Did access to trails influence your choice of where to live?

We want to know if you chose your current home base with mountain bike trail access in mind.

By Jeff Barber
June 14, 2026

17 comments

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A cyclist performing a jump on a mountain bike in a green park area surrounded by trees and modern buildings. A sign with park information is visible on the left, and a portion of a walking path is seen in the background. — File photo: Daniel Palma.

For mountain bikers, local trail access is important. And it’s not just about relocating across the country for better trail access; many of us choose to live in a certain part of town because it’s close to the trails. Having trails nearby makes it easy to get out for a ride, and for many, is an important quality-of-life issue.

If you said yes, did you choose to live in a trail town, or just closer to the trails in your town? Tell us in the comments below. And if you’re planning to move for better trail access, we’d love to hear about that as well!

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17 Comments

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sscottt Vermont // 2024
1 week ago

I grew up in Illinois and moved to Western NC for all the outdoors but definitely mountain biking. I met and married a Vermonter and like all Vermonters she needed to move back to her home stream. The choice to move to my current location was not mountain biking related, but wow am I in a perfect location. My decision to leave my home state, however, was completely mountain biking related.

4 reply

Muke Colorado // 2021
1 week ago

No, but it has a strong influence on what places that make me think "man, it would be so cool to live there."

Greg Heil Colorado // 2008
1 week ago

The town I chose was due to trail access, and where I chose to live in that town was also due to trail access. Its trails all the way down!

boxcarmtb Colorado // 2018
1 week ago

I grew up in Illinois, moved to Colorado to be able to ride in mountains. My wife and I bought land close to our favorite trails in the Roosevelt NF and are building our own trail system right out our door. Location to trails has been making up my mind for years.

3 reply

Exodux California // 2017
1 week ago

It definitely does! I'm lucky with where I live now that I have access to hundreds of miles and trails and roads outside my door. We are currently looking to possibly move in a year or two and the new areas we are looking, we have to have trails very close, where we don't have to drive to access them.

2 reply

Mike Gehard 2025
1 week ago

Lucky for me family considerations and trail access lined up perfectly.

lallig00d North Carolina // 2026
1 week ago

Wife & I work remotely. Finally got all the kids out of the house. She wanted 4 seasons & I wanted somewhere with plenty of trails to ride. Two & a half years ago we moved just outside of Brevard, NC. Can get to either Pisgah or DuPont in 10 minutes & only 20 minutes to Ride Kanuga. Still feels surreal living here & don't miss Florida one bit.

~Mountain Bike Addict~ Colorado // 2008
1 week ago

Chose Colorado Springs and close to the trails.

1 reply

OhioFatBiker Ohio // 2016
1 week ago

I started riding in my late 40's. My locale was driven by the opportunities in my career and trying to blend that with proximity to family. My kids are grown now, I have a lot more years behind me than in front of me. The quality of life outside of work is weighing very heavy on my mind as I contemplate my next steps, proximity to family is still number 1, but access to trails and lifestyle amenities is going to factor into my next move.

Namdoog Maine // 2025
1 week ago

We built our home in the country about 23 years ago to get away from the city and be closer to nature. We live in a wooded area and there are trails right out my back door. They're mostly ATV/snowmobile trails and I use them all four seasons for biking and skiing. We didn't decide to live here because of the trails but it's definitely been a great benefit of living here.

mrtonyd Colorado // 2024
1 week ago

moved to colorado springs with my family in high school. liked snowboarding more than biking at the time, but grew to love mountain biking. graduating college here and landing a job in my field was lucky. thought about denver or seattle or portland, but the riding from my door is hard to beat when you factor the cost of living

~Mountain Bike Addict~ Colorado // 2008
6 days ago

Why would you even consider Seattle or Portland? Are you a crazy liberal?

0 reply

Tom Switzer California // 2016
1 week ago

I moved back to the SF bay area, the only place with trails you could hike or ride to was western San Mateo/Belmont/San Carlos.

sapios West Virginia // 2018
6 days ago

I moved from WV to TN in 2021. Had hundreds of miles of single track with in easy drive from my home in WV. Now in TN although the trails are good I have to drive a hour to the closest trails. Because of my wife's job I'm stuck in east TN. Wishing I was back in WV. If you love mtbiking pick your move wisely.

BikeyMcBikeface Florida // 2025
1 week ago

I wish! Covid dicated where I am now but I plan to make a move soon.

Jared13 Tennessee // 2011
6 days ago

Moved to Knoxville, TN because of the trails. We ending up buying a house because it was less than 5 minutes by bike to the trails.

bikejoy Georgia // 2023
1 week ago

The city I choose to live in is determined by job and family considerations. The area by limiting my commute to an easy bike commute and family education considerations. I love biking, but it is not close to the top of list in where to live. I am fortunate to have good trails nearby where I ended up.

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