The best mountain bike trails in the USA

The US has some of the best mountain biking in the world, from desert slickrock to Appalachian singletrack and purpose-built flow trails. These are the destinations riders plan trips around. Bundu lists 16 US trails with mountain biking; use the MTB filter to see them all.

Bucket-list rides

Slickrock Trail (Moab, Utah)

The ride that made Moab famous: grippy sandstone domes marked with painted lines instead of dirt. It is technical and punishing in the heat. Try the short practice loop first. Entry fee for Sand Flats.

Downieville Downhill (California)

Shuttle to Packer Saddle and descend more than 4,000 feet over rock gardens, creek crossings and fast singletrack into the old gold-mining town of Downieville. Book a shuttle in summer.

Monarch Crest Trail (Colorado)

Riding along the Continental Divide above 11,000 feet, then a long descent toward Salida. Shuttles run from town. Start early: afternoon lightning on the crest is a real danger.

McKenzie River Trail (Oregon)

About 26 miles of mostly downhill riding beside the river, past waterfalls, lava flows and the Tamolitch Blue Pool. Some lava sections are slow and technical.

Wasatch Crest Trail (Utah)

A high ridgeline ride between Big Cottonwood Canyon and Park City. The descent into Mill Creek Canyon is open to bikes only on even-numbered days.

Trail networks for a whole weekend

• 18 Road Trails (Fruita, Colorado): flowy desert singletrack, good for every level.
• Slaughter Pen (Bentonville, Arkansas): free, well-built trails starting from town, part of the huge Northwest Arkansas network.
• Kingdom Trails (Vermont): more than 80 miles of farm and forest trails. A day pass is required.
• Copper Harbor Trails (Michigan): flow and technical trails at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula on Lake Superior.
• Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails (Minnesota): red-dirt trails on old iron-mining land, around clear pit lakes.
• Santos Trails (Ocala, Florida): about 80 miles of trails in a state not known for riding, plus a freeride area.
• Tsali Recreation Area (North Carolina): classic loops on Fontana Lake. Bikes and horses share the loops on alternating days.
• DuPont State Forest (North Carolina): waterfalls and granite slabs near Brevard.
• Oak Mountain State Park (Alabama): technical rides in Alabama's largest state park.
• Barton Creek Greenbelt (Austin, Texas) and Lighthouse Trail (Palo Duro Canyon).

Before you ride

• Check open days: some areas alternate bikes with hikers or horses, such as Tsali and Mill Creek Canyon.
• Passes and fees: Kingdom Trails and Sand Flats charge; many other networks are free.
• Desert heat: in Moab and Fruita, ride early in summer, or come in spring and autumn.
• Altitude and storms: on high Colorado and Utah rides, plan to be off the ridges by early afternoon.
• Record your ride: Bundu records distance, speed and elevation with GPS, for rides as well as hikes.