Top 10 Trails of 2021: Greg Heil's Favorite New MTB Trails

As I've reflected on 2021, I've realized that it was easily one of the best years of my life—COVID be damned. 2021 saw me cover more miles on a bike than I have in a year since 2013. This past year, I pedaled 2,506 miles while traveling across North America and Europe. I rode 167 days in 2021, and almost every single one was a new adventure.

On top of mountain biking, I set a goal of covering 500 miles on foot, and I passed that threshold with a final total of 529 miles. My Outside 365 streak also continued uninterrupted, bringing my total up to 1,254 days of continuous outdoor activity as of December 31st.

I live this nomadic lifestyle because I absolutely love exploring the planet from the seat of my mountain bike. Being stuck in the same town or the same region for years on end feels claustrophobic and constricting, and I find myself compelled to venture out into the unknown in search of the next great mountain bike ride. While I did re-ride some perennial favorites this year, I spent most of my time exploring dozens of superb world-class rides for the first time ever.

Below you'll find 10 of the best trails that I explored for the first time in 2021. If you need a new hitlist or a dose of inspiration as you plan your 2022 travels, consider these 10 fantastic mountain bike trails, ranked roughly in order of excellence.