Get us in your inbox

Biking Sedona
Photograph: Shutterstock

The best bike trails in the U.S.

Take in this beautiful country while breaking a sweat riding along the best bike trails in the U.S.

Anna Rahmanan
Written by
Anna Rahmanan
Contributor
Sarah Medina
Advertising

Pedaling around the city is the best way to get from point A to point B, and while most cities in the U.S. are increasing the number of dedicated bike lanes, we still have a very long way to go. According to Forbes, San Francisco is the country's most cycle-friendly city, followed by Portland, while arguably the best bike trails in the U.S. can be found dotted around California. But... it all depends on what kind of trail you're after: Something pleasant you pedal down while whistling your favorite song, or alternatively, a more adrenaline-fueled affair?

Tackle one of the best (and most scenic) bike trails in the US From Wisconsin to Houston and Connecticut to Miami, the United States is packed with easy-to-medium-to-challenging trails, which boast plenty of greenery (and even some national forests) to admire along the way. Plus, these bike routes—from a 20-mile run in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to a woodsy route in the Cascade Mountains—provide some serious payoff in the form of jaw-dropping views. Looking for more outdoor action? Check out our list of the very best extreme outdoor adventures in the country.   

RECOMMENDED: The best hiking trails in the U.S.

Best bike trails in the U.S.

Highway One | Big Sur, CA
Photograph: Courtesy Central Coast Outdoors

1. Highway One | Big Sur, CA

Hit Highway One on two wheels to take in the best views of California’s Pacific coastline. Map out a route between Carmel and Cambria that suits your skill level and sightseeing goals—Ragged Point and Hearst Castle are prime water-break spots—and cruise along the cliffside road, with the surf crashing below. Beginners be warned: You’ll be cozied up to car traffic on a few narrow shoulders.  

Canyonlands National Park | UT
Photograph: Shutterstock/Darren J. Bradley

2. Canyonlands National Park | UT

If you're into the great outdoors, then you'll already know that Utah's undeniable contribution to All Things America is its stunning and sprawling networks of caves, rock formations, rivers and trails. Like all of the entries on this list, however, not every footpath in a national park is for biking on, so be sure to check before your bike tires hit the trail. Incidentally, Bluejohn Canyon is where Aron Ralston became trapped and was the subject of the movie 127 Hours, so you know, be sure to pack a penknife. 

Advertising
Flume Trail | Lake Tahoe, NV
Photograph: Shutterstock

3. Flume Trail | Lake Tahoe, NV

A fear of heights won't fly on this trail perched 1,600ft above the blue waters of Lake Tahoe, but the incredible views are worth the jitters. Riders set off from Spooner Lake State Park and break a sweat climbing the smooth canyon road up to Marlette Lake. The Flume Trail is the reward at the top: 4.5 miles of singletrack, providing breathtaking views of Sand Harbor and mountains.

Shark Valley Trail | Miami, FL
Photograph: Shutterstock

4. Shark Valley Trail | Miami, FL

Skip the tram ride and embark on your own journey through Everglades National Park on two wheels. The well-kept trail covers a 15-mile loop through the Shark Valley section of the park, where you're sure to experience up-close encounters with gators, wading birds, turtles and other wildlife. A 45-foot-high observation deck marks the halfway point, where riders can take a break to enjoy the quiet beauty of the wetlands and grassy prairies.

Advertising
Hiline Trail | Sedona, AZ
Photograph: Shutterstock

5. Hiline Trail | Sedona, AZ

Explore the stunning desert scenery, starting with an uphill pedal along Slim Shady Trail. The narrow, exposed Hilline Trail runs 3.1 miles from the top of the mesa along the edge of the red rocks, giving technical riders plenty of chances to ogle at incredible majestic buttes and monoliths. Be prepared for slickrock portions and some sharply descending chutes before capping the ride at Baldwin Loop.

Trail 401 | Crested Butte, CO
Photograph: Shutterstock

6. Trail 401 | Crested Butte, CO

A lung-burning, five-mile climb up to Schofield Pass can be a rough welcome for novice riders, but once you’ve trekked through dense trees to the trail's high point (at a whopping 11,35ft), the singletrack opens up, revealing killer 360-degree views of the rugged Elk Mountains. The 13.6-mile route’s fast alpine descent through fields of wildflowers will have cyclists feeling serious Sound of Music vibes.

Advertising
Forbidden Fruit | Sun Valley, ID
Photograph: Shutterstock

7. Forbidden Fruit | Sun Valley, ID

Mountain bikers who crave rollercoaster-like descents are drawn to this unique flow trail west of Adam’s Gulch. The route is loaded with jumps, dips and berms to keep riders in constant movement down the 1.3-mile course. Brakes and pedals hardly need to be used as bikers run laps on the wild ride, adding to the feeling that they're moving on adrenaline alone. 

Copper Harbor Trails | Keweenaw Peninsula, MI
Photograph: Shutterstock

8. Copper Harbor Trails | Keweenaw Peninsula, MI

Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula is a magnet for active travelers and a real hidden gem for avid mountain bikers. Thirty miles of twisty singletrack trails outfitted with cedar-planked bridges and boardwalks let intermediate riders zip through white pine woods and climb up to 1,300ft in elevation, where they’re rewarded with views of Lake Superior stretching to the horizon.

Advertising
Laurel Mountain Ride | Brevard, NC
Photograph: Shutterstock

9. Laurel Mountain Ride | Brevard, NC

Mountain bikers with a need for speed can shoot through laurel thickets on this steep route starting on the Laurel Mountain trail. Get your heart pumping climbing up Black Mountain and then follow a connector to the Pilot Cove trail. The Pilot Rock descent sends brave riders flying down 1,600 feet of rocky and remote terrain, with glimpses of Bradley Creek along the way.

Going-to-the-Sun Road | Whitefish, MT
Photograph: Shutterstock

10. Going-to-the-Sun Road | Whitefish, MT

This 32-mile route through Glacier National Park is a bucket-list item for serious cyclists, unmatched for its Tour de France-caliber climbs and natural beauty. From spring through early fall, riders climb almost 3,30ft from the Apgar Visitor Center to Logan Pass, whizzing past the cascading Weeping Wall waterfall, pristine Lake McDonald and snow-capped Heaven's Peak along the way.

Advertising
McKenzie River Trail | Bend, OR
Photograph: Shutterstock

11. McKenzie River Trail | Bend, OR

Beautiful deep forest, moss and ferns give riders a serious dose of greenery along this woodsy route in the Cascade Mountains. Spend the day tackling the 25.4-mile, mostly downhill trail and traversing log bridges along the chilly McKenzie River. The trail system lets riders choose their own adventure and feel the mist coming off of Sahalie Falls.

Maah Daah Hey Trail | Medora, ND
Photograph: Shutterstock

12. Maah Daah Hey Trail | Medora, ND

If the midwest brings flat farmland to mind, this beloved trail system in the Badlands of North Dakota will certainly surprise you. Riders reach an elevation of 2,700 feet on the namesake route that runs 97 miles across high ridges, steep buttes and rolling prairies. Keep an eye out for antelope, prairie dogs and coyotes on the trail that takes you across the Little Missouri River and up to Devil’s Pass, where a stellar 360-degree lookout awaits.    

Advertising
Captain Ahab Trail | Moab, UT
Photograph: Shutterstock

13. Captain Ahab Trail | Moab, UT

This 4.3-mile dusty canyon trail is the stuff of Jeep commercials, with rust-colored canyons and blue sky as the stunning backdrop for advanced bikers. Captain Ahab branches off from the popular Amasa Back trail, challenging its contenders with technical slickrock portions and big climbs along the Colorado River that open up into flowing, flatter sections.

Swamp Rabbit Trail | Greenville, SC
Photograph: Shutterstock

14. Swamp Rabbit Trail | Greenville, SC

A top-notch bike trail is a welcome perk in most towns, but this one is truly the hub of its community in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Running nearly 20 miles along the Reedy River on an old railroad bed, the paved Swamp Rabbit Trail brought the once-sleepy area to life and continues to draw cyclists of all ages and skill levels to the stretch between Greenville and Travelers Rest.

Advertising
Virginia Creeper Trail | Damascus, VA
Photograph: Shutterstock

15. Virginia Creeper Trail | Damascus, VA

Cyclists looking to tackle a low-key course will dig this rambling rail-trail connecting Abingdon and Damascus. The 34-mile stretch is supposedly named for the way trains once crept up Whitetop Mountain because of its 3,600-foot elevation, but visitors can shuttle their bikes to the top and roll down the slope for a pleasant 17-mile leg past old railroad trestles and through serene wooded sections.

Recommended
    You may also like
    You may also like
    Advertising