Top 10 Mountain Bike Destinations in the US
Traveling around the western half of the US for the last 2 years (and counting) has given us the opportunity to ride at some of the best mountain bike destinations in the world. We’ve put together a list of our Top 10 Favorite Mountain Biking Destinations to help you decide where your next riding adventure should take you. This list has been put together in no particular order and the destinations have been selected not only based on the riding but also the access to camping.
1.FRUITA, COLORADO
Evan on 18 Road trails in Fruita, CO
Fruita is located just a couple hours west of Denver but it’s a completely different riding landscape from what you picture when you think “mountain biking in Colorado”. Located in the high desert, Fruita riding is made up of more dirt/fine rock than slick rock like other desert locations. On the 18 road trails you’ll ride steep lines along narrow ridges that make you feel like you’re flying. It’s one of the most unique riding destinations we’ve been to.
Just a few miles from Fruita are the Kokopelli Loops trails in Loma. The riding difficulty here is more varied and many of the trails have views of the Colorado River flowing below. At Kokopelli you’ll also find the infamous Horsethief Drop which Trail Forks describes as a “classic terror ride”. Though that section is a beast, it’s very short and it’s fun to watch people attempt it. Outside of Fruita and Loma there is also great riding in Grand Junction only a few miles east.
Ideal Riding Season: Fall (September - November) or Spring (April - June)
Favorite MTB Trail: Zippity Do Da
Dog friendly?: Yes! The kitty litter type dirt can be more abrasive on paw pads than regular dirt so keep that in mind.
Where to camp: North Fruita has great camping and is next to the MTB trailhead
Where to eat: The Hot Tomato pizza is a MUST!
Favorite hiking trails nearby: Colorado National Monument is great for a rest day and has plenty of hiking or easy to stop at vistas.
Want to see more? Check out our YouTube Video from Fruita, CO
2. CRESTED BUTTE, COLORADO
Melanny on Trail 401 in Crested Butte, CO
Crested Butte, Colorado in the summer or fall provides one of the most picturesque experiences you can have on a bike. The iconic trails like 401 and 403 start off above the tree line surrounded by wildflowers then quickly descend taking you through beautiful Colorado Aspens and the occasional water crossing. The trails here require a long uphill pedal but they’re always followed by well deserved downhill. On days when you want to take a break from pedaling, you can check out the Evolution Bike Park at Mount Crested Butte or head out for one of many hikes in the area.
Ideal Riding Season: Summer or Fall (June - September)
Favorite MTB Trail: Trail 401
Dog friendly?: Yes! Our dog loved riding out here especially in the fall. Be mindful of bears and other wildlife.
Where to camp: The BLM land at the end of Washington Gulch Rd just at the base of Gothic Mountain is perfect! Check it out on iOverlander.
Where to eat: Butte Bagels is a Crested Butte classic.
Favorite hiking trails nearby: Kebler Pass in the fall is something out of an Aspen trees filled dream. Our favorite hikes are Dyke Trail and Scarp Ridge.
Want to see more? Check out our YouTube video from Crested Butte, CO
Image from Trailforks.com
3.JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING
Jackson Hole is home to some of the most scenic and gnarly riding that we’ve seen throughout our travels. The trails up Teton pass are a must if you decide to visit but we also recommend a day or two at the Jackson Hole Bike Park. On Friday’s from 4pm - 6pm they offer discounted lift tickets!
As for Teton Pass, if you don’t have a buddy to shuttle with or don’t want to pedal to the trailheads at the top of the pass… hitch a ride. Sounds crazy but it’s very common among mountain bikers and with plenty of traffic going up the pass, you rarely have to wait long before someone picks you up.
Ideal Riding Season: Summer or Fall (June - September)
Favorite MTB Trail: Black Canyon
Dog friendly?: Yes! Keep an eye out for wildlife. You’re in Wyoming after all.
Where to camp: Camping is a little far from the trails but worth it! Check out the Gros Ventre Paid Campground or the free Shadow Mountain spots on iOverlander.
Where to eat: So many choices in Jackson! Cowboy Coffee is a great quick stop.
Favorite hiking trails nearby: Literally anything in Grand Teton National Park is guaranteed to blow you away. Mormon Row has great Bison viewing and Moose-Wilson road can frequently bring you across bears and moose - especially in later summer/fall.
Want to see more? Check out our YouTube video from Jackson Hole, WY
4. HURRICANE, UTAH
Melanny on Gooseberry Point in Hurricane, UT
There is absolutely no shortage of trails in Utah. But how do you pick which corner of Utah to spend your time? Moab is great and definitely on this list but we’d argue Hurricane is even better! (This includes everywhere from Hurricane, Virgin, and Green Valley, Utah.)
We’ve probably spent a collective 2 months riding in this area and still hit every trail. If you have limited time, head for Gooseberry Mesa, Grafton Mesa, Wire Mesa and Guacamole FIRST. These trails are unique and challenging as they meander along the mesa’s edge which is equally thrilling and beautiful. The number of line options are endless as you switch between dirt, sand, and slick rock. There’s also world class BLM camping out on these Mesa’s meaning you can ride to the trail straight from camp. If you have more time, venture out to St.George and check out Green Valley.
Ideal Riding Season: Fall (September - November) or Spring (February - May)
Favorite MTB Trail: South Rim on Gooseberry Mesa
Dog friendly?: Yes! All of the trail systems we listed are dog friendly. Be mindful that desert terrain causes more wear and tear on paw pads than regular dirt.
Where to camp: Check out iOverlander for tons of different camp spots to choose from. Gooseberry and Guacamole are our favorites.
Where to eat: Try Cafe Soleil in Springdale for some great pizza.
Favorite hiking trails nearby: Zion National Park of course has plenty of beautiful hiking trails. However, if you want to stay away from crowds, check out a few hidden gems like Yant Flats (it’s basically Mars), the Cinder Cone trail (an ancient volcano in Utah), or the Vortex trail (another Mars location).
Want to see more? Check out our YouTube video from Hurricane, UT
Image from Trailforks.com
5.MOUNT HOOD, OREGON
One of our all time favorite destinations, Mt. Hood’s trail systems take you from rainforest to dry shrub desert making for unique trail characteristics. One minute you’re riding jumps and loamy tech then next you’re coming across waterfalls and rivers. For Melanny, this is where her skills on the bike really started to flourish as she found jumps, drops, and various other features that were perfectly built for learning and progression. You can’t beat the Mt.Hood views and pop of wildflowers along the trail either.
Ideal Riding Season: Summer or Fall (June - September)
Favorite MTB Trail: Quid Pro Flow
Dog friendly?: Yes! One of our favorite places to ride with Penelope (our dog).
Where to camp: Trillium Lake is a great central location with top notch views of Mount Hood.
Where to eat: There aren’t many options here so pack enough food for your stay.
Favorite hiking trails nearby: McNeil Point Trail is hands down one of the most amazing trails we’ve ever been on. Mirror Lake Loop is great too!
Want to see more? Check out our YouTube video from Mount Hood, OR
Image from Trailforks.com
6. MOAB, UTAH
Evan on Slickrock trail in the Sand Flats Recreation Area in Moab, UT
Undoubtedly the one place that everyone can agree should be and always will be on the top 10 list of mountain bike destinations is Moab, Utah. One of the many things that makes Moab so unique are the wildly long trails this town has put together - like the 27-mile point to point Whole Enchilada trail or the 21-mile point to point Mag-7 Portal Trail. They’re challenging, full day rides with nothing but jaw dropping scenery around every corner. That said, I’d argue that beautiful scenery is almost a given in Moab. What draws us to this destination the most is the unique riding landscape. Several trails are over 90% grippy slick rock which is fun to ride especially on steep sections. You can put more trust in your tires to keep you from going over the bars even though you are almost perpendicular with the ground.
Ideal Riding Season: Fall (September - November) or Spring (February - May)
Favorite MTB Trail: Captain Ahab
Dog friendly?: Yes! However, be mindful of the distance and terrain. 10 miles on slick rock causes more wear and tear on our dog’s paw pads than the same distance on soft and loamy single track.
Where to camp: Check out iOverlander for tons of different camping options. We like Willow Springs Road because it’s easy to get to.
Where to eat: Doughbird Donut Shop. SO GOOD!
Favorite hiking trails nearby: With Arches, Canyonlands, and Deadhorse nearby, there are endless options. If you want to get off the beaten path or want something dog friendly check out Jeep Arch trail or Corona Arch trail.
Want to see more? Check out our YouTube video from Moab, UT
Image from Trailforks.com
7. OAKRIDGE, OREGON
Melanny on Alpine Trail in Oakridge, OR
Oakridge is a great mountain biking destination but does require a little more planning than the others. Book a shuttle ride or coordinate with a friend to get to the top of the mountain then enjoy some long, loamy single track to the bottom. Don’t let the planning deter you though, we booked our shuttle the day before our ride in early May, so very last minute! Besides the people we shuttled with, we didn’t see any other riders on the trails during our 10 mile descent back to town.
Ideal riding season is late spring through early fall but be aware that in the higher elevations, you may still run into some snow. In early May there was snow on the Upper Alpine Trail.
Ideal Riding Season: Summer or Fall (June - September)
Favorite MTB Trail: Alpine Trail
Dog friendly?: Yes! In fact, we paid for a shuttle with Cog Wild and they allowed us to take Penelope (our dog) with us.
Where to camp: There are miles and miles of forest logging roads near town. A little exploring will find you some awesome camp spots! But if you want to stay closer to town, this spot by the river worked out great for us.
Where to eat: We didn’t stop into any restaurants and the options do look scarce but Eugene is only an hour away.
Favorite hiking trails nearby: North Fork and Middle Fork on the Willamette river is a nice relaxing stroll.
Want to see more? Check out our YouTube video from Oakridge, OR
Image from Trailforks.com
8. SEDONA, ARIZONA
Evan on Secret Slickrock trail in Sedona, AZ
Some MTB destinations require a slog up a forest road or a long shuttle before getting to the juicy single track you came for. We love Sedona because every single trail out here is extremely accessible and has never required a shuttle. You can literally ride from your hotel, airbnb, or campsite directly to the trail head without much effort.
Ask google what the top trails in Sedona are and you’ll get either Hiline, Hogs, or Hangover. Those are all great and mostly double black diamond trails but what I love about Sedona is it can accommodate any rider from the most advanced to the beginner/intermediate and everyone will leave with a huge grin on their face. Most trails here max out at about 4 miles in length but there are several clusters of trails meaning you can link up with another, and another, and another making any ride as short or as long as you’d like. If that still isn’t convincing, the views alone should be enough to get you excited to schedule a trip to Sedona.
Ideal Riding Season: Fall (September - December) or Spring (February - May)
Favorite MTB Trail: Ridge Trail
Dog friendly?: Yes! Sedona is incredibly dog friendly and since the trails can be short you don’t have to worry about committing to a 15 mile ride with your dog.
Where to camp: Most campers head to FR 525. It’s free, close to town, and has incredible views.
Where to eat: For a classic Sedona experience, Chocola Tree is a fun place.
Favorite hiking trails nearby: Almost all trails allow bikes but some are a little difficult to get reach on a bike - think lots of hike a bike. For a regular hiking day we love Cathedral rock, the subway in Boynton Canyon, or setting off to explore one of the many hidden ruins in Sedona. Check out a couple here!
Want to see more? Check out our YouTube video from Sedona, AZ
Image from Trailforks.com
9. TRUCKEE, CALIFORNIA
Evan and Melanny on the Tahoe Rim Trail in Lake Tahoe, CA
Truckee, which we’ve also grouped with Lake Tahoe, seems to be bursting at the seams with trail riding - just take a peak at the trail forks map below. You can ride along the iconic Flume Trail overlooking the lake or head south and enjoy some fun new jump lines that are being built, or go north to Tahoe City and Truckee for more trail riding than your legs can handle in one single trip.
Ideal Riding Season: Summer or Fall (May - September)
Favorite MTB Trail: Big Chief Trail
Dog friendly?: Yes!
Where to camp: The greater Tahoe area is tough for free camping. Granite Flat Campground is a good option for paid camping.
Where to eat: We didn’t eat at any local spots but we’re definitely stopping by Best Pies Pizzeria next time.
Favorite hiking trails nearby: Eagle Lake Trail near Emerald Bay is a fun rest day hike and dog friendly!
Want to see more? Check out our YouTube video from Truckee, CA
Image from Trailforks.com
10. TUCSON, ARIZONA
Evan and Penelope on the Saguaro Vista trail in Tucson, AZ
Tucson is the place to be when it’s the middle of winter and even places like Moab, Sedona, and Fruita are covered in snow. Or in the middle of the summer head up to Mt.Lemmon’s high elevations for some world class riding. The terrain is a mixture of kitty litter and fun boulders. But beware, the cactus out here will jump in front of you.
Ideal Riding Season: Fall, Winter, Spring (November - May)
Favorite MTB Trail: 50 Year Trail
Dog friendly?: Yes! But watch out for cactus. We carry tweezers to make the inevitable cactus prick removal just a little easier.
Where to camp: Check out iOverlander. There are several spots to choose from based on where you’ll be riding.
Where to eat: Tumerico on 4th Ave. is so good! And it’s vegan!
Favorite hiking trails nearby: We recommend the Tanque Verde Falls trail.
Want to see more? Check out our YouTube video from Tucson, AZ
Image from Trailforks.com
