28 IMBA Trail Towns are recognized for their commitment to outdoor recreation

Late last year the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) announced a revamp of their Ride Center program. One of the changes was the addition of a new Trail Town designation which the non-profit describes as “a national recognition for communities that value trails and the people who ride them.” This week IMBA announced its first crop of Trail Towns, recognizing 28 cities around the USA that are committed to trails.

“IMBA Trail Towns have all the right ingredients: accessible trail infrastructure, a commitment to trail funding, an active local trail organization, a culture of community engagement, and a sustainable trail stewardship plan,” IMBA Executive Director Dave Wiens wrote in an email announcement.

A mix of well-known MTB destinations and local hotbeds

IMBA Trail Towns are separate from IMBA Ride Centers, a list that’s made up of well-known mountain biking destinations. Still, the Trail Towns list features several established, nationally recognized MTB destinations including Leadville, Colorado; Salida, Colorado; Big Bear Lake, California; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Flagstaff, Arizona.

Then there are more regional mountain bike destinations on the list, like Knoxville, Tennessee; Anniston, Alabama; and Nashville, Indiana. Up-and-coming and under-the-radar spots, like Ely, Nevada, are on there too.

Perhaps the most interesting selections are cities and towns that are not known for mountain bike tourism. By and large these are communities that support mountain biking trails and programs that are geared toward local residents. Places like Columbus, Georgia and Annapolis, Maryland may not attract riders from out of town, but with hundreds of thousands of residents, there’s an opportunity to serve a significant number of trail users.

Scenes from Columbus, GA. All photos: Jeff Barber.

What does a Trail Town look like?

Columbus, Georgia is the closest trail town to me, and while most mountain bikers outside the state haven’t ridden there, the community is strong. The city has hosted UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator competitions downtown in the past and boasts access to the massive Standing Boy trail network. IMBA’s Trail Town page notes “the trails, parks, and bicycle playgrounds around Columbus have inspired several youth programs; while trailhead parking fees help off-set maintenance costs.”

And that’s just one of the lesser-known towns on this list. Check out the full list of the 2026 IMBA Trail Towns announced this week below, and tell us why your town deserves to be on the list!