Iron Hill State Park - Newark, DE

Iron Hill is probably the oldest "mountain bike park" in Delaware. It was the first place that Delawareans knew they could enjoy the trails. It quickly became a favorite for people all over the surrounding area and even used to host a five week racing series back in the late 1980's, early 1990's. It has a wide variety of terrain; from fast, smooth single-track, to large wide fire-access roads. It is a small park, which allows you to cover the entire area in a short time, but offers such a wide array of challenges to keep you entertained for far longer. From the rough, gnarly rock gardens that run along the bottom of the park along the side of I-95, to the short, steep climbs and switchbacks. There is a rolling single-track section that almost mimics that of a bmx style "pump-track" where rhythm is key to keeping momentum. There are rock-strewn, root covered single-track sections that can challenge any rider to keep moving forward on their wheels.

A trip to Iron Hill wouldn't be complete without a trip or two (or three) through the "World Famous" Mega-Dip. This strangely intimidating, yet adrenaline pumping ride through a short steep 15-18ft decent with a 6ft flat bottom that transfers into another 12-15ft near vertical climb works to compress body and bike with enough force that the savvy rider uses this energy to propel themselves back up the other side. Probably the most spectator friendly area of any race held at Iron Hill, the Mega-Dip has been the site of many cheers and screams as riders have splatter bike and body with a bad choice of line through the compression, as well as the cheers of accomplishment as riders hang it all out jumping off the top of the decent, landing part way down, gaining speed to rocket up the other side in triumph. Over the years the park had fallen into disrepair and had started filling in with "less desirable" elements of society, but a recent move to clean up the park by county officials and police has brought this park back to its wondrous glory. New playgrounds for the family, a new disc golf course, and re-cleared trails and maintenance has made this park the playground for mountain bikers that it once was.