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Batacular Bike Race

Batacular Bike Race

10/31/2022

The Nantucket Conservation Foundation hosted its first-ever Batacular Bike Race this past weekend. The race rode through some of Nantucket's most beautiful mountain biking trails on the island. All proceeds from the race benefit the continued work of the Nantucket Conservation Foundation.

The Batacular Bike race had two competition offerings, either a single lap, 8.5-mile race or a double lap, 17-mile race. The race took place in the Middle Moors, the largest area of undeveloped land on Nantucket, totaling 3,220 acres of protected open space. The Middle Moors is made up of three distinct areas: Altar Rock, the Serengeti, and the Pout Ponds. At 100 feet above sea level, Altar Rock offers incredible ocean views of Polpis Harbor, Pocomo, Coatue, Great Point, Sankaty Head Light, and the Sconset villages, on a nice and clear day.

With this land, and many other protected areas on Nantucket, mountain biking can be a very fun activity on the island. We asked Great Point Properties Principal Broker, mountain biker, and Batacular Bike Race competitor, Greg McKechnie, what his favorite trails on the island are and he came up with the following:

  • Altar Rock

  • Shawkemo Highlands: The Shawkemo Hills trail system is located off Polpis Road. This area illustrates Nantucket's topography, where its southern trail rises to 94 feet, affording incredible views of the Middle Moors and Nantucket Harbor.

  • Trott's Hills: Divided by Madaket Road, the Trott's Hills property is owned conjointly by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation and the Nantucket Land Bank. This area amasses 172 acres of rolling hill terrain, open grasslands, and shrubbery. Abutting the Land Bank's southern properties of Head of the Plans, Sanford Farm, Ram Pasture, and the Woods, this area is the second largest continuous block of protected land on the island.

Nantucket is fortunate enough to have protected spaces thanks to organizations such as the Nantucket Conservation Foundation and the Nantucket Land Bank. These organizations work hard to preserve and protect the island, providing Nantucket's residents and visitors with beautiful and exciting places to enjoy and explore.

What is your favorite protected open space on the island? Do you have any Nantucket mountain biking trail recommendations for Greg? Let us know!

(photos by David Creed, Nantucket Current)