What’s in those woods?

After visiting the Orchard Hill Observatory, I glanced longingly at the surrounding woods. That’s when I noticed the small opening of a trail. It beckoned to me, as the forest often does, and I took a few extra moments to check it out—careful not to get lost or disturb the very territorial squirrels. To my surprise and delight, I found a trail not made for hiking but carefully crafted for mountain biking!

Turns out the UMass Amherst Cycling Club, started in 1973, has been building and maintaining those trails for some 50 years. The club works alongside the western Massachusetts chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA), using specialized machines to clear trails and build features. “A lot of the people that work with NEMBA have actually graduated from UMass,” says club captain Luke Cashdollar ’26. “They come back and they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, I built this trail 20 years ago.’”

The features found on the Orchard Hill trails include berms, chutes, drops, gaps, kickers, single and double tracks, tabletops, and more. If, like me, you don’t know any of those terms, you should probably start out at the “small skills” trail off the Subbaswamy’s Sinker trail to the east of the observatory. Just make sure you have the right kind of bike. It makes all the difference! Mountain bikes have thick tires and treads that keep you from slipping on rocky or muddy trails. Mountain bikes also have flat handlebars and suspension systems to help cushion bumps and improve your balance. Lastly, they come with powerful disc brakes in case you need to bail quickly.

Though the trail difficulty levels range from the beginner-friendly green circle to the expert-only double black diamond, they were all made to be green in another sense. As Cashdollar explains, “We focus on building and maintaining trails sustainably. We keep our invasiveness to the lowest amount possible, and whenever we plan out new trails, we make sure they run through open sections of old growth, so we don’t disturb the new, shorter growth.”

All are welcome to use the trails at any time—and with any skill level. But, if you’re a student, it may just be worth joining the club. This year there are 30 members, so not only will you get to ride with people who know the flow, you could also end up making new friends. Cashdollar has seen it time and time again. “Being able to connect with a group of people that you feel like you’ve known forever, even on your first or second day—that’s the most incredible feeling,” he says. “You’re just able to fit in and find a really good group of friends.” Alumni are also welcome to come back to join the rides or come cheer on the club at racing events.

Mountain biking is also a way to find yourself. “The sport not only allows you to stay in great shape,” says Cashdollar, “but [it] also pushes limits you didn’t even know you had—mentally and physically.”

Raw Materials

Watch them shred!