The Best Mountain Biking Trails in America
“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. That surrender, even the smallest act of giving up, stays with me. So when I feel like quitting, I ask myself, which would I rather live with?” Lance Armstrong, said these inspirational words in his famous book "It’s Not About the Bike; It’s My Journey Back to Life." Armstrong is a professional road racing cyclists and mountain biker who has won many tours over the course of his career. Now there is a huge difference between mountain biking and road racing, but Armstrong truly is an inspiration for all cyclists and bikers who know what it feels like to give up. Mountain biking requires strength and muscle power to cycle up hill and on difficult terrain. For those who are unfamiliar with the after effects of mountain biking; blisters, sores, nausea, fatigue and muscle cramps are the costs you have to pay for the tough climbs at high altitude.
America is a huge country with trails and tracks present in the most unexpected of places. Adrenaline-seekers interested in extreme, mountain biking usually do their research by visiting such spots themselves. However it’s not important to check out each and every locale yourself. Websites are available which give you a detailed description of some of the best tracks available in the country along with maps of their terrain.
One of the best places for mountain biking in the world is Moab, Utah which is also known as the ‘Mecca’ of mountain bikers. Every year as pilgrims make their way to Mecca, mountain bikers pay homage to Moab, with its fantastic and wide variety of terrains and trails. This makes it the best spot for bikers of all categories and levels of expertise. It has some adventurous and challenging trails to offer to advanced bikers. Moab is a desert area so whatever trail the cyclist will be taking it will be in dry lands. According to biking enthusiasts, Moab takes the first spot among the five top biking places in the U.S.
Next up is Fruita, located in western Colorado’s high desert. The technical trails in Fruita have climbs and descents which are not made for beginners. Fruita also offers the Edge Loop which is a designated International Mountain biking epic trail and the Kokopelli trails which are known to be rockier and more technical than others. These trails are naturally designed for intermediate bikers.
The single track just outside the town of Ashville in North Carolina, not further than the Pisgah Mountains. The trail offers a scenic landscape as it weaves through waterfalls and opens up to the meadows. Asheville is also popularly known as the Moab of the South. A few kilometers to the southeast, other challenging trails exist in DuPont Forest.
The ‘epic’ Kingdom trails of East Burke, Vermont. You will find 100 miles of manicured terrain with eye catching landscapes. This trail runs single-track with beginner and advanced level markings.
Park City, Utah, is situated approximately 8000 feet above sea level, in the western edge of the Rocky Mountains. This 20 miles mid-mountain trail provides a fluctuating altitude which requires cyclists to get accustomed to the terrain since it’s not as predictable as a relatively flatter course. Park City is also home to legendary skiing and snowboarding.
There are a myriad of mountain biking towns in America ranging from Moab, Bend Oregon to the birth place of mountain biking; Marin, California. According to popular opinion the best town for biking is Bend based on its accessibility , green energy transportation facilities, lodging, bike shops and stores, accessibility of restaurants, bicycle tours, the diversity of the trails and last but not the least the friendly locals. The art of mountain biking is arduous but given the right set up complimentary facilities your tours can become less exhausting and enjoyable.
