Note: check out the latest list of the best mountain bike trails in the USA and Canada.
Each year, Singletracks compiles a list of the most popular mountain bike trails in each US State and Canadian province to find out where our readers love to ride. We started sharing the list back in 2014, and it’s been really interesting to see how the top trails in each state change over time.
This year, we’re also highlighting “up-and-coming” mountain bike trails within select states, in addition to calling out any changes among the top 3 from 2017 to 2018. Read on to see what’s new around the US and Canada!
Alabama
- Oak Mountain State Park Bump Trail (Birmingham)
- Coldwater Mountain (Anniston)
- Sylaward (Sylacauga)
[see_also id=’183808′]
Oak Mountain is still holding strong in Alabama with Coldwater close on its heels. Alabama mountain bikers looking for something new should consider two up-and-coming trails according to Singletracks reviewers. Duck River near Cullman is a relatively new, 10-mile trail system, while Beaver Creek, like Coldwater Mountain, is part of the Forever Wild Land Trust.
Alaska
- Lost Lake Trail (Seward)
- Kincaid Park (Anchorage)
- Kepler-bradley Lakes State Park (Wasilla)
[see_also id=’220277′]
Arizona
- Hiline (Sedona)
- Schultz Creek (Flagstaff)
- Broken Arrow Trail System (Sedona)
Last year, Hangover in Sedona was the most popular trail in Arizona according to Singletracks readers. This year, it doesn’t even appear in the top 3 (though it does make an appearance at #4). Still, it’s easy enough for mountain bikers to combine Hiline and Hangover into a single ride.
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Schultz Creek and Broken Arrow are new additions to the top 3 in Arizona, and we’re also seeing trails like Cloudview in Gold Canyon and Ranch Trail 62 in Prescott receiving renewed interest from riders.
Arkansas
- Slaughter Pen Trail (Bentonville)
- Blowing Springs (Bella Vista)
- Cedar Glades Trail (Hot Springs)
[see_also id=’231178′]
The top 2 trails in Arkansas remained the same, while Cedar Glades jumped into third place following several 5-star reviews posted in the past year. Coler Mountain Bike Preserve is a newer Northwest Arkansas mountain bike trail that is trending now, as is a lesser known, well-established trail system called Burns Park in Little Rock.
California
- Downieville Downhill (Downieville)
- Forest Of Nisene Marks and Soquel Demonstration Forest (Santa Cruz)
- Northstar Bike Park (Truckee)
An old favorite, China Camp, is trending with Singletracks trail reviewers this year, though the reason is unclear. Could it be due to the population explosion in the Bay Area? Is it because mountain bikers are getting older and looking for family-friendly places to take their kids?
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Another trail system seeing renewed interest is Snow Summit Bike Park at Big Bear Lake. It seems bike parks are becoming more popular mountain bike destinations across the board.
Colorado
- Colorado Trail (Denver)
- Monarch Crest Trail (Salida)
- 18 Road Trails / North Fruita Desert (Fruita)
[see_also id=’198085′]
The most popular mountain bike trails in Colorado are pretty well entrenched (and crowded). For those looking to avoid the crowds, check out these up-and-comers: Red Rock Canyon in Colorado Springs, Aspen Alley in Breckenridge, and the Little Scraggy trail in the Buffalo Creek trail system.
Connecticut
- Rockland Preserve (Madison)
- Pequonnock River Valley State Park / Trumbull (Trumbull)
- Cowles Park (East Granby)
[see_also id=’216597′]
In Connecticut, Cowles and Pequonnock swapped places from 2017 to 2018.
Delaware
- White Clay Creek (Newark)
- Middle Run Natural Area (Newark)
- Brandywine State Park (Wilmington)
Florida
- Santos (Ocala)
- Alafia River State Park (Brandon)
- Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve (Tampa)
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By now, mountain bikers across the US are probably familiar with the Florida trails listed above, but there are even more great places to ride in the state. In 2018, the Mount Dora trail system located between Ocala and Orlando is trending among Singletracks readers.
Georgia
- Blankets Creek (Woodstock)
- Chicopee Woods (Gainesville)
- Bear Creek (Ellijay)
[see_also id=’231080′]
Chicopee Woods and Bear Creek swapped places this year, though mountain bikers should note there are other trails that are trending as well: Bull / Jake Mountain, the Georgia International Horse Park (site of the 1996 Olympic mountain bike race), and Rope Mill.
Hawaii
- Pupukea Trail (Waimea North Shore)
- Kealia Trail (Mokuleia)
- Kuli’ou’ou Ridge (Honolulu (Kuliouou-Kalani Iki))
[see_also id=’204405′]
Idaho
- Sidewinder (Heise)
- Corral Creek (Ketchum)
- Loon Lake Trail (McCall)
[see_also id=’223066′]
Between 2017 and 2018, the Sidewinder trail jumped up from third place to first. The Corral Creek trail is a new addition, taking Loon Lake’s #2 spot from last year. Another trail to watch for 2018 is Williams Creek near Stanley.
Illinois
- The Fay Pickering Memorial Trails (Marshall)
- Kickapoo (Oakwood)
- Farmdale Reservoir Recreation Area (East Peoria)
[see_also id=’219529′]
The top trails in Illinois remain the same for 2018, though Illinois mountain bikers may want to pay attention to the trails in Horace B. Garman park in Decatur.
Indiana
- Griffin Bike Park (Terre Haute)
- Brown County Park (Nashville)
- Buffalo Trace (French Lick)
This may be a controversial result, but based on Singletracks reviewer ratings, Griffin Bike Park in Terre Haute is now the most popular place to mountain bike in Indiana, beating out regional favorite Brown County Park. We suspect even those involved in building and maintaining Griffin Park are just as surprised as anyone to see Griffin besting Brown County.
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Based on a number of positive reviews in the past 12 months, Fort Harrison State Park outside Indianapolis is worth a look as well.
Iowa
- Memorial Park Trails (Ottumwa)
- Sunderbruch Park (Davenport)
- Sugar Bottom (North Liberty)
Kansas
- Switchgrass (Wilson)
- Badger Creek North Trail (Fall River)
- Shawnee Mission Park (Lenexa)
[see_also id=’207512′]
Badger Creek North moved up a spot, while Shawnee Mission Park moved down. Switchgrass certainly isn’t the only place worth riding in Kansas; check out trending traiils Wyandotte County Lake and Coronado Heights.
Kentucky
- Sheltowee Trace – Laurel Lake Trail (London)
- Canal Loop (Grand Rivers)
- Brier Creek (Mammoth Cave)
Two other Kentucky trail systems to keep in mind — England Idlewild and Devou Park — continue to draw riders across the border from Cincinnati.
Louisiana
- Lincoln Parish Park (Ruston)
- Lakeshore MTB Singletrack (Shreveport)
- The Monkey Trail (Shreveport)
The Lakeshore and Monkey trails swapped places in 2018.
Maine
- Nordic Heritage Center (Presque Isle)
- Carrabassett Valley Trail System (Carrabassett Valley)
- Rick Swan Trails at Perch Pond (Oldtown)
[see_also id=’230224′]
The Nordic Heritage Center took over the top spot from Carrabassett in 2018, while the Rick Swan Trails at Perch Pond make their first appearance in the top 3. While the trails at Perch Pond have been around for a while, recent reviews suggest the trails keep getting better and better!
Up next: Maryland through Puerto Rico.
