Avoid the crowds by taking these less discovered mountain bike thrill rides instead.
Many of us live for off-road biking and adventure cycling. Whether it’s single track, gravel, cross-country, downcountry, or downhill, mountain biking is a superb way of experiencing the backcountry.
It’s also an excellent tool for fitness. In whatever format you choose, mountain biking develops the quads of an ibex and the lungs of a lion. The trouble is that most mountain bike trails suffer from overpopulation by tourists.
Classic hots pots like Whistler, Bend, Moab, and the Northeast Kingdom are spectacular and well worth experiencing, but you’ll likely be contending with packed parking lots and singletrack traffic.
So, where are the latest, crowd-proof backcountry adventures hiding for today's two-wheeled warriors? Undaunted explorers have quietly been developing mountain bike trails in areas you probably haven’t heard about.
These new destinations aren’t crowded or rutted out, and there’s still an aura of exploration and free-wheeling fun when you ride. Noting the vast difference between highly managed bike parks and trail systems (primarily in the U.S. and Canada) and true adventure trails that are often historic footpaths dating back hundreds (if not thousands) of years, here are our favorite “new” mountain bike trails and destinations in all their glory.
7 Wild New Mountain Bike Trails and Destinations
1. La Grave, France
If you like big-mountain skiing, it’s time to try big-mountain riding. La Grave, tucked into the shadow of the 13,070-foot La Meije in France’s southern Alps, is indisputably the free-ride ski capital of the world. It's also home to some of the wildest adventure cycling on the planet. Local riders have developed mountain bike trails that traverse down steep, rocky slopes serviced by two téléphériques that rise to 9,600 feet above the Vallon Glacier. There are five man-made singletracks here starting from mid-station (7,200 feet) and two that begin right at the top, where you’ll find an excellent restaurant and watering hole.
The longest runs extend nearly 6,000 vertical feet to town, with every run a mix of riding disciplines from all-mountain and endurance to downhill and freeride. Midway down, stop at Chancel Refuge for lunch. Better yet, make a reservation for the night, then roll down into town the next morning.
Keep in mind this isn’t a bike park, but a wild mountain trail network sculpted by local riders. It'll require skill, physical endurance, and some route finding know-how. The King Stone Road, a massive run starting on Girose Glacier, is the pièce de résistance. In winter, there’s no patrol and the only rescue is via helicopter. The best bet is to hire a guide from Bike La Grave or stop in at Original La Grave for supplies and intel. There are less physically demanding rides around the hamlets of La Grave if you’re looking something a little mellower.
Thibaut Blais
2. Sedona, AZ
Sedona is known for its castellated sandstone towers, cosmic vortexes, and upscale art galleries. But central Arizona’s red rock resort headquarters is also home to some of the wildest, most scenic singletracks on the planet. Buttressed by four wilderness areas, two state parks, and more than 1.8 million acres of national forest, Sedona’s 400-plus miles of bikeable trails trace ridgelines to vast red rock slabs and drop down into gorgeous dry creek beds. You’ll ride through sandy expanses of aromatic cascalote, prickly pear, and desert ruellia—and perhaps catch sight of a coyote or javelina as you race past huge sandstone monoliths, like Cathedral and Bell Rocks to Boynton Canyon and Courthouse Butte.
Riding trails here range from beginner (there’s a skills park in town) to expert, and from flowy runs to technical climbs and drops. You can camp in established sites or on BLM land. The Hilton Bell Rock is a bike-friendly spot to stay—and the outdoor poolside bar is great for après. The upscale Enchantment Resort is a luxury experience with ride-in/ride-out accommodations, guiding, and excellent access to trails. In March, the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival is a great opportunity to ride, listen to music, and try out new gear.
Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau
3. Grand Junction, CO
While the trails of nearby Moab, UT, and Fruita, CO, are mobbed with riders, the deep canyons and red sandstone mesas of Western Colorado’s town of Grand Junction offer solitude, adventure, and massive views. You can ride from town to the Lunch Loops or venture even farther from town on the iconic 141-mile Tabeguache Trail starting (or ending) in Montrose.
We like Kokopelli’s Loop Trails Area for its stunning views of the Colorado River and flowy terrain. If you’re fit enough and ready to bikepack, you can jump on the Kokopelli Trail that takes you 143 miles from Fruita to Moab. Expert riders will want to head to the Palisade Plunge, one of the longest downhill-only mountain bike trails in the country. Riders of all abilities should check out Boneshaker Adventures. The coaches can help up your game. Finish up the day at the bike-themed Handlebar Tap House for a burger and beer.
Courtesy Image
4. Bentonville, AR
“Build it and they will come” might as well be the motto for Bentonville. The town is dedicated to mountain biking. Two brothers, Tom and Steuart Walton (grandsons of Walmart founder, Sam Walton) helped build Bentonville’s trails through grants from the Walton Family Foundation. The town is tucked into the ancient Ozark Mountains, home to an abundance of hardwood trees, sparkling springs, deep caverns, and rocky domes. The first trail to be established was Slaughter Pen, a five-mile singletrack north of town. Then, 12 more miles were added. Now, the Bentonville area boasts more than 500 miles of well-kept trails for everyone from beginners to experts.
You can reach multiple trailheads within a block of City Square. There are plenty of flowy trails; rugged rock banks; and steep, technical climbs. The Back 40 Loop takes you into remote, wild terrain, and there’s even a protected mountain bike park (Coler Mountain Bike Preserve). As you can imagine, Bentonville’s restaurants and hotels are extremely bike-friendly. Order a wood-fired craft pizza at The Pedalers Pub or grab a beer at The Hub Bike Lounge while you rent a bike or get your gears and spokes tuned.
Getty Images/Wesley Hitt
5. Oaxaca City, Mexico
Oaxaca in southern Mexico, where the mighty Sierra Madre peaks spill down to the Pacific Ocean, is best known for its rich indigenous history and mind-boggling bio-diversity displayed across three national parks and a major biosphere reserve. It's also the hottest international mountain bike destination since the development of Whistler. The focus is Oaxaca City, about six hours inland at the base of the Sierra Norte mountains. From this 5,000-foot perch, you can hire a local guide (or launch out on your own) and explore hundreds of miles of trails through steep forests, agave groves, and semi-wet jungle.
The local bike scene is focused on sustainable eco-tourism, and there are plenty of adventure guides with excellent “track” records. Many of the trails lead out of Oaxaca City, but you can get a shuttle to Ixtepeji, a village an hour to the northeast, where you’ll find the Santa Catarina Ixtepeji Community Ecotourism Park with its unbeatable singletrack through jagged rocks, agave forests, and brilliant ferns and moss. Outfitters like Coyote Aventuras offer local guides with significant experience in the area.
Getty Images/Charles Harker
6. Columbus, OH
Columbus, OH, is swiftly becoming the mountain bike capital of the Midwest, offering hundreds of miles of mixed-use trails where you can mountain or gravel bike. Granted, you won’t get the super steeps like you would when pedaling in the Rockies or Alps, but for flowy trails and good scenery, Columbus is hard to beat.
There’s a vast city park system with the recently opened Quarry Trails Park, set in an abandoned limestone quarry located along the west bank of the scenic Scioto River. The nine-mile Darby Creek Trail often features bison sightings when spinning through Battelle Darby Metro Park. The trail is fairly flat as it passes through big fields, but there are a few steep climbs to up the fun factor.
Steve Boniface
7. Cross Continent Bikepacking Adventures
You’ve probably heard of long-distance hiking trails like the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, or Jordan Trail, but how about long-distance gravel or cross-country bike rides? They're a great way to make friends, immerse yourself in local cultures, see remote scenery, and get incredibly strong. Transbike Adventures is your gateway into long-distance riding. The company organizes extreme, self-supported bike adventures across North America, Europe, and Africa.
Some highlight destinations include the Alaska Divide ride—a 1,043-mile unsupported bikepacking adventure that takes you from Anchorage to Deadhorse through what’s considered the Last Frontier of North America. The gravel roads are some of the best in the country, and chances are good you’ll be spotting amazing wildlife along the way. Or, you can traverse the Iberian Peninsula from the Bay of Biscay to Tarifa, the southernmost point on the European mainland. Here, you’ll ride through two continents, covering more than 2,500 miles—with a 52,000-plus vertical gain/loss). Other adventures include cycling across Morocco’s Atlas and Rif Mountains and Sahara Desert, and a historically and geologically fascinating ride from Poland through the French Alps to Spain.
Getty Images/Seth K. Hughes
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