Best U.S. National Parks for Mountain Biking - The National Parks Experience

Although America’s national parks are best known for activities like hiking, camping, scenic driving and wildlife viewing, many of them also offer different, arguably more adventurous, outdoor pursuits.

There are, for example, many long-distance trails through national parks, while some offer amazing stargazing and road cycling opportunities. Biking enthusiasts will also be thrilled to know that there are several national parks you can explore on a mountain bike.

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Contents

9 Best U.S. National Parks for Mountain Biking
Other National Park Activities & Attractions

9 Best U.S. National Parks for Mountain Biking

In response to the ever-increasing popularity of mountain biking, many national parks have designated or built (or are building) trails suitable to mountain biking since 2010. (Before 2010, off-roading in national parks wasn’t allowed.) Those mountain biking trails include both singletrack trails and dirt roads.

This is mainly a result of a successful and mutually beneficial partnership between the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) and the National Park Service (NPS).

Nowadays, more than 40 National Park Service sites allow mountain biking. Along with many NPS units like national monuments and national recreation areas, those include the following nine amazing national parks for mountain biking.

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Home to some of America’s most remarkable landscapes, a seemingly endless series of rock formations, Badlands National Park is best explored without a windshield.

Both hiking and biking are great ways to experience this fantastic park. Remember the trail etiquette rule that says you must always yield to hikers and horseback riders.

Road cyclists can hit the scenic, paved Badlands Loop Road, while mountain bikers can choose from three superb Badlands National Park mountain biking trails.

Northeast Loop (17 miles)
Sage Creek Loop (23 miles)
Northeast-Big Foot Loop (27 miles)

Remember that Badlands is home to a large bison population. To stay safe when riding in bison country, you can learn what to do when encountering bison here.

I’d also recommended learning about the fascinating fossil record and Native American history of this region while you’re there!

Big Bend National Park, Texas

When searching for national parks that allow mountain bikes, Big Bend National Park in southern Texas will (and should) always pop up.

More than 100 miles of paved roads are open for road cycling, while another 160 miles of backcountry dirt trails attract mountain bikers. Big Bend, in other words, is a great destination for all kinds of riders.

On a Big Bend National Park mountain biking adventure, you’ll ride through beautiful desert landscapes, with views of the Chisos Mountains, and lots of wildlife and bird viewing opportunities.

Suggested routes include the 26-mile Old Ore Road, the 13-mile Old Maverick Road, the 15-mile Grapevine Hills Road and the 15-mile Paint Gap Road.

Note that Big Bend is pretty remote and home to both black bears and mountain lions. Although both animals are rather shy and elusive, when mountain biking in the park’s backcountry, you should know how to behave when you see a black bear and what to do during mountain lion encounters.

Canyonlands National Park, Utah

The epitome of world-class mountain biking in national parks is Canyonlands National Park. Situated near the adventure town of Moab in southeastern Utah, this is a mountain biking mecca.

Canyonlands is home to hundreds of miles of 4-wheel-drive roads, all of which are open to mountain bikers.

Note, however, that there are no singletrack trails in this park. All mountain biking trails are on designated backcountry dirt roads.

One of the greatest Canyonlands National Park mountain bike trails is the epic 100-mile White Rim Trail in the Island in the Sky District. This phenomenal trip typically takes 3 to 4 days. Both day-use and overnight permits are required.

Additionally, there are several mountain biking trails all around Moab, too. Various outfitters in town offer bike rentals and tours. Because of all this, Canyonlands is the best national park for mountain biking in the U.S.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Cuyahoga Valley National Park

One of the best examples of the success of the IMBA and NPS partnership is Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park, situated between Cleveland and Akron.

The park’s singletrack East Rim Trail System is the first mountain bike trail in Cuyahoga Valley, offering great views, fun obstacles and wonderfully varied terrain. While the trail was designed with mountain bikers in mind, it’s also open to hikers and trail runners.

There are plans to extend the network to 10 miles in length, with connections to other local trails beyond the park’s boundaries.

Additionally, the wonderful multi-use Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail runs across the length of the park, passing several historic sites. In total, almost 100 miles of trails are open to bikers.

As a densely forested park, this is also one of the best national parks to visit in the fall.

Death Valley National Park, California

Death Valley National Park mountain biking dirt road

Enormous Death Valley National Park has literally hundreds of miles of unpaved trails. Very few other places have such an extensive network to go mountain biking in national parks.

Even though this may be the driest, hottest and lowest place in North America, Death Valley is a glorious destination in the spring. Camping in the park is amazing that time of year. You’ll definitely want to mount your bicycle rack on your RV when visiting Death Valley!

The park’s numerous trails suitable for mountain biking include paved roads, dirt trails, and loose, rutted and washboard gravel trails. There’s everything from short jaunts on graded dirt roads to epic riding adventures on rocky trails in the desert backcountry.

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Rim Trail, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Big Island of Hawaii

Perhaps the most unlikely national park for mountain biking in this overview, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island does have some excellent mountain biking trails. Along the way, cyclists will pedal through lush rain forests as well as along lava fields.

The Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park mountain biking trails are cinder or gravel. This is a national park with lots of volcanic activity, though, so be aware that there may be sulfur gases along the way. Several guided biking tours are available in nearby towns.

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Encompassing the world’s largest cave and a UNESCO World Heritage, Mammoth Cave National Park’s main attraction lies underground. While you’re there, you should absolutely go on a guided cave tour.

After (or before) exploring the vast subterranean passageways and halls, Mammoth Cave’s many miles of mountain biking trails await.

Mountain biking in Mammoth Cave National Park is possible on several unpaved administrative roads and certain trails.

Those trails include the 2.5-mile White Oak Trail, the 9.1-mile Big Hollow Trail and, especially, the 9-mile Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike Trail. More mountain biking trails are currently under development in the park.

Redwood National Park, California

Damnation Creek Trail redwoods, Del Norte Redwoods State Park, California

Northern California’s Redwood National and State Parks complex is one the few national parks that permit backcountry mountain biking.

The Redwood National Park mountain biking trails are usually repurposed logging roads, multi-use Redwood trails wide enough to allow for both foot and bicycle traffic.

Although there’s very few singletrack riding in this park, its 50-plus miles of off-road biking trails and some steep ascents do make this one of the best national parks for mountain biking.

On top of that, you’ll be riding through towering r edwood forests, unquestionably some of the most spectacular woodland scenery you’ll ever see.

Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Road cyclists will have a blast exploring cacti-dotted Saguaro National Park in southern Arizona, and so will mountain bikers.

Home to and named after the iconic saguaro cactus, this national park consists of two separate districts—the Tucson Mountain and Rincon Mountain Districts—located on both sides of Tucson.

In addition to the paved 8-mile Cactus Forest Loop Road in the Rincon Mountain District (East), there’s also the Cactus Forest Trail and the Hope Camp Trail.

The latter 2.8-mile trail is of particular interest to mountain bikers, since it connects to the phenomenal Arizona Trail, a multi-use long-distance trail that’s sometimes called the “holy grail of desert singletrack”.

In the Tucson Mountain District (West), you can go mountain biking on the scenic and unpaved 6-mile Bajada Loop Drive, which is also open to vehicles and hikers.

Other National Park Activities & Attractions

Jasen beste

Saturday 2nd of October 2021

I have always avoided national parks and don’t support my taxation due to nonuse because I mt bike with my dog. What a dilemma to try to stay healthy in the USA

Bram

Hi Jasen, thanks for your comment. While it's true that many national parks don't have mountain biking trails and even fewer allow dogs on their trails, most parks are surrounded by national forest lands where both are allowed. There are several reasons why dogs aren't allowed on national park trails, probably the biggest one being the fact that national parks are preserved wilderness areas. Animals from the "outside" don't really have a place there. Luckily, though, there's tons of space all over the US where you can take both your bike and your dog!