Martha's Vineyard Bike Routes and Cycling Guide (2026)
Cycling Martha's Vineyard in 2026: about 38 miles of bike paths, 5 routes from easy family rides to the 60-mile island loop, rental prices, and e-bike rules.
Table of contents [Show]
Mountain biking on Martha’s Vineyard: trails and tips
Author: MV Vacation
Martha’s Vineyard is best known for its beaches and harbor towns, but riders know it for its quiet trails through the woods too. Whether you are new to singletrack or not, these are the trails, the practical tips and what to expect.
Where to mountain bike on Martha’s Vineyard
A posted cycling map with mileages, including the State Forest loops and the town-to-town connections.
A paved bike path through the woods. The state forest fills the middle of the island, and most of the off-road riding here happens on its fire roads and singletrack.
1. Manuel F. Correllus State Forest
This 5,300-acre forest in the middle of the island has:
- About 14 miles of wide, mixed-terrain trails
- Easy routes for beginners and families
- Shaded forest loops and occasional sandy sections
- Trailhead access points off Barnes Road and Old County Road
Local tip: The trails here are sandy and usually dry quickly, but after rain it is worth a look at the current trail conditions.
2. Waskosim’s Rock Reservation
Located between West Tisbury and Chilmark, this conservation property is a more technical ride:
- Singletrack trails with roots, rocks, and narrow passages
- Modest elevation changes and natural obstacles
- Shared with hikers, so riders slow down and yield
The Martha's Vineyard Land Bank posts the access guidelines.
3. Aquinnah’s gravel roads
Aquinnah has no official mountain bike trails, but its backroads and gravel lanes make for a quiet, remote ride:
- Ocean views and rolling hills near Moshup Trail and Lobsterville Road
- Very low traffic, but no marked bike paths
- Best for intermediate riders who want quiet roads
These are roads, not designated bike trails, so a little extra care goes a long way.
Before you book a bed
Where to Stay on Martha’s Vineyard, free
Every town and price band, with the booking rules nobody publishes. Free with the island letter, together with our Beach, Fall and What It Really Costs guides.
One-click unsubscribe, and we never share your email.
Practical tips
- Tubeless tires handle the sand and the odd thorn
- Some routes have nowhere to refill, so bring your own water
- Early morning and near sunset have the least road traffic
- Trails are best left alone right after storms, and posted closures apply
- E-bikes are a different case: state law keeps them off public natural-surface trails unless the town or agency that runs the land has allowed them after a public hearing, so the trailhead sign is worth a look first
Where to rent or repair a bike
A bike rental shop on the island; e-bikes now share the fleet with pedal bikes.
Rental e-bikes lined up outside a diner. Every down-island town rents everything from beach cruisers to full-suspension.
- Wheel Happy (Edgartown): a local shop with hybrids, mountain bikes and accessories
- Edgartown Bicycles: rentals, sales and full-service repairs
- MV Bike Rentals: seasonal, mostly casual bikes, with little off-road gear
When to ride
The best mountain biking months on Martha’s Vineyard are May through October, though the state forest trails stay open all year, sunrise to sunset. Early June and September have good weather with fewer people around. Trails get muddy after storms, and on hot days the shade runs out in places.
Stops along the way
The gravel double-track through scrub oak and pine is the mountain-bike side of the island; the paved shared-use paths are the flat family option.
Pair a ride with a few of the island's landmarks:
- The Gay Head Cliffs in Aquinnah, for the ocean views
- The JAWS Bridge on Beach Road near Edgartown
- A swim at State Beach to cool off
On video
This is what hitting a deep puddle mid-ride looks like:
Watch: Biking Through a Deep Puddle – Almost Got Stuck
Filmed June 2025
The short version
Mountain biking on Martha’s Vineyard means quiet rides through the woods and along roads most visitors never see. There are no big drops or downhill parks.
More island guides are on MVVacation.com.
