Top 5 of 10 Great Trails Every Mountain Biker Should Visit by Bicycling Magazine
The US has no shortage of great mountain biking rides. From north to south and coast to coast, we’re spoiled with miles of twisting routes offering scenic, varied trails for adventurous riders of all levels. Here, we run down 10 of the most fantastic places for an awesome MTB ride. Where will you go next?
1.
DuPont State Recreational Forest
Location: Brevard, North Carolina
About: Essentially one big playground built for mountain bikers, the 10,400-acre DuPont State Recreational Forest houses nearly 100 miles of bike trails charting through dense forests, past riverside waterfalls, over slickrock (a rarity in the east), and atop granite domes. For a fast, flowy downhill ride, try the 6.3-mile Ridgeline Loop. For a more challenging and visually varied ride, try the 6.3-mile Slickrock Loop that traverses Big Rock Traill (a step, technical climb), Cedar Rock Trail (a moss-lined path to a sprawling summit), and Burnt Mountain Trail (an easy- to intermediate-level loop).
2.
McKenzie River Trail
About: Essentially one big playground built for mountain bikers, the 10,400-acre DuPont State Recreational Forest houses nearly 100 miles of bike trails charting through dense forests, past riverside waterfalls, over slickrock (a rarity in the east), and atop granite domes. For a fast, flowy downhill ride, try the 6.3-mile Ridgeline Loop. For a more challenging and visually varied ride, try the 6.3-mile Slickrock Loop that traverses Big Rock Traill (a step, technical climb), Cedar Rock Trail (a moss-lined path to a sprawling summit), and Burnt Mountain Trail (an easy- to intermediate-level loop).
Location: Eugene, Oregon
About: You may forget the outside world when riding this 25-mile singletrack through old-growth forest, across streams, and past cascading waterfalls and crystal-clear lakes. Though the trail is mostly downhill, this isn’t a beginner-friendly ride. The upper end contains technical challenges—mainly, sharp volcanic rock fields—and the lower part is primarily flowing forest gliding. Fair warning: A swim in the trail’s namesake river may seem appealing, but it’s cold—as in high-40s-to-low-50s cold. It’s also dangerous (and potentially deadly) if you jump in from the surrounding cliffs, so stick with a bankside toe dip.
3.
The Whole Enchilada Trail
About: You may forget the outside world when riding this 25-mile singletrack through old-growth forest, across streams, and past cascading waterfalls and crystal-clear lakes. Though the trail is mostly downhill, this isn’t a beginner-friendly ride. The upper end contains technical challenges—mainly, sharp volcanic rock fields—and the lower part is primarily flowing forest gliding. Fair warning: A swim in the trail’s namesake river may seem appealing, but it’s cold—as in high-40s-to-low-50s cold. It’s also dangerous (and potentially deadly) if you jump in from the surrounding cliffs, so stick with a bankside toe dip.
Location: Moab, Utah
About: This really is the whole enchilada, and then some. The 33-mile journey—consisting mostly of challenging downhills for a total combined 8,000-foot drop—includes an alpine mountain singletrack, high-altitude evergreen forests and aspens, and a final push through the Utah desert. Pedal extra carefully during the Porcupine Rim section, where the exposed trail wraps around a sandstone cliff. You’ll know you’ve made it through when you catch a glimpse of the snaking Colorado River as you descend toward the canyon floor.
4. Mohican State Park MTB Trail
About: This really is the whole enchilada, and then some. The 33-mile journey—consisting mostly of challenging downhills for a total combined 8,000-foot drop—includes an alpine mountain singletrack, high-altitude evergreen forests and aspens, and a final push through the Utah desert. Pedal extra carefully during the Porcupine Rim section, where the exposed trail wraps around a sandstone cliff. You’ll know you’ve made it through when you catch a glimpse of the snaking Colorado River as you descend toward the canyon floor.
4. Mohican State Park MTB Trail
Location: Ashland County, Ohio
About: This 25-mile path, Ohio’s longest singletrack, loops the Clear Fork Gorge charting through both the 1,110-acre state park and adjacent 4,525-acre state forest. The first 20 miles are a mix of flowing singletrack and climbing plus the occasional technical challenge (think logovers and bridges). Along the way, keep an eye out for the park’s signature gnomes tucked into a tree—they’re typically between miles 7 and 8. Around mile 20, you’ll come across rock gardens and pumptrack-like stretches of trail that continue the rest of the way before you traverse one last bridge that will spit you back onto the road.
5. 401 Trail Loop
About: This 25-mile path, Ohio’s longest singletrack, loops the Clear Fork Gorge charting through both the 1,110-acre state park and adjacent 4,525-acre state forest. The first 20 miles are a mix of flowing singletrack and climbing plus the occasional technical challenge (think logovers and bridges). Along the way, keep an eye out for the park’s signature gnomes tucked into a tree—they’re typically between miles 7 and 8. Around mile 20, you’ll come across rock gardens and pumptrack-like stretches of trail that continue the rest of the way before you traverse one last bridge that will spit you back onto the road.
5. 401 Trail Loop
Location: Crested Butte, Colorado
About: In a state rife with fantastic MTB routes, this 13.6-mile loop through the Central Rockies tops the charts. You’ll wind your way around alpine lakes, atop a snowfield, and through aspen groves while soaking in pinch-me views of Colorado’s rugged Elk Mountains. The primarily singletrack trail—good for advanced riders—includes short-yet-tough climbs (made tougher by the fact that you’re more than 2 miles above sea level), steady downhills, and several switchbacks. Make the trip in midsummer to see the kaleidoscope of knee-high wildflowers that explodes on the mountain meadows..
About: In a state rife with fantastic MTB routes, this 13.6-mile loop through the Central Rockies tops the charts. You’ll wind your way around alpine lakes, atop a snowfield, and through aspen groves while soaking in pinch-me views of Colorado’s rugged Elk Mountains. The primarily singletrack trail—good for advanced riders—includes short-yet-tough climbs (made tougher by the fact that you’re more than 2 miles above sea level), steady downhills, and several switchbacks. Make the trip in midsummer to see the kaleidoscope of knee-high wildflowers that explodes on the mountain meadows..
