Overview
Otis Air National Guard Base isn’t exactly a place where you’d expect to find great mountain biking, but there are 15 – 20 miles of excellent MTB trails bordering this military installation. This hidden network of singletrack features some of the best riding in Southern New England. Most of these trails are found within the Crane Wildlife Management Area, which borders Otis ANGB to the southwest.
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Area Details
Most people ride Otis without ever crossing over onto base property or observing military police. But if you do happen upon a paved road and encounter base personnel, they’ll probably ask you to leave. To be clear, ANGB security patrols aren’t actively looking for mountain bikers. However, if you see buildings resembling base housing or the National Cemetery, you’ve definitely trespassed on military property.
Otis features the highest elevation riding on Cape Cod, with several significant climbs approaching 100 feet in length. It also has the most rocks in the region, with glacial pockets of boulders, smaller babyheads and roots scattered throughout the network. It isn’t an exaggeration to state that these trails provide some of the most technically challenging singletrack in the area.
Several system trails are rated single black diamond, although they could be double with all the features and dense rock gardens in certain sections. Trailforks IMBA trail ratings at Otis are very conservative, so beware of blues which are essentially blacks and single blacks that should be doubles. In short, don’t underestimate how much extremely technical terrain exists here.
A word of advice: take care to only ride south of the ANGB access road and park in designated areas. Please refrain from riding near the National Cemetery or ANGB housing. Respecting these rules fosters good relations between Base personnel and the local mountain biking community, It also ensures guaranteed future access to this valuable MTB trail system.
Parking & Directions
Otis used to be accessible from an older trailhead located off the Otis Rotary. That egress has long since been closed. Mountain bikers can now park at the Crane Wildlife Management Area trailhead in Teaticket on Route 151. This is a dirt lot that accommodates about 10 cars for recreational end users. It actually resides right next door to Dogs for Better Lives off MacArthur Blvd (Route 28). When exiting Route 28, look for the trailhead pull-off on your left.