs for après somewhere else. Reckless behavior? A simple, polite call out will do.
