We started singletracks more than 12 years ago with one thing in mind: helping mountain bikers find the best mountain bike trails. Of course since then we’ve added gear reviews, forums, and the blog but our primary mission remains the same. In the early years we rode and documented every trail ourselves but today 90% of our 3,000+ trail listings are user-generated.
So, how to find the best mountain bike trails on singletracks? Whether you’re looking to ride your first mountain bike trail or planning an epic trip, here are the best ways to find prime dirt.
1. View the trailhead map. Our mountain bike trail tab features an interactive map showing all 3,000+ trailheads all around the world. Use the controls to zoom into your area and click the clusters to find individual trails. The blue pins represent precise trail locations; the white pins are approximate locations (remember what we said about user-generated content?). Click a pin to see a small photo and info about the trail. Click the link for even more info, including reviews, videos, and more.
2. Drill down the trail list. From the singletracks homepage you can use the pull down menu to find your state (or country if you’re outside the US and Canada). From here you’ll find a list of all the trails in your area that’s sortable by average rating.
Some states have hundreds of mountain bike trails and the list can be a bit overwhelming at first. Try using the filter links on the left side of the page to refine your search. Say you’re looking for beginner trails under 5 miles long – just click “Beginner,” then “Under 5 miles.” You can remove your filters at any time by clicking the “Remove Filter” link beside the small x icon.
If you’re looking for trails in your city, choose your city from the filter list (if yours isn’t listed, click the “More cities” link). After you’ve filtered by your city, you may want to expand your search a bit to include outlying areas. Click the “Trails near (your city)” link in the yellow box near the top of the page to see more trails.
3. Search by zip code. If you know your US zip code (or the zip code of a place you’re visiting), plug it into the zip code form on the right side of the trail page to find the nearest trails. On the results page you can adjust your search radius up to 100 miles.
4. Search. If you know the name of the trail you’re looking for, use the search box at the top right on any page. Search results are powered by Google so you’ll almost always find what you’re looking for.
5. Browse the lists. We have several trail lists here on singletracks to help you find interesting mountain bike trails. Here are a few places to start:
- Best mountain bike trails in the world. Automatically ranked using our unique algorithm.
- IMBA Epic Trails. The International Mountain Bike Association recognizes some of the best trails in the world and we’ve linked to those trail listings for you.
- Recommended trails. Each trail listing page has a section for recommended trails based on past user reviews. So if you find a trail you enjoy, look to see what similar, local trails other members recommend.
If, after all that searching, you can’t find your favorite trail, do everyone a favor and add trail information using this form. Remember, user-generated doesn’t work without U. 🙂
