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

14 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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14 Comments

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Greg Heil Colorado // 2008
1 week ago

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

6 reply

Vermountain_Biker Vermont // 2025
1 week ago

Done in one!

0 reply

Robert Dobbs New York // 2016
1 week ago

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
6 days ago

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

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

JSTootell 2017
6 days ago

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

Hap Proctor Florida // 2014
1 week ago

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
5 days ago

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

1 reply

bikejoy Georgia // 2023
1 week ago

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
1 week ago

Keep the "mountain" in mountain biking.

2 reply

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.

highland.hippie Queensland // 2021
1 week ago

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
4 days ago

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.

2wheelfun Colorado // 2018
5 days ago

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.

-1 reply

Bontrager fan 1972 New South Wales // 2023
1 week ago

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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