August 27, 2025
My next stop in New York State was Shindagin Hollow State Forest, about an hour east of Seneca Lake. It’s a sprawling 5,000-acre forest with 19 miles of mountain bike trails, and it sounded like exactly what I needed — a place to stretch my legs (and maybe my sense of direction).
I set out ready to explore, but I’ll admit, I don’t remember much about the details of the trails. Thankfully, my trusty Strava app filled in the blanks later — apparently I rode for an hour, covered 6.8 miles, and made a few colorful notes about the terrain. My official review? “Roots, roots and more roots. I dont ever need to ride here again.”
That about sums it up. Roots, roots, and more roots. It felt more like bouncing through a maze of roots than gliding along a trail. I swear, those trails were designed by trees with a sense of humor.
And for some reason, no matter how many times I say “Shindagin Hollow,” my brain insists on calling it “Shin Dig.” Maybe it’s because every ride there feels like a bit of a party — the kind where you leave with dirt on your face, a few new bruises, and a big grin.
It might not have been the most graceful ride I’ve ever done, but it was definitely memorable. Shindagin Hollow, or “Shin Dig” as I’ll forever call it, gave me just the kind of rugged adventure I was looking for.