Orchard Hill / UMass Trails Mountain Biking Trails

Orchard Hill / UMass Mtbing trails are a dense network of homegrown trails built and maintained by UMass Amherst Cycling Club and community trail builders. These trails have been here for upwards of twenty years, existing in various states of being buffed out. In the last couple of years these trails have received some tlc from students and local Kurt B., who have cleaned and added new strings. The network is made up of two areas:
Orchard Hill network is a hilly flow area that overlooks the campus on a steep slope and includes a mashup of everything from beginner friendly stuff to newer jump lines (crazy). The trails can get braidy and overlap in places with hips appearing randomly. Seems almost as if hungover college students designed these trails... OHill is a fun network where you can pump out some hard world cup style laps or decide to session one jump endlessly. Most recently, a motivated local crew of gravity guys (T.O.A.) have built a buttery jump line called 'Corancation' with some big air to hit. Look out for some new trails by them popping up soon. Additionally, OHill has a 1/4mi Dual Slalom course (Fat Lines) and Pump track that are both nearing completion. OHill trail network is the home to the infamous student run, 'OHill MTB Race'. This race typically occurs in early May and has been running intermittently for a couple decades. It's a brutal world cup style course with hard elevation to contend with and fast downhills. Downhill from OHill trails to the east, and across the Sylvan-OHill footpath, are a series of service roads and grass double track that snakes through the Orchard Hill Disc Golf course. These are great trails to meander through and perfect for a cross bike, in fact this area is home to historic cross races including the first UCI Cross race held in North America, organized by Adam Myerson (UMass Cycling alum). Lots of fast grassy downhills here and a perfect off camber practicing area in the "bowl" across the road from the police station. There is always a chance in this area to see wildlife including multiple families of bobcats.
Renaissance Center Trails aka the Dagobah System are to the north of OHill, across Eastman Ln. This network is designed by Kurt B and includes a great set of fast XC trails that roll around with the terrain, and then open up into the field networks of the UMass Renaissance Center and UMass Student Farm area. In the woods you'll find a small but very pumpy trail system with features dotted around, giving each trail a lot of character. This area is great for a fat bike in the winter and also for quick sessioning on a (pinch flat resistant) CX bike. Weekly CX rides occur here starting at the center on Wednesdays during the Fall held by local club NCC.
Come by OHill to check it out