Single Track Sunday
Place: Jordan Creek Parkway, Whitehall, PA
Ridden: November 2014
Video
Click on video to play
Ride Review
Jordan Creek Parkway is a 269 acre suburban park located just north of Allentown in Whitehall, PA. The park offers a variety of options for recreation of all varieties. Much of the park is a wooded area with trails for hiking, running and mountain biking of all levels. The area is excellent for bird watching and nature study. The Jordan Creek weaves through the park and offers fishing opportunities. In additional to nature activities, athletic fields are available that are suitable for softball/baseball, football, soccer, cricket, and other sports. A disc golf and picnic area are also located within the park. Pretty much no matter what your outdoor activity is, Jordan Parkway has you covered.
All levels can mountain bike at Jordan. The network of trails constantly loops back to the main trail that bisects the park. This allows for a quick ride if time constraints exist and also allows riders of all levels to choose from a variety of trails. The trails have something for everyone from straight, flat double track to single track with log overs, log rides, and short rock gardens. Overall the terrain is fairly flat; there are a few technical climbs and descents that will challenge the advanced riders. Overall, the trails are hardpacked ground, however drainage is poor at some places so use discretion when the conditions are wet. Total miles- who knows? Certainly not the place for an epic, all day ride but there are so many small loops with in loops that one could ride there taking trails from different directions and from different connector trails for an hour or two meanwhile never be more than a few miles from the parking lot. Rumor has it there are plans to connect this trail system with the IRT.
As for our ride, it was nice to see some of the non-regulars show up for the Sunday morning group ride. Geiger, Turtlestino, and Angry Frank Racer Boy mixed things up a bit. The conditions were a bit slippery and sloppy due to the snowfall earlier in the week, but it was still a great ride with friends. Clifford always enjoys the Sunday morning group rides, it is a chance for him to run the trails with his friend Barnaby.
Overall, Jordan is a place where beginners can ride the whole network of trails, encountering numerous opportunities to improve their skills. Intermediate to advanced riders can pick up the pace and choose the more technical trails to increase the difficulty level. - video by Joël - words by Jess