[john1970]

Dear Everyone,

I am 46 years old and looking to get back into MTB after a decade long absence. I definitely want to start out on easy trails such as the Rocky Meadows trails in Belmont MA. I am curious if there are other easy trails that other users can recommend. At this stage I feel most comfortable keeping both wheels on the ground and even once my skills improve I am not interested in jumps more than a foot off the ground.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you,
John

 

[Scott O]

Cutler Park in Needham
Middlesex Fells - there's some trails that could be challenging but also lots of fire roads that are easy. Tons of hikers and dog walkers though.
Blue Hills - similar options as the Fells

If you're on BookFace you can check out a lot of groups like Nemba that have rides based on user experience level. have fun.

 

[ckspeed]

Ponkapoag Pond at Blue hill reservation is great for cardio training and a bit of leg strength training. If you venture to the east side on route 24, some area is rocky but doable. I’m 53 and have not ride for about 3 months. I’ll be training here for a few weeks before hitting the north side of blue hills.

 

[tedmasta]

Beaver Brook is the #1 spot for beginners and where NEMBA does their beginner rides.

Fells and blue hills are way harder.

Never been to Cutler but I hear it is very mellow and greens only.

 

[D. Inoobinati]

Member has removed content due to fundamental disagreement with this site owner's views favoring expanded access for electric mountain bikes (eMtb) on multiuse singletrack in public lands.

 

[tedmasta]

Do they still allow MtB at the fells? I used to have that place to myself when I rode there some 30 years ago; just curious to know how the place might have changed since.

Yes, NEMBA builds trails there. A few places are still off limits. It's on the maps. Great place to ride with lots of rock and decent elevation.

 

[Scott O]

Fells and blue hills are way harder.

With tons of miles of easy easy fire roads for riders starting out.

 

[D. Inoobinati]

I used to ride the edges of the reservoirs when they froze over. Also beginner-level and super uncrowded, though studs may help.

 

[john1970]

Beaver Brook is the #1 spot for beginners and where NEMBA does their beginner rides.

Fells and blue hills are way harder.

Never been to Cutler but I hear it is very mellow and greens only.

Thank you for the advice. Much appreciated. I am actually consolidating a list of green trails in MA that are relatively close by to where I live.

 

[Scott O]

Thank you for the advice. Much appreciated. I am actually consolidating a list of green trails in MA that are relatively close by to where I live.

No problem.

 

[Red Leg 2]

Dear Everyone,

I am 46 years old and looking to get back into MTB after a decade long absence. I definitely want to start out on easy trails such as the Rocky Meadows trails in Belmont MA. I am curious if there are other easy trails that other users can recommend. At this stage I feel most comfortable keeping both wheels on the ground and even once my skills improve I am not interested in jumps more than a foot off the ground.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you,
John

Hi, John I am putting Rocky Meadows on my must ride list.
There is Borderland State Park in No. Easton perhaps 30 miles south of Boston. There is a three mile flat as a pancake hard packed dirt road encircling beautiful ponds. It can get pretty packed with pedestrians on the weekends though.
Blue Hills Reservation on Hillside Road off 138 in Milton has very flat Green trails around Houghton's Pond and Ponkapoag Pond. There is also a mostly Blue mountain bike trail that snakes through the woods beginning diagonally across from the State Police Barracks on Hillside Road. It begins on the paved Bugbee Trail, soon becoming a loose gravel carriage road. This entire Blue trail is marked with white arrows on the trees, and is easy to follow as long as we keep an eye out for those arrows. There are spots on this white arrow trail where I prefer to carry or push the bike. Other than that, there are lots of areas on this trail that are quite easy. Although the white arrow trail branches off Bugbee in places, at times I ignore the arrows, staying on Bugbee out to where it hooks left in a tiny field within a few yards from Route 24. The white arrow trail branches left into the woods here. However, moving past the white arrow trail, I continue on this same Green trail I've been describing because it soon becomes a well-packed easy carriage road running closely parallel to Rt. 24. Blue Hills Reservation is gorgeous. I hope this will help. Good riding to you. 🚴‍♀️

 

[dompedro3]

Dear Everyone,

I am 46 years old and looking to get back into MTB after a decade long absence. I definitely want to start out on easy trails such as the Rocky Meadows trails in Belmont MA. I am curious if there are other easy trails that other users can recommend. At this stage I feel most comfortable keeping both wheels on the ground and even once my skills improve I am not interested in jumps more than a foot off the ground.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you,
John

Cutler has been mentioned, some additional info:
If you enter the park from Kendrick st parking lot. There is a network of trails, lots of ups and downs on the right side of the pond. From the right side of the parking lot ride past the offices then turn left into the park, about a 1/4mile in, directly across from the path to the viewing area is an uphill path that is the easiest way to get to these trails.
Further in, Powells island (across the first long boardwalk/bridge) is a fun 5-10 minute loop. Past Powells island (if you go under the railroad tracks) it gets really rooty and fairly muddy ocasionally.

 

[MrMaps]

Russell Mill is great for skill building, and they have a pump track which is awesome for warming up.