LEHIGH COUNTY

Mountain bike trail now open

Trexler Nature Preserve and Lehigh County recently unveiled a newly rebuilt bike trail for bikers to explore.

In collaboration with Valley Mountain Bikers, Brian’s Trail has been rebuilt into a new path for bikers.

The trail was closed to the public prior to the project.

Plans for the bike path were first presented three years ago as part of the North Range Grassland Restoration Project with support of The Wildlands Conservancy and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The rebuilt trail includes a machine-built flow trail with jumps and other features to challenge new and advanced mountain bikers.

Minimal impact was made to the natural environment during construction and path designers ensured strict sedimentation control and erosion control measures were met, according to a media release from Lehigh County.

The project represents a partnership between Lehigh County and the mountain bike community. To fund its development, members of the Valley Mountain Bikers paid for the path’s construction through personal donations and fundraising at no cost to the county or taxpayers. Among fundraisers held for the new bike path was the annual Trexxxfest held at the Trexler Nature Preserve in the fall of 2019.

During public closures from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trexler Nature Preserve has seen an increase in traffic from county residents and other guests.

The preserve includes more than 20 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding as well as archery hunting, fishing and picnicking opportunities.