About the Author:
Bobby Lea is an Alburtis-area dad, three-time Olympic cyclist, and co-founder of Kitli, a parent-powered gear review platform for families raising active kids. He has lived in the Lehigh Valley for more than 25 years and now lives on a small farm with his wife, Shelby, and their two kids, where bikes, trails, and outdoor play are part of everyday life.
Riding bikes with kids can be a fun family outing, but it can also feel intimidating if you do not know where to start. The right place depends less on finding the prettiest trail and more on choosing a spot where you and your child can safely enjoy the experience and finish feeling excited to do it again.
Fortunately, the Lehigh Valley has plenty of great riding spots that work well for kids, from simple park loops and flat paths to playground-adjacent rides and beginner-friendly trails for more confident riders.
These are my five favorite places in the Lehigh Valley to ride with young kids. Some are best for balance bikes and kids getting the hang of their first pedal bike. Others work better for longer outings, kids who want a little more independence, or confident riders ready to try dirt trails. I’ll walk through what each spot is best for, when to skip it, where to park, and a simple checklist to make the outing easier.
How to Use This Guide
Every spot I’ve chosen is matched to a different kind of rider. Some are best for new riders still learning basic skills. Some are better for kids who can already ride confidently. Others are places where kids can ride while a parent walks, runs, or stays close without needing to pedal alongside them.
The best location is not always the most impressive or Instagram-worthy. It is the one with the right balance of manageable fun, easy bail-out options, and enough flexibility to match your child’s mood and confidence that day.
Bob Rodale Cycling and Fitness Park
Best For: A first bike ride outing in a safe and controlled environment.
Try It If: Your child is still learning basic riding skills like starting, stopping, and controlling their speed.
This is a good fit for:
*Balance bikes
*Riders on training wheels
*Kids transitioning to a first pedal bike
*Parents who want to walk while their child rides
Skip It If: Your child is older, confident, and wants a ride that feels like they are going somewhere.
What to Know Before You Go
Bob Rodale Park in Trexlertown is the easiest first stop on this list because it gives kids a contained place to ride without car traffic. The 1-mile paved loop, with a bypass in the middle to trim the loop in half, lets kids ride laps while parents stay close enough to help as needed.
The multi-use loop has three lanes designated for walkers, in-line skaters, and faster riders. My wife and I loved it when our son was on a balance bike because the walking lane was just the right speed for us. Later, we loved it when he needed more space to ride faster with less supervision, while our younger daughter needed more hands-on help.
The best part about riding here is that you do not need to commit to a long ride. Make a morning of it. Pack a picnic lunch, let your child ride a lap or two, explore the small loop by the sandbox, take a break for snacks, ride some more, and when they’re done, your car is close by.
Parent Tip
The sandbox is a big draw, especially since it seemingly always has a fun selection of sandbox toys. In fact, sometimes our kids have spent more time in the sandbox than riding their bikes.
I love this park because it gives kids several options for outdoor fun and does not require a huge lift from parents. Sit on a bench in the shade or join in the fun. Sell the outing as a picnic, bring the bikes, and let the kids guide the morning.
Hanover Township Pump Track
Best For: Kids who want something more exciting than riding in circles.
Try It If: Your child likes small challenges, repetition, bumps, turns, and riding with other kids.
This is a good fit for:
*Balance-bike riders
*More confident and capable kids
*Siblings at different riding levels
*Kids who get bored on flat paths
Skip It If: Your child is nervous around other riders, cannot stop reliably, or gets overwhelmed in busier shared spaces.
What to Know Before You Go
A pump track is a small loop with bumps and banked turns. Kids ride around the loop using momentum and short bursts of pedaling, and it's one of the best ways for kids to build bike skills in an environment that feels less like practice and more like a playground for bikes.
The Hanover Township Pump Track, located in Hanover Township Municipal Park, is one of the best local spots for kids who want bike riding to feel more like play than exercise. A short cruise down a paved path leads to a playground and indoor bathroom facility–great features for any outing with young kids.
The track is much larger than the one you may be familiar with at Camp Olympic in Emmaus. It is better for big kids and adults because it has a few serious jump lines, while also being better for little kids and true beginners because it has a small track next to the large one built for balance bikes and young riders.
We love this park for days when our kids want to play hard on their bikes, but we are happier to park ourselves in a lawn chair instead of riding with them.
One of the best aspects of the pump track is the community atmosphere. Think of it like a playground for bikes. Count on there being other kids for yours to meet, watch, play with, and learn from.
Keep in mind that it is not a free-for-all. There are basic rules of engagement, including following the directional arrows on the track and always wearing a helmet. In our experience, mornings are the best time to go with younger kids. Afternoons tend to draw bigger, faster riders.
Parent Tip
Start on the small track and let your child get a feel for what it is like to ride a pump track. They can look overwhelming and chaotic at first, especially a large one like this, but they make more sense once kids can watch the pattern for a few minutes.
D&L Trail
Best For: A first family ride that feels like a big adventure.
Try It If: Your child can ride for 20 to 45 minutes, follow basic directions, and handle a shared path.
This is a good fit for:
*Kids ready to leave the park loop
*Parents with kids in child seats
*Tow-behind riders
*Parents who want a flat and car-free route
Skip It If: Your child still stops unpredictably, swerves across the path, or is likely to melt down far from the car.
What to Know Before You Go
The D&L Trail is over 140 miles long, but you only need a small section for a great family ride. Pick a starting point, ride out for a manageable amount of time, and turn around before your child is tired.
Our favorite spot is Canal Park in Allentown at 101 E. Walnut St., where we ride east toward Bethlehem as far as feels right that day. Our kids love watching the trains across the canal and spotting turtles along the water.
The trail feels like a proper adventure, tucked away in a seemingly secret place between Allentown and Bethlehem. The surface is packed gravel and can be a little bumpy in spots. Most kids can handle it, but it is not as smooth as a paved path.
Other good access points include Hugh Moore Park in Easton and the Slatington trailhead. The Lehighton to Jim Thorpe section is a great next step for a bigger day, especially with an ice cream stop in Jim Thorpe, but the drive can make it a longer outing.
Parent Tip
Make the destination a snack stop. Tell your child you are riding to a place to eat or take a break, not riding a certain distance. Then turn around while they still have enough energy to get back.
Lehigh Parkway
Best For: A flexible path ride close to Allentown.
Try It If: Your child can ride a few miles and you want a place where you can easily adjust the distance.
This is a good fit for:
*Elementary-age kids
*Mixed-ability families
*Parents walking while kids ride short sections
*More capable kids who want small trail detours
Skip It If: Your child needs a fully contained space or is not ready to share a path with others.
What to Know Before You Go
Lehigh Parkway is a great next step after a park loop because it feels like a real ride without being overwhelming. The main path is gentle, with abundant shade and plenty of places to stop, turn around, or shorten the ride. Like other shared paths, you will encounter walkers, runners, dogs, and other riders, so kids should be able to ride in a straight line and follow directions.
There are several convenient access points. A small lot near Kline’s Bridge at Lehigh Parkway East and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive works well, as does the lot at Little Lehigh Park Arboretum at 2902 Fish Hatchery Road.
There is also a network of mountain bike trails along the hillsides for more capable riders, but for most families, the main path is exactly the right speed.
Parent Tip
Use the bridges to keep the ride flexible. Instead of committing to an out-and-back ride, start on one side of the creek and cross over when your child starts to fade. That way the ride can feel like a loop, but you are never too far from your car.
This is also a good spot for families who do not all want the same outing. One parent can walk or run, a more confident kid can ride ahead and circle back, and everyone can stay connected without needing to move at the same speed the whole time.
Trexler Nature Preserve
Best For: A first true trail ride for kids who already ride confidently.
Try It If: Your child is comfortable on moderate trails, can handle short climbs, and stays calm on uneven terrain.
This is a good fit for:
*Confident riders
*Kids with mountain bikes
*Families ready for short trail rides
*Kids ready to explore beyond gravel paths
Skip It If: Your child is still learning to ride, relies on coaster brakes, or is not ready for uneven ground.
What to Know Before You Go
Trexler is the most advanced option on this list. It can be a great first true trail experience for a confident kid because many of the trails are machine-built and smoother than other trail networks in the region. But it is not where I would take a child who is still learning to ride.
Parts of Trexler are beginner-friendly by mountain bike standards, but that does not make the whole preserve beginner-friendly for every kid.
The preserve is broken into three distinct sections: North Range, South Range, and Central Range. The Central Range is the most popular for beginners and is best for accessing the Covered Bridge Trail, an ADA-accessible trail along Jordan Creek.
For access, follow signs to the Lehigh Valley Zoo, then continue past the zoo down to Jordan Creek. The best parking is a small lot next to the creek at the Low Water Fording Point, where you can park close to the Covered Bridge Trail. After the ride, the shallow water can be a nice place to cool down.
Start with the gentlest areas, especially the Covered Bridge Trail near Jordan Creek. If your child is ready for more, treat the nearby beginner-friendly mountain bike trails as short add-ons.
If you venture beyond the beginner-friendly trails near Covered Bridge, expect to encounter more technical terrain and hills that could be too challenging for young riders. And be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks with you.
Parent Tip
When the ride is over, take Old Packhouse Road toward Route 309 out of the preserve and hit the Rita’s at 4041 Route 309 in Schnecksville.
Before You Go: A Checklist for Parents
You do not need to know much about bikes to make a family ride safer and easier. Before you leave the house, run through these quick checks.
Helmet Check
A helmet should sit level, low on the forehead, and snug enough that it does not slide around when your child shakes their head.
Brake Check
Ask your child to ride a few feet and stop. If they cannot stop the bike by themselves, choose a more controlled place like Bob Rodale Park.
Fit Check
Your child should be able to start, stop, and put one foot down without tipping over.
For new riders, it is okay if the saddle is low enough for both feet to touch the ground. Raise it gradually as they gain confidence.
Water Check
Bring plenty of water even for short rides, and keep it accessible while you ride. Dehydration and overheating can happen quickly on a hot summer day, and one of the best ways to avoid that is to keep water close at hand.
Snack Check
Pack plenty of snacks, especially any snacks that your kid views as treats. Not only can they be useful for coaxing a kid through a tough moment, but for young kids, the excitement of having treats along the way is as big a part of the adventure as the ride itself.
Distance Check
Start shorter than you think. A good ride ends with your child still feeling proud, not exhausted. Celebrate the adventure you had together, and leave with them excited to come back and do it again.
The Best Ride Is the One They Want to Do Again
Some of our best rides have been the shortest ones: the park ride that turned into a long sandbox session, or the short out-and-back where we spent more time on snack breaks than actually riding. The key to a great outing with kids is staying flexible and remembering that the ride does not have to go exactly as planned to be a success.
If you pick the right spot and keep expectations low, it does not take much to make it a win. Bring snacks, stay flexible, and let your kid set the pace. If they end the ride smiling and asking when they can go again, you got it right.
ABOUT US
What is Macaroni KID Allentown & Bethlehem?
Macaroni KID Allentown & Bethlehem is your go to local resource for all things FREE and family fun in Allentown, Whitehall, Macungie, Breinigsville, Alburtis, Kutztown, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Wind Gap, Hellertown, Center Valley and Coopersburg. We share weekly guides to local events, free things to do, family friendly businesses, school resources, and so much more, all curated by a local mom right here in your community.
Best part? It will always be free for our readers! We are proud to be the number one local family resource for parents across Allentown, Whitehall, Macungie, Breinigsville, Alburtis, Kutztown, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Wind Gap, Hellertown, Center Valley and Coopersburg
SUBSCRIBE TO BETHLEHEM and ALLENTOWN FOR FREE LOCAL FAMILY FUN
