How do you feel about trails that require hike-a-bike?

Some mountain bike trails aren't entirely rideable, so riders need to decide if they're willing to hike a bit.

By Jeff Barber
April 20, 2025

15 comments

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I doubt many of us would say we enjoy hike-a-bike. After all, mountain biking and hiking are two different things, and combining the two makes each one worse, not better.

A few years ago, I would have answered that I avoid trails with hike-a-bike. Now, I would say I don’t mind a little bit of hiking if the effort is worth the reward.

Tell us about the trails you’ve ridden where the hike-a-bike is worth the effort in the comments below! 👇

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15 Comments

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Greg Heil Colorado // 2008
Apr 21, 2025

If you ain’t hiking, you ain’t (mountain) biking.

6 reply

Vermountain_Biker Vermont // 2025
Apr 23, 2025

Done in one!

0 reply

Robert Dobbs New York // 2016
Apr 21, 2025

Love hiking! Love biking! But I try never to mix the two. To me, it's like going to play hockey, but forced to use a basketball as the puck (love basketball and hockey as well, but I do not combine them).

4 reply

Sunspot Colorado // 2019
Apr 23, 2025

Where's your sense of adventure, Mr. Dobbs??

Jeff needs to fix this damn place cause no emojis is kinda ho hum.

JSTootell 2017
Apr 23, 2025

Ultra runner and mountain biker myself, and pretty much the same.

Hap Proctor Florida // 2014
Apr 21, 2025

A couple years ago my wife and I wanted to ride the entire Black Mountain trail in Pisgah Forest (Upper Upper, Upper, Middle and Lower). We read there were some hike-a-bike sections, but didn’t expect a solid mile where we never got on our bikes. One spot, I actually had to hand the bikes up to her as she stood on a ledge 6’ above me. The fact that four of my friends (locals) didn’t join us should have been a tip on the difficulty. We proudly completed the task without divorce being discussed. Great views and fun downhill the final 8 miles made it a memorable day.

3 reply

FrankeyC Florida // 2017
Apr 24, 2025

Ditto, (with two friends) and I know the exact spot you speak of!! I even got a flat on “Lower” and hiked the rest of that as well! Not the best day of mountain biking but definitely the most memorable! Lol

2 reply

bikejoy Georgia // 2023
Apr 23, 2025

I like the challenge of trying to ride trails with potential hiking sections that a higher level of skill makes bikeable. I try to stay on the bike and ride whenever possible. So I am in the middle category of accepting hike a bike if the trip down makes it worthwhile.

Stiggy Colorado // 2024
Apr 21, 2025

Keep the "mountain" in mountain biking.

Pfft!! You just might be a flatlander if you don't lug your bike from time to time.
But then, trials. Trialsin' through terrain can be a real hoot. Not many folks are into the trials scene but, trials is without question, the foundation of all things mountain bike.

1 reply

highland.hippie Queensland // 2021
Apr 22, 2025

There are some local pirate trails, a couple of which are scratched in descents, some of which is basically freeriding, that require some degree of hike-a-bike to access.

There are climbing trails, but they are unmaintained, not well linked and sometimes not easily ridden with an e-bike.

Worth the occasional visit, but I don't do it very often. Mainly because I'm not currently fit enough to enjoy it much.

Salgeek Michigan // 2025
Apr 26, 2025

I dare say I don’t agree with the premise. ‘Freelancing is a riot. We also enjoy riding to a trailhead on a bike and then going for a hike.

Namdoog Maine // 2025
Jun 15, 2025

I do enjoy getting off the bike to scramble through brook crossings and the like. It's nice to be reminded of how riding was back in the last century.

2wheelfun Colorado // 2018
Apr 24, 2025

There is nothing wrong with doing a little hike a biking, sometime it feels good to get out of the saddle and do a little cross training. Or sometime you might question a section that if you try riding it you say to yourself you can go from hero to zero if you don't make it. It's sad when I hear people say when a trail is too challenging for them that a trail crew should work on it to accommodate them. Some of us like the challenge even if it means hike a bike or even having to lift and pass a bike to get to a ridable section of trail. Those type of rides are the ones that become memorable.

Bontrager fan 1972 New South Wales // 2023
Apr 20, 2025

My friend Dimitris couldn't go without his pedalec but like me , wouldn't like carrying it's weight uphill . I would carry it for him part - way .

-2 reply

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