Shifting Gears Rolls Into Blue Mountain Resort: A Pennsylvania Mountain Biking & Van Life Adventure
Crossing into Pennsylvania, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this historic state. My past experience here was mostly confined to the steel industry (glamorous, I know!), and while I’d heard whispers of the Poconos from my college days in upstate New York, I certainly didn’t expect to find mountain biking gold. But on my very first day riding Blue Mountain Resort, any lingering doubts vanished faster than my grip strength on a particularly gnarly downhill. Turns out, Pennsylvania holds more than just history; it holds seriously fun dirt. And I can say this even after my seriously fun time in North Carolina – which you can read about here! I’m going to tell you about my experience at BMR as a beginner/intermediate mountain biker and help you know exactly what to expect for you visit!
Table of Contents
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Blue Mountain Resort Overview: Where Skis Become Spokes.
Winter brings the skiers, but summer transforms Blue Mountain Resort into a lift-served bike park. Tucked away in Palmerton, PA – a charmingly rural spot in the southeastern part of the state, not far from Allentown – it’s safe to say your visit will be almost exclusively about the mountain. I’m going to tell you about my experience at Blue Mountain Resort as a beginner/intermediate mountain biker!
And by rural, I mean rural. Don’t expect a Starbucks on every corner or a bustling nightlife. Your entertainment is the mountain, and frankly, that’s exactly what you’re there for, right? And its a great place to explore Pennsylvania mountain biking and get a taste of that famous Pennsylvania shale that’s oh so fast!
Adding to its rugged charm, the resort actually snuggles right up against the legendary Appalachian Trail. And from the stories spun by the friendly staff, that wilderness spirit clearly influences some of their land management and practices. It’s like the mountain itself is whispering, “Go forth, intrepid adventurer, and don’t forget your bug spray!”
My visit, strategically planned for a mid-week rain-fest, meant the park was essentially my personal playground. One day, I swear there were only 10 of us who weren’t employees. This meant zero lift lines, unobstructed trail views, and the glorious freedom to attempt that one jump just one more time without feeling like I was holding up a parade. The following weekend, a women’s event brought the park to life, but even then, a two-minute lift line was considered “busy.” Welcome to mountain biking nirvana, Pennsylvania style!
BMR Beginner/Intermediate Quick Stats.
Green Trails: 2 trails
- Blue Trails: 14 trails
- Ty’s Beginner Friendly Rating: 8/10
- Van Life Score: 6/10 (only because it was expensive)
- Must-Ride Trail: King Tut
- Best Season to Visit: Summer to early Fall
- Loam Pass / IMBA Epic: No. but worth riding for a day.
- Dog-Friendly: Yes (with restrictions on trails during operating hours)
- Trail Conditions Today: Click Here For Current Conditions.
The Rides and Trails.
One of the reasons I started blogging/vlogging about my mountain biking experiences was that I felt most trail reviews and videos I found were either from actual expert riders or “bros” who think they are experts.
I wanted to give you my experience as Newbie who is starting to inch up towards intermediate status! Not as a bro trying to make you think I’m awesome – when I’m not. This blog is for you Mr. Scared beginner/intermediate mountain biker – because my wheels were actually on the dirt and I’m giving you trail opinions as a beginner/intermediate mountain biker myself!
Boulevard: Go To Basic Flowy Goodness!
Boulevard may be a bit boring after your third or fourth time down. Or even second. But I actually liked it. I conquered it on my first day and it became a great warm up lap.
But what I like about Boulevard is exactly what makes it boring in some ways. Its flowy and fun. Not overly challenging and no where near technical. But you can get some good speed and have some fun in the process without feeling like you are on the verge of a cataclysmic occurence.
King Tut: My Royal Ride.
My absolute favorite trail, particularly as I transitioned from beginner to intermediate, was King Tut. This trail is a masterpiece of flowy berms and perfectly sized jumps.
It’s that Goldilocks of trails: big enough to give you airtime and hone your technique, but small enough that you don’t feel like you’re launching into orbit. I always felt in control, which for someone still learning to commit, is a huge win. I candidly rode this trail several times a day and never got bored! Each time I pushed a little faster.
Ewok Village: Jumping Into the Jungle.
Further down the mountain, Ewok Village offered a fantastic opportunity to test my mettle on its unique jump lines.
The cool thing about Ewok is it was designed by a former BMX rider, which means the jumps are a bit steeper and more pointed, but with surprisingly forgiving landing zones. It’s like a friendly trickster forcing you to adapt and expand your jumping repertoire. Who knew learning could be so much fun (and occasionally, so airborne)?
The thing to note about Ewok Village: The jumps are substantially easier if you hit them at trail speed. Anything slower and you fail to hit the sweet spot which results in the neat bruises that adorn my shins as the bike hit me and tossed me around.
El Camino: A Road with Attitude and Altitude!
While in some ways my least favorite ride – particularly the beginning – I probably ended up riding El Camino the most. I can’t really say why it was my least favorite – I just liked King Tut and Boulevard better!
Ok. Maybe I can say why. This area is known for their shale that makes Pennsylvania mountain biking uniquely challenging. The local joke is its “Shale-Vania”. And local shale is very slick. For a machine cut groomed trail – I felt like El Camino had a lot of nice slippery shale. This problem was probably exacerbated by the fact that it rained literally every day I was there. thus making it my least favorite ride. But I did like the actual flow of the ride. The combo of jumps and berms was nice (except for the ones that had a lot f slick rocks – those were not nice in any way.
Wild Turkey: Because It Will Shake you Crazy!
So alas – for those of you who like techy stuff – Blue Mountain Resort certainly has that. Wild Turkey is your beginner/intermediate trail to learn and work on navigating those root gardens and slick PA shale.
Candidly, it was my least favorite ride. Namely because if I want a technical ride I’m gonna go ride in a National Forest or somewhere else. Not the groomed bike park. But overall – its not a horrible ride and you will have some appreication when you get back on the groomed stuff. That having been said. If you like that sorta thing – roots and rocks and vibration – this might be your jam.
Van Life & Camping: The Good, The Gravel, and The Grub.
So, BMR excels at beginner/intermediate mountain biking, but when it comes to van life Pennsylvania amenities, it’s a bit more “roughing it.” I camped in their designated campground, which, for a van lifer, essentially translates to a large gravel parking lot with a few picnic tables and trash cans. For this privilege, I forked over $55.00 a night. To Park….
Where parking is otherwise free. And to use a porta-potty. Yeah, I’m not gonna lie, that felt a little… ambitious. $20.00? Fair. $25.00? Maybe. But $55.00? My wallet wept a single, gravelly tear.
Now, for those of you with a more adventurous spirit (and a knack for discretion), because the resort abuts the Appalachian Trail, there are AT parking lots nearby. While I’m certainly not advocating anything illegal, local whispers suggested these spots are rarely busy and could offer a “realistic alternative.” Just saying.
The nearest town is quaint, and you’ll need to navigate a charming (but low-clearance) covered bridge to get there – my Revel wasn’t going to make that cut, but my bike did! It’s about a mile ride down. I highly recommend the Covered Bridge Inn, the local hangout. Enjoy a beer, a decent steak, and whatever you do, do not skip the upside-down apple pie with cinnamon ice cream. It absolutely meets expectations, and then some.
Chasing great mountain biking, camping smart, and living full-time in an RV. Hard-won wisdom. Zero fluff. Live Free. Adventure Often
Quick Links.
The Good & The Not-So-Great: A Quick Rundown.
The Good:
- Ghost Town Trails (Mostly): Relatively quiet, especially mid-week, meaning no lift lines, trails to yourself, and the ability to ride until your hands can no longer grip the bars.
- Trail Guide Gold: The dedicated trail guides are an absolute game-changer and an amazing benefit for beginners.
- Progressive Terrain: Challenging yet safe trails that truly allow for skill progression.
- Friendly Faces: Exceptionally friendly and laid-back staff.
- Anti-Corporate Vibe: It’s a resort, but it happily lacks that soul-crushing corporate overlord feel.
- Well-Maintained: Trails are excellently maintained, keeping things running smoothly.
- Nature’s Embrace: Beautiful natural scenery and plenty of deer (just try not to hit them).
The Not-So-Great:
- Too Quiet? The flip side of being quiet is that when the lodge is empty and the cafe closed, it can feel a little… eerie. Like you’re the last human on Earth.
- Instructional Quibbles: While I learned a lot from my lessons, the instructors weren’t certified, and there wasn’t a clear, organized teaching philosophy or progression. As a PSIA-certified ski instructor and PADI IDC Staff Instructor, I’m used to structured learning paths, and that was noticeably absent here.
- Camping Costs: The campground is vastly overpriced for what amounts to a gravel parking lot and a porta-potty.
- Limited Mid-Week Hours: During the week, lifts open at noon. If you prefer to be off the trails by 3-4 PM (like me, before my hands give out), this significantly limits your ride time.
Other Pennsylvania Adventures.
So. I actually ended up spending longer in PA then I had planned due to a electic issue with Jack. That left me plenty of time to write (more time than I wanted – lol). Here’s some other trail reviews from PA! Also – To see all of my Pennsylvania Content – including the various Thousand Trails Resorts I stayed at – check out my PA Landing Page by Clicking Here!
Jake’s Rocks Trail Report: Where the Allegheny Forest Hugs Your Knobby Tires
Discover Jake’s Rocks mountain biking trails in the Allegheny National Forest! Get a humorous trail report, tips for nice flowy singletrack, and free boondocking spots.
Trail Report PA: My Harrowing Experience in Rothrock State Forest and Glorious Redemption @ Raystown Lake
A beginner/intermediate mountain biker’s candid review of Rothrock State Forest and the surprising joy of Allegrippis Trail System near Raystown Lake, PA. Expect humor, struggles,
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Ty's Take-Aways!
Overall, I rally enjoyed my time at Blue Mountain Resort as a beginner/intermediate mountain biker. I felt like the park helped me progress my mountain biking while feeling safe.
I particularly liked the staff and the fact that the resort did not have a big corporate overlord feel that I’m used to having worked at a large ski resort.
The biking itself was very beginner/intermediate friendly but still challenging enough and diverse enough that you can spend several days here and not get bored. Moreover, the lifts were never busy while I was there and the trails were pretty open. So I felt like I could take my time. Only once – on Saturday – did one jerk breath down my neck. Then….I…..went…..as…….painfully….slow….as…..I….possibly……could…..
Overall, I definitely recommend the resort if you are going to be doing sojme mountain biking in PA!!!
For my other sheningans, check out my Destinations and Itinerary Page where I post the latest updates and guides! And. If you want to read about the amazing recovery week I had in the Thousand Islands in Upstate NY following my trip to BMR, Click Here!
A Little Bit About Me.
I started writing this blog as a way to capture the adventurous and free lifestyle I’m privileged to live. I’ve traveled to over 28 countries and 35 U.S States. I’ve lived aboard in multiple countries and averaged over 100 days a year of travel for work. I’ve skied and hiked all over the world – and my new obsession is mountain biking.
What I bring to you isn’t AI generated. It’s based on my feet on the ground – or sometimes conversations with locals. Click here to read more about me!
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