Great Trails

Now that you’re all set with equipment and technique, where to? The possibilities around the country are seemingly endless, but there are quite a few areas (and some entire cities) that are regarded as bicycle-friendly. Following are some of our favorite places to set up camp, gear up a bicycle, and start pedaling. Fees and permits vary, so be sure to research what you’ll need in advance for each area.

Moab, Utah

It’s no secret that Moab is home to some of the best mountain biking trails on the planet, and with good reason: Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned veteran, the area is practically bursting with one-of-a-kind trails for riders of every skill level.

Perhaps the most famous trail in the area is the Slickrock Bike Trail, an approximately 10-plus-mile mountain bike bucket-list adventure that’s best left to experienced riders. Slickrock includes sharp turns, steep climbs, and fast-moving descents, all perfect for those who are up to the task of some highly technical biking.

But Moab is also a great place for novice riders and families as well. Its extensive urban pathway system includes Mill Creek Parkway, a serene recreational path that doesn’t allow motorized vehicles. Follow along the banks of Mill Creek, surrounded by red rocks while in the shade of the many tree species in the area. The parkway is a serene two-mile ride (about six miles if you count all the connector trails). Along the way, check out the local dog park and area schools, or practice your skills at Robin Groff Memorial Park, which contains a loop trail with wooden and stone ramps, all designed to improve your pedaling prowess.

Just north of Moab is the Bar M Trail System, which includes more than 30 miles of mostly singletrack trail in several loops. Designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2020, there are riding options for all skill levels here, all from the same trailhead—and all with beautiful views of Arches National Park and the Moab Canyon.

Bentonville, Arkansas

You may know Bentonville as the home of Walmart HQ, but did you know that Bentonville is considered the “Mountain Biking Capital of the World?” There are more than 40 miles of hard- and soft-surface bike trails within city limits (and more than 200-plus miles in the region). In fact, only about a block away from downtown, riders can find immediate access to rides for all skill levels.

Another pulse-pounding option is Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, just a couple of miles away. There, you’ll find more than 19 miles of every type of trail imaginable. At the top of Coler Mountain, riders will encounter The Hub, which is a 20-foot-tall steel and wood structure that launches riders into any of three trails.

Camping at the preserve is limited to primitive tent sites and a handful of Class B motorhome spots (no hookups). Fear not: There are plenty of other RVing/camping options throughout the area.

Seattle, Washington

When a major city is committed to installing sidewalk bike racks at the request of its citizens, you know it’s bike-friendly. Seattle’s Bicycle Spot Improvement Program aims to encourage bicycling for short trips and errands. But Seattle is more than biking for a honey-do list. The famous Burke-Gilman Trail winds 27 miles through many of Seattle’s notable northern neighborhoods, offering uninterrupted pedaling past spectacular scenery.

The annual Seattle to Portland (STP) event has been a Northwest rite of passage for participants since 1979 and takes bikers 200-plus miles from Seattle’s University of Washington campus to Portland’s Holladay Park. And though it takes place July 15–16 this year, riders can retrace many of the route’s miles anytime at their own convenience.

If you’re looking for a true family affair, Seward Park on Lake Washington offers nearly 2.5-mile bike paths with stunning views of the water, Myrtle Edwards Park north of Belltown features a winding bike path along Elliott Bay, and Green Lake Park in the center of the Green Lake neighborhood offers an easy three-mile track around the lake.

Empire State Trail, New York

The Empire State Trail is a massive trail system spanning the state of New York from New York City to the Canadian border and from Albany to Buffalo. At 750 miles, the Empire State Trail is the longest multi-use trail in the country. Most of the trail route follows “rail trails,” which are actually repurposed railroad beds, and “canalway trails” built next to sections of the Erie and Champlain canals. Some sections are on-road, but there are plenty of off-road opportunities as well. The Empire State Trail consists of three main sections: Erie Canalway (Buffalo to Albany), Hudson Valley (Manhattan to Albany), and Champlain Valley (Albany to the Canadian border). The Trail welcomes bicyclists and walkers of all ages and skill levels while connecting the state’s urban centers, village main streets, rural communities, and diverse history. A free printable map is available on the website, and believe us, you’re going to need it.

Mountaineer Country, West Virginia

Whether you prefer trails made of concrete or dirt, miles of tracks are open for adventure in Mountaineer Country in West Virginia. There are routes for every skill level, from flat rail trails where the whole family can pedal together to heart-pounding technical courses climbing up through thickly forested mountains and back down again.

Enjoy more than 50 miles of expertly groomed trails within the privately owned Bruceton Mills trail section of Big Bear Lake Trail Center. You’ll find routes the whole family will enjoy, gradual climbs, challenging rocky paths, and a white-knuckle downhill route or two for more experienced riders.

Roughly 50 miles of bike trails wind through Coopers Rock State Forest, just 15 minutes from downtown Morgantown. Forty registered and 10 single-track trails will keep you exploring for hours. Mountain bikers will enjoy the 18 miles of scenic trails that cut through Valley Falls State Park just south of Morgantown near Fairmont.

Finally, discover epic river views, waterfalls, and historical sites near the Mon River Rail-Trail stretching over 47 miles along the Monongahela River. The trail is paved in some areas and crushed stone in others, and the entire length is well-suited for riders of all levels. Bike Rentals in downtown Morgantown have easy access to the Mon River Rail-Trail.

Marin County, California

With scenic country roads, crisp ocean air, and a variety of family-friendly routes—most in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge—it’s no wonder Marin County in Northern California is considered a bucket-list ride for bicyclists.

Considered the birthplace of mountain biking due to the famed “Larkspur Canyon Gang” traversing Mt. Tamalpais and Baltimore Canyon (along with others), Marin County offers bikers their choice of mountain bike trails, like Annadel State Park in Santa Rosa and Mt. Tamalpais State Park in Mill Valley; road-bike routes that put you right on the water (and some on the sidewalks of the Golden Gate Bridge itself—it’s about an eight-mile ride from Fisherman’s Wharf across the bridge to charming Sausalito); and family-friendly paths like the no-motorized- vehicles-allowed Corte Madera Pathway.

And, let’s not forget that the entirety of Marin County offers the diverse dining options, succulent wine-sipping, and laid-back culture that the Golden State is known for.

Route of the Hiawatha, Idaho-Montana

When talking about scenic bike trails, it’s a given that we’d include the “Crown Jewel” of all rails-to-trails projects in the country. The Route of the Hiawatha is a 15-mile (mostly downhill) hike or bike trail with 10 train tunnels (nine of which you can pedal through) and accented by seven trestles that offer otherworldly views of the pristine countryside. The ride begins with a more than 1.5-mile ride through St. Paul Pass (or Taft Tunnel), which prohibits motorized vehicles and runs below the Bitterroot Mountains at the state line. The trail is mostly packed gravel/dirt, but bicycles with narrow road tires are not recommended.

Shuttles await riders at the bottom of the trail (Trail Pass and Shuttle fees apply). If you do opt for the shuttle, you’re rewarded with another chance to ride through St. Paul Pass for an unforgettable ending to a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The season spans from late May through mid-September. Another 31 miles of trail are being planned for the future and will include another tunnel and two trestles.

Ride Finders

So, you brought your bike, but where do you go? There are great rides everywhere, and the easiest way to find them is with websites and smartphone apps. Here are just a few of our favorites:

Ride with GPS

This app is often my first stop when planning a route in an unfamiliar city. It’s easy to search routes submitted by others that start or pass near to wherever your RV is parked. Once you find some routes, you’ll likely notice that they tend to cluster around a few key roads or trails, and it becomes easy to see “Okay, a lot of people ride bikes here.” You can filter Ride with GPS to show you minimum and maximum distances, types of rides, and even types of roads.

Garmin Connect

Besides the fact that this app will send turn-by-turn directions right to my handlebar-mounted GPS unit, the most amazing feature of this site is the HEAT MAP! The heat map will show you, in an obvious color scheme, which routes are most traveled by cyclists. If lots of other people ride there, I figure it’s probably a good spot for me to ride as well.

M T B Project

We’ve been using this app for years, and it’s still our go-to app for finding mountain bike rides. The detail on the individual rides is outstanding, the difficulty ratings on the trails are accurate, and the app is kept up to date with reviews and photos submitted by users. I’ll even pull this app out mid-ride if I suspect I’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere along the trail. (It happens more than I’d like to admit.)