The Best Black Diamond Mountain Bike Trail in Each US State

South Dakota: Centennial Trail

A 111-mile point-to-point route, challenges await on the Centennial Trail. “With elevation changes from 3,200 feet to 5,600 feet, this trail consists of exceptional rollercoaster sections, rugged climbs with loose rock, difficult descents, stream crossings, tight switchbacks, and some smooth portions of low prairie singletrack, as well ones that wind quickly through beautiful pine trees,” said one Singletracks contributor. “Rocks sticking out of the ground on this trail will require you to keep your eyes open as you zip through it.”

[see_also id=”63751″][/see_also]

Tennessee: Sharps Ridge Memorial Park

Photo trickery by #quinnwestcoast #sharpsridge @ideridemtb @appalachian_mountain_bike_club @bansheebikes @kaliprotectives #bansheeamp #knightfalltrail

A post shared by Fountain City Pedaler (@fountain_city_pedaler) on Mar 18, 2016 at 9:12pm PDT

You might not expect to find the highest-rated black diamond trail located in the heart of Knoxville, but Sharps Ridge Memorial Park reigns supreme. While the park overall gets a black diamond rating, the Knight Fall Gravity trail within the system is a downhill jump line that garners most of the acclaim.

For even more black diamond riding in Knoxville, be sure to check out Devil’s Racetrack.

[see_also id=’191340′][/see_also]

Texas: Reveille Peak Ranch

While you’ll have to pay $10 to ride on this private ranch if you’re not entering a race, by all accounts Reveille Peak is the real deal. Most of the trail runs over rough granite bedrock, with rock gardens in between the bedrock. But don’t worry–“there is some smooth dirt here and there,” according to armyslowrdr.

[see_also id=’62565′][/see_also]

Utah: Porcupine Rim

Is it any surprise that the venerable Porcupine Rim wins the ratings in Utah? But one interesting item of note: somehow “The Whole Enchilada,” of which Porcupine Rim is the final segment, has received an average intermediate rating from 36 reviewers. In what world would you give The Whole Enchilada a beginner or intermediate rating?! But I digress.

Porcupine Rim is filled with ledge drops, huge rock gardens, serious exposure, and a couple of sections of trail that are rideable only by the pros.

Utah, and Moab by itself, is home to no end of ultra-technical trails that are also ultra-fun. Honorable mentions include Captain Ahab and Slickrock.

[see_also id=’61924′][/see_also]

Vermont: Killington Mountain

@monsterenergy lit up the Beast of the East Pro GRT course today, closing out an epic weekend of racing! Thanks to all the competitors, volunteers, sponsors and spectators for making this event a success. [shot with @gopro #gopro] #beastMTB

A post shared by Killington Resort (@killingtonmtn) on Jul 30, 2017 at 4:57pm PDT

Killington has received a double black diamond rating from our reviewers, due to its wide-ranging network of technical downhill trails. However, with 29 named trails totaling 30 miles, this lift-served DH park does offer some blue lines and one or two shorter green trails… just don’t expect to find anything that’s truly easy.

[see_also id=”61851″][/see_also]

Virginia: Douthat State Park

This 40-mile trail system earns a black diamond rating overall, speaking to the highly technical nature of these trails on average. Don’t expect to find berms and new school trails here: Douthat provides old school, rocky singletrack riding at its finest.

The race was tight in Virginia, with Dragon’s Back a close second. Yet another extremely rocky backcountry trail, Dragon’s Back has managed to earn a double black diamond rating from our reviewers–it’s no joke!

[see_also id=”61502″][/see_also]

Washington: Ape Canyon / Plains of Abraham

Located on the flanks of Mount Saint Helens, Ape Canyon / Plains of Abraham offers extremely rocky backcountry riding with no concessions made for the mountain biker. Bmtbyker likens it to “riding on the surface of the moon.”

[see_also id=’59359′][/see_also]

West Virginia: North Fork Mountain Trail

With 24 miles of extremely technical backcountry riding, North Fork shows why West Virginia riding is so special. It led Singletracks member Alex NIN to call it, “absolutely one of the best rides I’ve done.”

Honorable Mentions: Big Bear Lake Trail Center and Snowshoe Bike Park.

[see_also id=’59350′][/see_also]

Wisconsin: Levis Mounds

Levis Mounds is one of the oldest purpose-built mountain bike trails in the world, and despite recent advancements in incorporating flowier trail features, these classic trails still earn a black diamond difficulty rating based on over 50 reviews. Specifically, reviewers rate Sidewinder very highly–and very black–although most of that technical rating is due to the sheer drop off exposure. Other trails like Toad Road, Cliffhanger, and Porky Point are much rockier and objectively more difficult to clean.

[see_also id=’31848′][/see_also]

Wyoming: TNT

A named trail within the Wilkins Peak Trail System, TNT is “a fast, fun, furious freeride to the bottom with tight turns and steeps,” according to candyrapper. It’s received an average of 4.91 out of 5 stars from 11 reviewers, and a black diamond rating.

If double black is what you seek, the Lunatic Fringe trail in the same trail system should satisfy, with “several ladder bridges and some areas of exposure,” according to ryoak. “There are several opportunities for drops ranging from 3 to 7 feet.”

[see_also id=”58419″][/see_also]

Your Turn: Know of an incredible tech trail that we didn’t include here? Tell us all about it in the comments section below!