more stats
2,431 ft
Distance
2 ft
Climb
-198 ft
Descent
00:02:16
Avg time
-196 ft
Altitude change
969 ft
Altitude min
1,168 ft
Altitude max
1,168 ft
Altitude start
971 ft
Altitude end
-8.1%
Grade
-22.4%
Grade max
3.1%
Grade min
72 ft
Distance climb
2,267 ft
Distance down
92 ft
Distance flat
00:02:16
Avg time

Upper Empire Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
  • Riding Area
    Blue Mountain Resort
    Palmerton, Pennsylvania
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (1 vote)
  • Local Popularity
    50 in Mountain Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #20485 in Mountain Biking
  • State Ranking
    #220 in Mountain Biking · Pennsylvania
  • Trail Type
    Machine Groomed
  • Bike Type
    DH, DJ
  • Direction
    Downhill Only
    Popular Direction Shown
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm, Drop, Jump, Gap Jump

Large Drop and Large Jumps

Access Info

Off of El Camino/Miles of Smiles by the Drop on Miles of Smiles

Tags
BermsDropsJumps

Bike Park

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 9 rides
  • 22 miles average
6 Months
  • 67 rides
  • 25 miles avg distance
All
  • 186 rides
  • Last: Oct 25, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on Aug 2, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.11 (2 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (1,384)
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      Directions to upper-empire trailhead (40.812770, -75.511250)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      1 more »
      mtb
      134 |
      Sep 25, 2024 @ 7:09am
      Sep 25, 2024
      Drops 1

      Videos

      1 more »
      Upper Empire 2nd drop
      mtb
      0:13 | 82 | May 28, 2025 , Palmerton

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      4.5 ★★★★★
      2 Ratings
      5 ★ 50%
      4 ★ 50%
      3 ★
      2 ★
      1 ★

      Reviews / Comments

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      Nearby Trails

      Blue Mountain Resort

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Upper Empire located?
      Upper Empire is located in Blue Mountain Resort, Palmerton, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Blue Mountain Resort trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 40.81277, -75.51125.
      ▼ How hard is Upper Empire?
      Upper Empire is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The average grade is 8.1%.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Upper Empire?
      Upper Empire has 2 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 198 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 969 ft to 1,168 ft.
      ▼ Is Upper Empire a point to point trail?
      Yes, Upper Empire is a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Only. The trail type is machine groomed.
      ▼ How long is Upper Empire?
      Upper Empire is 2,431 ft long. The trail type is machine groomed.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Upper Empire?
      There is no information about dogs being allowed on Upper Empire. Check with local trail managers or the trail page for the latest access rules.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Upper Empire?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Upper Empire are:
      • October (41 activities)
      • August (38 activities)
      • June (29 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Upper Empire? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Upper Empire are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Upper Empire?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 2 minutes to ride Upper Empire. The trail is 2,431 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Upper Empire?
      Upper Empire is a moderately popular trail. There have been 777 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 1,384 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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