[pedaler845]

The trails marked Yellow, Red, & Blue match the actual markers.

A good route to become familiar with these trails would be to take a right onto Gipsy Trail Road out of the lower lot, and make a left onto the yellow trail. Stay on the trail until Blue, then make a left @ the service road up to the tower. Follow the Red trail from the cell/microwave tower back down to Gipsy Trail Road where it ends across from the lower lot.

Much credit goes to the Putnam Riders Putnam Riders-- Mountain Biking Association for working with the DEC to make the Ninham trails great!

 

[nybike1971]

Thanks for that! The tower side trails are some of my favorite trails in NY state. I am glad the Putnam Riders were able to preserve access to this fantastic riding spot.

 

[pedaler845]

Here's the easy section descending the blue trail. Its about 100 feet

 

[straycatkid]

Hey, people
I'm a Long Island guy looking to branch out a bit and get to some good trails off-Island. Would you be able to provide directions to the Ninham Tower trail? Pedal845's pictures from another thread and the feedback from others make this one seem like a great place to ride. And, and it's not too far, win-win. Thanks very much in advance, maybe I'll see you out there.

 

[masterofnone]

Hey, people
I'm a Long Island guy looking to branch out a bit and get to some good trails off-Island. Would you be able to provide directions to the Ninham Tower trail? Pedal845's pictures from another thread and the feedback from others make this one seem like a great place to ride. And, and it's not too far, win-win. Thanks very much in advance, maybe I'll see you out there.

Check out the Fats in the Cats website. Ninham has excellent trails on both sides of gypsy trail road, ride all of them. An all mountain bike works best there, longer travel FS 26er or 29er, even a lighter FR bike to hit the bigger drops as long as you can climb it as they are very technical trails, but realistically you can make do with any bike.

 

[straycatkid]

Thanks for the tip, I'll definitely check it out.
I ride a Titus RX-1, full suspension XC bike, 4" travel. Lately, I've really been jonesing for a drop seatpost. I think it'll be a sweet addition to the bike that'll help me tackle the hairier stuff upstate. Tax time is coming up, hmm...Not a bad way to spend a refund.

 

[masterofnone]

Unfortunately I didn't spend much time there the past two years but when I started riding twelve years ago on a racy hardtail it was my favorite place, though admittedly over my head on that bike. Over the years the trails got gnarlier and the natural stunts got bigger, so did the bikes. Then man made stunts started being built with bigger and bigger bikes, then climbing around on a 35lb bike wasn't as fun anymore. The powers that be found the stunts last year, we almost lost everything. I guess this story is pretty common now as authorities are cracking down on illegal stunts and trails, riding big bikes for that handful of scattered stunts isn't very relevant in our parts much anymore, I think that era is nearly extinct. Now I'm itchin to go back, a new start with one of the new lightish but extremely capable all mountain bikes without all the empty calories of my beloved freeride bike. Ummm, am I rambling again?

 

[pedaler845]

Ive had extremely fun & challenging rides on my hardtails at Ninham as well as a light AM bike. The traction & power transfer can be pluses on those rocks.

 

[huffster]

Thanks

OP: I have ridden Ninham a few times, since its a little closer to my brothers house. I liked it a lot. So far I have not ridden the Tower side, so this map and your suggestion on route will be very helpful the next time I get up there. I really appreciate it.:thumbsup:

+rep

 

[chiefmatesam]

Going to give it a try tomorrow with my trusty bombproof hard tail. Hopefully won't break it!

 

[huffster]

OP: Hoping to head there soon. Again, thanks for the map. I'm just verifying you suggestion for a tower side exploration. I know where the lot is on Gipsy and I get what you are saying about heading north on Gipsy to catch yellow. I then follow yellow and cross red a couple times before I hit blue. I'll turn left on blue and follow that all the way to tower, right? You mention a service road. Is blue the service road or is there another turn I'll need to make?

 

[pedaler845]

I think you've got it:
Where the Blue meets the Black in the southern part of the map is the service road. I dont know if the service road is marked blue on the ground though. The next right off the service road (.25 mile est) is more blue.

 

[huffster]

Thank you! +rep coming your way.

 

[huffster]

Hit it!

I rode your recommendation today with my brother. There is a bit more climbing on the Tower side than there is on the other side, but its a nice bomb down Red. I think I'd like to run Blue in the opposite direction also. Thanks again for the map and recommendation.:thumbsup:

Ninham - Tower Side (Y/B/R loop) - Mountain biking trip | EveryTrail

 

[TomaszS]

I used to only ride on the tower side, but then I somehow mysteriously wound up on the Gipsy Trail Road and was right next to the other side. I didn't have to much time to explore, but it was much flowier and less technical then the tower side. Much easier to ride on a XC hardtail then the tower side.

 

[DBackRider08]

Is Ninham still open to mountain bikers? I have never been there and it's been on my list of trails to check out. I was talking to a local when I was at Graham Hills the other day and he said it was closed off to mountain bikers. It would suck if this is true.

 

[huffster]

Your local doesn't know what he is talking about. There was a time when there was strife at Ninham due to unauthorized building of jumps and stuff. That was probably 2 years ago.The internet doesn't have much current info. Sometimes a low profile is better. I live in Rockland County. My brother lives in Westchester. I am by no means "a local", but I'm telling you its open. Please treat it well so it stays that way. We just rode there a few weeks ago.

 

[pedaler845]

Your local doesn't know what he is talking about. There was a time when there was strife at Ninham due to unauthorized building of jumps and stuff. That was probably 2 years ago.The internet doesn't have much current info. Sometimes a low profile is better. I live in Rockland County. My brother lives in Westchester. I am by no means "a local", but I'm telling you its open. Please treat it well so it stays that way. We just rode there a few weeks ago.

Well said.

 

[masterofnone]

It's not true thank God because if you've never been there you're missing out, it is a techy riders dream. A couple years ago some freeriders built some "illegal" stuff in there and the powers that be found them. We almost lost ninham but dedicated riders carefully negotiated with the rangers and lent trail work time and saved it for us :rockon: , we all salute you. Some old trails have been eliminated or rerouted around sensitive areas, but I think the reroutes are much better. You have to ride the parking lot side of ninham, I personally think it has even better trails and at least five times as many, there are scattered natural drops all over the place and more than enough techy rocky stuff to test the best of us. It has always been my favorite place but unfortunately I haven't spent much time there the past couple years, I never seemed to have the right bike, they were either big hitters that sucked for the climbing or too cross country. I'm in the process of acquiring an all mountain bike that I can climb without busting a nut and still ride the fun stuff.

 

[DBackRider08]

Awesome. Glad to hear the "local" I talked to was wrong. Def will have to check out Ninham soon. Looks like a great place to ride. Which route or sections of the trail do you guys recommend for a first timer there? Def want to check out the Tower.