Trail Review: Mahlon Dickerson Reservation in Morris County,NJ

Mahlon Dickerson Reservation is a multiuse park for hikers, equestrians, and mountain biking. It is the largest park in Morris County, New Jersey and has approximately 3042 acres of land. The standard park commissioner maps only indicate two loops, of 5.5 miles and 6.5 miles but there are many more single track trails to choose from. Many of which I would classify as technically advanced. Almost any trail you select will have a combination of gravel, loose rocks, slate, logs, and roots while you are taking really FAST descents over the whole big mess. Plus the trail gets twisty. Very cool! The trail has sporadic markers indicating the direction to the camp grounds or the two loops as well as a marker for the highest point in Morris County, 1320 feet. This was one of the best trails I've ridden all season because almost every climb was rewarded with a descent.

As I mentioned above, the map only indicates two loops with a total of 12 miles but on the day we rode the park, we managed to do the two loops and some bonus single track for a total ride of almost 17 miles. The park is truly under utilized by the local residents. On the positive side this means very little trail traffic. On the negative side, this means if you have an accident or a mechanical break down, it may be awhile before you meet up with anyone. As with any trail, I recommend you ride with a partner or in a group. If you can't find a partner or group to ride with, certainly let someone know where you've gone and when to expect you back. If possible bring a cell phone. It could make all the difference in the event that the unthinkable happens. As always remember, share the trail, be respectful of others using the park, and if you carry it in, carry it out.

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