5 of the best mountain bike trails in Virginia

Virginia has long been home to a wealth of burly mountain bike trails lacing the rocky ridgelines of the Blue Ridge Mountains. While the iconic trails are all still there — and some would argue, better than ever thanks to ongoing trail work — the classics are slowly being joined by more modern trail builds. Existing trail systems like Pocahontas State Park and Massanutten Western Slope are adding modern flow trails to the mix, and smaller in-town trail networks like Mill Mountain and Locust Shade Park are popping up as well.

While we haven’t seen quite as many new trail openings in Virginia as we have from other states in recent years, the Commonwealth’s diverse landscape and rugged mountains make it a perennial favorite. After consulting with local experts, we’ve updated our top five list with several new-and-improved trails to make your next Virginia MTB trip a winner:

Narrowback West to Tillman, Harrisonburg

“The Harrisonburg and Stokesville area are iconic playgrounds for riders in the region,” said Martin Fernandez with the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts and author of Mountain Biking Virginia. Of all the trails in this incredible destination, many locals agree that the recently realigned Narrowback West trail is one of the best. Narrowback can be combined with other trails in the area, such as Dog Graves, Festival, Tower, Tillman, and more, for a variety of loop combinations. The updated Tillman descent with berms, rollers, and jumps is currently a local favorite.

The reworks on Narrowback and Tillman have made the trails a bit more rideable and flowier than other trails in the region — but that doesn’t mean they’re easy. Riders will still encounter advanced-level rock gardens, rocky ridgeline pedaling, and big ledge drops. The gnar in Harrisonburg is not to be trifled with.

“If all you want is a 2+ mile grin-inducing downhill, follow Narrowback West to the left and back to the Wolf parking area,” said Fernandez. “Chances are that when you reach the bottom, you’ll want to ride it again.”

Carvins Cove, Roanoke

Carvins Cove is considered by many to be the premier trail system in Roanoke, if not all of Virginia. Long-time local rider Dan Lucas, Mechanic at Cardinal Bicycle, put it this way: “If you want burly, speed-sapping roots and technical rock gardens, we have that. If you want beginner-friendly zones, we have that. If you want lung-busting climbs and epic-quality routes, we have that too.”

Carvins Cove offers over 60 miles of singletrack, providing a seemingly endless array of route combinations to choose from. This network is more than just a day trip — you can easily spend an entire weekend pedaling up and ripping down the steep mountainsides of this MTB paradise and not see everything.

“These trails are growing and have become a community gathering place,” Lucas continued. “Junior cycling teams, beginners, and elite athletes all use Carvins Cove as a place to build skills and the cycling community. It’s a place full of rich experiences and kind people. These trails are old, they have a lot of soul, and a lot of joy to give. It may not be on the big bucket list trail systems you see most places, but Carvins has a presence that can not be duplicated.”

Pocahontas State Park, Richmond

Pocahontas State Park “offers a cornucopia of riding opportunities for riders of all levels,” said Fernandez. The park now boasts 44 miles of singletrack to choose from. “There are classic old school hand-built technical trails, purpose-built flow lines, easy trails for kids, and accessible trails for riders with disabilities.”

The Swift Creek trail system is the most modern MTB zone in Pocahontas State Park, featuring 22 miles of machine-built flow trails. Freight Line, a downhill-only dual slalom track, was built in 2018, and Blue Jay Way and Corkscrew added intermediate-level, downhill-only flow trails with berms and small features to the network. The Millstone Trail features a jump line with some impressive tables.

“The trails are well marked, easy to navigate, and a joy to ride,” Fernandez continued. “The Friends of Pocahontas State Park, along with park management and rvaMORE, have done a phenomenal job of systematically improving the trail system and maintaining it so that it is always in great shape. Beyond that, there are over 60 miles of gravel roads in case you want to bring your ‘other bike’ for the ride.”

Fountainhead Regional Park, Fairfax

Much of Fountainhead’s popularity is due to its close proximity to the DC metro area, but with flowing singletrack, entertaining bridges, and challenging features and roots, this is a quality ride regardless of its location. Fountainhead offers plenty of mileage, too: some 20 miles of bike-legal singletrack, creating an extensive ride opportunity just outside of DC.

“This trail is surprisingly tough. The roots are incessant and can, literally, become a pain in the rear,” writes Singletracks contributor John Fisch. “The roots can really be a problem when they’re wet, which is any morning when there’s dew on them. There is some great, flowy singletrack interspersed with the troublesome roots, along with some tough drops into, and climbs out of, the various drainages. If you want to challenge yourself in ways that are both fun and character-building, this is a good place for it. The great thing about this area is that it’s just for bikes, so you needn’t worry about hikers. Also, all the loops are designated as one-way, so you don’t have to worry about coming around a blind corner into an oncoming biker. The loops are stacked, so you have multiple options to bail out early.”

Massanutten Western Slope Trails, Harrisonburg

Massanutten Resort has been hard at work expanding its singletrack offerings, and now it boasts 32 miles of bike-specific singletrack in the Western Slope trail system. This expansive network is distinct from the nearby bike park at the resort, meaning that Massanutten offers plenty of trails for riders ranging from XC to DH.

Singletracks trail reviewers note the massive variety of trails available on the Western Slope, ranging from beginner to advanced and providing steep climbs to fast descents. “Lots of climbs, but the downhills make it all worth it!” wrote Singletracks trail reviewer avg_mtber. “Quarantine was my favorite trail. […] Definitely a must-ride destination.”

Runners-up

1. Douthat State Park, Millboro
2. The Southern Traverse, Harrisonburg
3. Locust Shade Park, Triangle
4. Angler’s Ridge, Danville
5. Pandapas Pond / Poverty Creek, Blacksburg

Your turn: What’s your favorite mountain bike trail in Virginia?