Top 10 list of the best routes and places for mountain bikers
- Wild Dirt
- Sep 25, 2023
- 4 min read
The biggest ride ever!
It's true that cities are increasingly accommodating to those who pedal between buildings on two wheels. More than 30 cities and towns have been honoured on The League of American Bicyclists' Bike Friendly Community (BFC) rankings for their work to improve cycling. However, there's nothing quite like a trip to the mountains and the adrenaline rush of uphill and downhill climbs overlooking lakes and scenery that you don't usually find among houses and shops.
Although everyone has their own opinion and the rankings may vary as much as there are tastes, we leave you with a small list of the best routes and places for mountain bikers of all levels in the United States.
List of the best routes and places for mountain bikers
For a family trip. It may not be one of the most technical trails, but it takes the crown when it comes to comfort. You hardly have to worry about a thing with trails around every corner, where to eat and sleep... Everything is accessible practically in town. Take the bus to the Silver Lake Lodge at Deer Valley Resort, ride the Mid-Mountain trail through Park City Mountain and finish at Canyons Village.
Bend offers more than 500 miles of single-track trails thanks to the Central Oregon Trail Alliance. The classic is for everyone: Phil's Trail, family-friendly terrain for families and first-time off-roaders. However, as you'd expect from their extensive catalogue, there are also some of the loudest trails for adrenaline junkies, such as Pine Marten.
The scenery will be different whether you visit in the winter or summer season, but before it becomes the backdrop for sports like skiing, the Tahoe Rim Trail welcomes you to a 165-mile scenic landscape surrounded by surrounding mountains. Big climbs, fast downhills, slow-moving esplanades and lake views. It's a family-friendly place where different sports coexist, from backpackers to horseback riders and mountain bikers. Beware, not all areas are suitable for two-wheelers!
With red rock and sandstone landscapes, Sedona is the perfect place to ride a bike. It has trails from Aerie A Cockscomb Trail for beginners to Hiline or Hangover for experts. In addition, the fantastic range of tracks is thanks to the work of the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition, which helps to maintain trails and build new ones.
The Squirrel Gap leaves the Bradley Creek Trail at a manageable level up to the old Mullinax house. However, the trail becomes a side slope from here, which continues through the upper hardwood forests. This option has the most rugged and imposing mountain scenery surrounding the cycle trails.
Kingdom Trails, Vermont
The Kingdom Trails offers over 100 miles of quality trails for all skill levels. The longest? The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. It follows the Lamoille River and passes through Vermont's Green Mountain Range. Recommendation: Visit in autumn. The colors of the scenery will make for an unforgettable ride.
It offers more than 700 miles of trails, most suitable for summer hiking. Here, for the more advanced hikers, Route 401 is a highlight. Alpine and floral views, challenging climbs and exhilarating descents. The trail takes you above the tree line and contours the mountains of the East River Valley.
It's not one of the best-known, but once you do it, you will remember it. It welcomes you with a five-mile climb up to Torry Ridge, and then it's another seven miles of descent along a boulder-strewn spine. Between the essentials, you must carry bravado and suspension.
A 1,500-foot drop, tight riding, punchy uphill climbs and rocky flats where precision is a must. The south rim of the 8-mile Gooseberry Mesa South Rim trail is only for some, we could have guessed. And it has every reason to be the setting for the famous Red Bull Rampage competition.
Moab, Utah
We've reached number 1. This destination has been part of mountain biking culture almost since its inception. Although you can find some beginner-friendly, the most technical and challenging fluids are found in Moab. Not forgetting The Whole Enchilada, dare you try the Slickrock Bike Trail? 9.6 miles of highly technical riding, which many consider to be the ultimate mountain biking experience.
We hope you find this list of the best routes and places for mountain bikers useful and you share with bike & nature lovers. You can make a checklist of them to see where you've been or not. We all have to try them once in a lifetime.
