Classic MTB Trails that Lure Riders Back Again and Again

Some of the oldest trails in the USA are still the best.

Greg Heil

Images

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Flowy singletrack on the Mouse Branch Loop. Photo: Greg Heil

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Sweet singletrack on the Thompson Loop. Photo: Greg Heil

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The Flume Trail. Photo: jcookfisher via Flickr Creative Commons

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Tunnel Creek portion of the Flume Trail. Photo: Rick Cooper via Flickr Creative Commons

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View of Lake Tahoe from the Flume Trail. Photo: jcookfisher via Flickr Creative Commons

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Lake Tahoe and the Flume Trail. Photo: bensondc via Flickr Creative Commons

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Rider: Greg Heil

by Greg Heil

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Rider: Greg Heil

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Rider: Greg Heil

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by Greg Heil

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by Greg Heil

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by Greg Heil

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by Greg Heil

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First Descent Photographer

by Tom M.

Licence Free

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Epic Antora View Photographer

by Greg Heil

Licence Free

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Sweet Singletrack Photographer

by Greg Heil

Licence Free

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Ouray Airtime Photographer

by Marcel Slootheer

Licence Free

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Riding Beneath Ouray Photographer

by Marcel Slootheer

Licence Free

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Old School Cribbing Photographer

by Greg Heil

Licence Free

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View of the Colorado River. Photo: Greg Heil

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View of the La Sal Mountains. Photo: Greg Heil

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Classic spray painted dots show the route on Slickrock. Photo: Greg Heil

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Riding the Slickrock Trail. Photo: Trailsource.com via Flickr Creative Commons

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Riding the Slickrock Trail. Photo: Trailsource.com via Flickr Creative Commons

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Riding the rim, with the La Sal mountains in the background. Rider: Greg Heil

by Michael De La Rosa

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Ledge drops on Porcupine Rim. Rider: Greg Heil

by Michael De La Rosa

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View of Castle Valley

by Greg Heil

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Rider: Michael De La Rosa

by Greg Heil

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Bombing down a ridgeline at 18 Road. Photo by Leslie Kehmeier, Mapping Manager, International Mountain Bicycling Association. Photo courtesy BLM via Flickr Creative Commons.

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Bombing down a ridgeline at 18 Road. Photo by Leslie Kehmeier, Mapping Manager, International Mountain Bicycling Association. Photo courtesy BLM via Flickr Creative Commons.

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Bombing down a ridgeline at 18 Road. Photo by Leslie Kehmeier, Mapping Manager, International Mountain Bicycling Association. Photo courtesy BLM via Flickr Creative Commons.

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Bombing down a ridgeline at 18 Road. Photo by Leslie Kehmeier, Mapping Manager, International Mountain Bicycling Association. Photo courtesy BLM via Flickr Creative Commons.

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A seat with a view. Scott Cotter

by Scott Cotter

Licence Free

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A skull to guide the way. Scott Cotter

by Scott Cotter

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Into the blue Brett Huber

by Brett Huber

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Ledges of Love Brett Huber

by Brett Huber

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Viewtastic Brett Huber

by Brett Huber

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Selfie Shelf Brett Huber

by Brett Huber

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Rock groove Brett Huber

by Brett Huber

Licence Free

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Rhodo tunnel on Bull Mountain. Photo: Greg Heil.

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Bear Creek singletrack.

by Greg Heil

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The massive Gennett Poplar

by Greg Heil

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Creekside singletrack on the Bear Creek trail.

by Greg Heil

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The McKenzie River Trail runs through a lush rainforest along a beautiful river. Photo by Bonnie Moreland via Flickr Creative Commons

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Koosah Falls along the McKenzie River. Photo: Jeff Hollett via Flickr Creative Commons

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Waterfall along the trail. Photo: Dave Roth via Flickr Creative Commons

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Scenic desert views.

by Bob Robinson

Licence Free

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Fast and flowy!

by Bob Robinson

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Mother Nature's rollers!

by Bob Robinson

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by Greg Heil

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by Greg Heil

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by Greg Heil

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by Greg Heil

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Railing down The Chutes. Rider: Vitaly

by Greg Heil

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Railing a wall ride / berm in the Chutes. Rider: Vitaly G

by Greg Heil

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Descending the Columbine trail. Rider: John Fisch

by Greg Heil

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Descending the Columbine trail. Rider: John Fisch

by Greg Heil

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Descending the Columbine trail. Rider: John Fisch

by Greg Heil

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Climbing the Columbine trail. Rider: John Fisch

by Greg Heil

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Tight singletrack at Levis Mounds! Rider: Greg Heil.

by Dean Glaze

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Wide wooden bridge on Sidewinder. Rider: Dean Glaze

by Greg Heil

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Ladder bridge

by Greg Heil

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Exposed corner on Sidewinder

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Sidewinder bridge

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Exposed sidewinder singletrack

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Thunder Mountain Ridge

by Gary Colet, via Flickr Creative Commons

Creative Commons: No Derivatives
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Thunder Mountain Ridgeline

by Gary Colet, via Flickr Creative Commons

Creative Commons: No Derivatives
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Rocky Descent John Fisch

by John Fisch

Licence Free

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South Boundary Climb John Fisch

by John Fisch

Licence Free

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Aspen Grove John Fisch

by John Fisch

Licence Free

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Cruising through the aspens. Fall on the South Boundary Trail. Rider: Greg Heil.

by Marcel Slootheer

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Ripping down the South Boundary Trail. Rider: Greg Heil

by Marcel Slootheer

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Fall on the South Boundary Trail. Rider: Greg Heil

by Marcel Slootheer

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Fall on the South Boundary Trail. Rider: Greg Heil

by Marcel Slootheer

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Fall on the South Boundary Trail.

by Marcel Slootheer

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Just keep following the yellow brick road!

by Greg Heil

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Rolling through the leaves on the South Boundary Trail

by Greg Heil

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Wildflowers, narrow singletrack, majestic mountain peaks—this is the 401. Photo: Greg Heil.

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Looking down valley toward Gothic. Photo: Greg Heil.

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One of many breathtaking corners. Rider: Andrew K. Photo: Greg Heil.

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Fireweed on the 401 Trail. Photo: Trailsource.com via Flickr Creative Commons

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Riding Trail 401 in Crested Butte. Photo: Pierce Martin via Flickr Creative Commons

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by Greg Heil

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by Greg Heil

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Rider: Greg Heil

by Marcel Slootheer

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Dropping into a technical rock feature. Photo: dh Reno, via Flickr Creative Commons

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Enjoying some buff singletrack. Photo: dh Reno, via Flickr Creative Commons

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Rider: Marcel Slootheer

by Greg Heil

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Rider: Marcel Slootheer

by Greg Heil

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Riding along the rim of Gooseberry Mesa. Photo by Leslie Kehmeier, Mapping Manager, International Mountain Bicycling Association. Photo courtesy BLM via Flickr Creative Commons.

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Riding at Gooseberry Mesa. Photo by Leslie Kehmeier, Mapping Manager, International Mountain Bicycling Association. Photo courtesy BLM via Flickr Creative Commons.

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Gooseberry Mesa slickrock. Photo by Leslie Kehmeier, Mapping Manager, International Mountain Bicycling Association. Photo courtesy BLM via Flickr Creative Commons.

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Sunset on Gooseberry Mesa. Photo by Leslie Kehmeier, Mapping Manager, International Mountain Bicycling Association. Photo courtesy BLM via Flickr Creative Commons.

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Riding along the rim of Gooseberry Mesa. Photo by Leslie Kehmeier, Mapping Manager, International Mountain Bicycling Association. Photo courtesy BLM via Flickr Creative Commons.

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Gnarly water bars on Black Mountain. Photo: Greg Heil

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An uncharacteristically flowy section on Black Mountain. Photo: Greg Heil

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Typical black mountain gnar with rhododendron. Photo: Greg Heil

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Rider on the Flume Trail

by Shutterstock

Licence Free

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View of Lake Tahoe

by Shutterstock

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Old mine on Silver Creek

by Greg Heil

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by Greg Heil

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Rider: Greg Heil

by Marcel Slootheer

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Rider: Greg Heil

by Marcel Slootheer

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by Greg Heil

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Rider: Greg Heil

by Marcel Slootheer

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Rider: Greg Heil

by Marcel Slootheer

Description

As the sport of mountain biking has matured over the years, the advent of purpose-built mountain bike trails and advances in trail design have led to new mountain bike trails that are better than ever before! Flow trails that are perfectly optimized for bikes offer a kinesthetic experience that’s guaranteed to trigger a two-wheeled flow state. And even the new school technical trails are better than ever before: drops with well-built landings, big jumps, burly rock gardens… purpose-built mountain bike trails don’t have to be easy!

Despite the advances in trail building, many of the original mountain bike trails that have been around for decades, or even before the mountain bike was invented, continue to lure riders back year after year. Some mountain bikers are still pedaling the same singletrack trails and slabs of slickrock that they were riding 40 years ago!

In this guidebook, you’ll find a wide selection of classic mountain bike trails across the United States that continue to bring riders back over and over again, for decades on end. Highlights on this list include the iconic Tsali loops in North Carolina, Slickrock in Moab, Demo Forest near Santa Cruz, the Flume Trail in Tahoe, Captain Jack’s in Colorado Springs, and so, so many more.

In many ways, the trails in this guidebook have helped shape the sport of mountain biking. From inspiring the first suspension fork, to defining what an “epic” ride is, these rides were foundational for our sport, and they still continue to deliver superb mountain biking experiences even today.

Think we missed a classic ride? Head to FATMAP’s Adventure Studio and upload it!

Adventures

Tsali: Right and Left Loops

Enjoy sinuous, mostly-smooth singletrack along the shores of beautiful Fontana Lake in the longer of the two rides at Tsali.

The Flume Trail

The historic Flume Trail, traversing high above the stunningly-beautiful Lake Tahoe.

Monarch Crest

This epic trail provides high alpine ridge top riding at treeline with views for hundreds of miles in all directions, finishing with a ripping descent down the mountain.

Slickrock Trail

One of the original world-famous mountain bike trails, the unique slickrock slabs provide an otherworldly ride experience

Porcupine Rim

Porcupine Rim is a Moab classic in the true sense of the word. Mountain bikers have been braving Porcupine Rim's gnar since at least the 1980s.

Zippety Do Da

Zippety Do Da provides the fast downhill bombs, swoop and flow, and visually-stunning ridgeline singletrack that put Fruita on the map.

Phil's World

A 25-mile winding, swooping beginner-friendly (but joy-inducing for all levels) chunk of high-desert terrain that will pin your grin from ear to ear.

Bull Mountain

One of the original iconic mountain bike rides in the Southeastern US still ranks among the best!

McKenzie River Trail

One of the most famous trails in Oregon, the singletrack is entertaining and the views are second to none!

Captain Jack's Loop

One of the original classic mountain bike rides, Captain Jack's still delivers a rocking-good time!

Trail 401

Arguably the most beautiful trail in North America, with epic views of the Elk Range, Trail 401 is also one of the oldest and best-known trails in the world.

Downieville Downhill

A shuttle run of epic proportions, dropping thousands of feet from a mountain top down to a river bottom.

Black Mountain Loop

The Black Mountain Trail defines mountain biking in Pisgah National Forest—gnarly, steep, and tons of fun!