ALL TRAILS LEAD TO ICE CREAM

85,000.  That's roughly the number of acres that make up Michaux State Forest in Central Pennsylvania.  One would think that after 15 years of mountain biking in the forest that it would be hard to find something new to ride, but the 85,000 acres makes Michaux a big place.  Actually...really big!  There are certain spots that I love where the forest seems to just engulf everything.  I know that there are cars and roads and buildings and telephone poles down there...but the forest just swallows it all up.  The sensory experience...the breeze blowing through the trees, the green that stretches as far as the eyes can see, and the fresh smell of the blossoming mountain laurel...is so rejuvenating.  Nothing man-made or unnatural.  Just the forest. From 800 feet up the forest seems to engulf everything. -- July 7, 2020 85,000 acres allows for so many possibilities.  Even so, it can be easy to fall into the routine of riding the same familiar trail...

Eight miles to the southwest of Pine Grove Furnace State Park and near the top of Shippensburg Road...right in the middle of Michaux State Forest ...you will find the Big Flat Parking Area .  Big Flat offers access to multiple ATV and snowmobile trails that are in the area.  It'll also...if you're brave enough...provide a mountain bike ride that you soon won't forget!  I know, for a fact, that today was the first time in almost eight years I began a ride at Big Flat.  Partly because the starting point is near the top of the mountain...which means that the ride will inevitably end with a good climb...and partly because there is no way I am physically capable of riding this kind of terrain all the the time! My 2004 Silverado parked in the Big Flat Parking Area located in Michaux State Forest -- August 12, 2016 Thing is... today's ride with Mark and Nate was a great reminder of what Michaux is...and why I love it so much.  Riding the trails in this se...