There's enough trail that something Epic can be strung together in Marquette - Negaunee - Ishpeming (i.e. MG100 route). The connectors are close, but could use a little bit of development.
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# Best XC trails in the USA?

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last post by

_CJ Mar 12, 2024



_CJ Discussion starter

3943 posts
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Joined 2014

Simple question, what are some of the best XC trails you've ridden? NOT races, gravel routes, or rail trails, but point to point routes composed mostly of single-track? Some bike-packing routes might apply, but ultra distance isn't a requirement. Some XC race routes might apply, but available to ride outside the race.

Origin of the question is a video about the Madahey Trail that popped up in my YT feed recently. I remember when the route was first established, but haven't heard much about it in several years. It looks really interesting, and checks a lot of boxes for me - hand cut, point to point, remote area. Maybe something I could do by breaking it up into a few days.

Notable XC trails I've done:

-Rainbow Trail - CO, 100 miles

-Monarch Crest - CO, 31 miles

-Colorado Trail - CO, 567 miles, I've done about ~1/3 of it

-North Country Trail - 4800 miles (unknown bike legal miles) I've done about 100

-Iceman Cometh XC race route - MI, 30 miles

-Chequamegon XC race route - WI, 40 miles

-Kokopelli Trail - CO/UT, 142 miles, I've done about half

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26423 posts
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Joined 2003

You mean like, actual cross country, not necessarily the race format cross-country. Nice.

I've ridden parts of the Colorado Trail and I've always wanted to check out the Monarch Crest trail.

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_CJ Discussion starter

3943 posts
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Joined 2014

Yes, recreational XC riding. Actually riding from one place to another on trails. Strange there's no sub-forum for it, given that it's more or less the origin of the sport. There's a bike-packing sub but that's for ride reports, and an XC sub but that's for racing.

.

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339 posts
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Joined 2022

In my part of the world Lake James State Park and Fonta Flora trail. Not Pisgah-like at all. 100% singletrack start to finish, just the way I like it :)

Flowy dirt path through a forest and next to a scenic lake with punchy climbs that rewards the momentum conserverationists richly.

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_CJ Discussion starter

3943 posts
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Joined 2014

I've ridden down there a bit at Tsali and some others I can't recall. Probably about 20 years ago. All kind of smooth and flowy. Pisgah wasn't really a thing then. As I recall, that was all designated riding area kind of stuff, starting and ending in the same place?

.

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7505 posts
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Joined 2006

Some of my most memorable rides were in N. Ga. Most of those are loops, but we rode one of the earliest sections of the Pinhoti Trail and that one sticks in my mind. Since then, it has been dramatically extended. And they run an early season TT race there.

-F

It's never easier - you just go faster.

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41058 posts
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Joined 2003

Yep. Pinhoti is a pretty legit one in the SE. I've ridden a few sections of it. Nice techy singletrack. It's used for the TNGA race.

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26423 posts
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Joined 2003

I remember liking the South Boundary Trail outside of Taos, NM years ago. It was something like 25 miles of point-to-point singletrack that was only 8" wide for a lot of the distance. Anyone ridden it lately? How is it now?

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382 posts
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Joined 2010

Still wonderful! Pretty big grueling climb to start followed by flowy singletrack through multiple Aspen forests and then a technical descent back down to the main road in Taos. Point-to-point is getting dropped off on a forest road outside of Angel Fire and then riding to Taos.

2021 Revel Rascal (for the chunk)

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3138 posts
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Joined 2007

Some of those are clearly All Mountain trails, not XC. Nice try 🤣

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_CJ Discussion starter

3943 posts
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Joined 2014

Wait, should we call it "overlanding"?

:ROFLMAO:

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2848 posts
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Joined 2019

This sort of riding does seem to be lacking in large parts of the country.

GMBN will post videos featuring ‘epic’ point-to-point rides in the UK that take advantage of the country’s extensive network of public footpaths and bridleways.

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4850 posts
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Joined 2008

So you're really asking about good mileage point to point trails. You can usually work out a route in many places that might not be one trail but in the end does it matter if you link 5 trails or just one? Most long distance trails are just old shorter trails linked together and giving one name anyway. The Colorado trail is a good example of that. Speaking of CO, Telluride to Moab is a popular point to point. I can't remember the link up but it's become a popular ride over the years. Check out different CDT sections. Tons of point to point options. Most of your options will be out west because that's where the big expanses of public lands are. Public lands are so fragmented and small in comparison on the east coast your options are much more limited.

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375 posts
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Joined 2020

The Chequamegon 40 route is mostly fire roads and the Birkebeiner ski trail, which is like grass covered fire roads. Not the best XC mtb trails by far IMO.

That being said there is lots of really good single track in Hayward/Cable. A lot of it intersects with the 40 course. Much more fun IMO

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_CJ Discussion starter

3943 posts
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Joined 2014

You don't have to like it, that's fine, I'm not hear to debate what the best is or isn't, I asked what you think is the best.

In the early 90's when I did the Fat Tire 40, that kind of trail defined XC riding. To this day, I freaking love riding XC ski trails, and to a large extent I find modern bike trails that constantly twist and turn back and forth for no other reason than to add mileage to be kind of tedious. To each their own.

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2370 posts
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Joined 2014

Palmetto Trail in SC. You must connect some sections by hopping onto the road, but several long stretches of old school XC singletrack.

Sent from my brain using my hand.

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2949 posts
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Joined 2004

It's the "point to point" requirment that has be stumped. That would imply needing a shuttle to get back to where you started - definately NOT the origin of the sport for me. I prefer long loops.

That said, my friend did that ride that goes from Durango (?, maybe Telluride) to Moab using a series of huts along the way and absolutely raves about it.

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_CJ Discussion starter

3943 posts
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Joined 2014

Telluride to Moab. I've seen a little about it here and there, and thought it was mostly dirt roads, 4x4 trails, etc. but I'm not sure.

.

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41 posts
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Joined 2021

Duluth, MN has a 42ish mile Traverse trail that is really good xc riding!

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68 posts
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Joined 2018

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1393 posts
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Joined 2011

Beat me. The Goodwater Loop at Lake Georgetown is near me. Less than 30 miles though, haven't ridden it, heard it's tough.

I'm having more FUN than anybody!

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3138 posts
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Joined 2007

Can add some to the list that I've ridden or partially ridden.

There are a ton more you could add if you're just joining together different trails into a point to point route, and the list could get exponentially bigger the more double track you're willing to accept.

The ones below are all designated to be a single trail even if they may have started from a number of individual trails (mainly AZT, CDT, OTT).

Arizona Trail - AZTR route is 800 miles including some wilderness bypasses on paved and dirt road. But ATA keeps building new singletrack to bypass roads.

Continental Divide Trail - lots of long sections open to bikes. 90 miles in Northern NM from Cumbres Pass was really good as are some sections in MT and CO.

Oregon Timber Trail - 600 miles. Collection of trails that is now an officially designated route.

Tahoe Rim Trail is only partially open to bikes, but Rose to Hwy 89 is probably 60 miles of some of the best riding anywhere.

Santa Ana River Trail - about 40 miles

Santa Monica Backbone Trail - bike legal route we did was 53 miles. Some parts of Backbone not open to bikes.

Black Canyon Trail - 75ish miles and growing

North Umpqua Trail - 70 miles open to bikes

Virgin River Rim Trail - 33 miles

Maah Daah Hey is a good one. I think it's 140 miles if you add up all the sections. I've done about half.

These ones are more Type 2 fun but still awesome in their own way if you like more remote riding and views:

Grandview Trail, Utah - 80 miles. Some parts are amazing, some are in horrible condition.

Alpine 7 Trail by Kalispell - 75 miles of awesome high alpine singletrack interrupted by one section not open to bikes

Wyoming Range NRT - 75 miles of seldom used trail. I've only been on a few miles of it.

Kokopelli is a commonly ridden route but so much of it is jeep road or double track, so it wouldn't make my list.

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9138 posts
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Joined 2016

I hear A-Line at Whistler is great for XC too!

What has been seen cannot be unseen. I will clean and polish my pole as fast as I like thank you very much!-plummet

10855 posts
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Joined 2004

CO Trail- parts

Rainbow Trail

Monarch Crest

NOT Moab trails....not XC like my buddy said Moore Fun was...nope, not one bit XC

I need to go to Washington and Oregon sometime, and find more.

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2949 posts
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Joined 2004

I have a group of friends that rode the Mah Da Hey trail almost every year up until COVID. The photos looked really cool but its an ABSOLUTE no go if it's wet at all. Even if a hard frost will melt later in the day.

The Dakota 5-0 race course was awesome when I used to do it about 20 years ago. The route is open when the race isn't happening too.

The Butte 100 race course is also open when the race isn't happening. Shoot, you could ride it when the race IS happening just don't help yourself to the aid stations. In fact, where I live I think it's illegal to close trails to other users for races so that part of the question doesn't really compute for me.

Other than that, there's some great epics in southwest MT. Sheep Creek to Mile Creek for instance. Pika Point is fun too. Both have the added excitement of Grizzly Bears.

All I ride is XC of varying distances though so without mileage requirement the question for me boils down to "what's your favorite ride". Probably one I haven't done yet.

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26423 posts
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Joined 2003

Maah Dah Hey is full of mountain lions! I'm being dramatic. I do recall reading about some guys who got stalked for an uncomfortably long time on the MDH years ago.

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9953 posts
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Joined 2007

Not in the US, but it ends at the US border.

The 7-summits trail in Rossland BC is the best single XC trail I have ridden. Only 35km but it is absolutely spectacular and ends with a solid 45 minute descent.

"The best pace is suicide pace, and today is a good day to die." Steve Prefontaine

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940 posts
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Joined 2020

CO trail between Durango and Silverton areas. I don't think I've ever seen anything that epitomizes "mountain biking" better than the Highline/Orphan Butte Trail. Lots of ways to do it from bikepacking to shuttle.

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19606 posts
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Joined 2003

They're almost never a part of a trail network, almost always something I/we have stumbled onto as part of an exploratory ride.

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2564 posts
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Joined 2006

As a precursor, I am a sucker for really technical, long, point to point trails.

There are many, many point to point single track trails in National Forests in the Western US that are primarily hiking that allow for bike use that are absolutely amazing. Uintah mountains & Sawtooth mountains are just a couple examples...they're are many. You just have to go try them out if bikes are allowed.

The NCT (North Country Trail), mentioned by the OP, would be a premier point to point for XC riding, but the committee continues to shut down sections to mountain biking. Truly a great loss for us, and it runs right by my town/house. It is technical and remote here in the UP, and passes through some truly spectacular landscapes. It makes me so, so, sad. I'm considering taking up trail running.

The BCT (Black Canyon Trail) in AZ is fantastic when ridden end to end. It really isn't spectacular in any section, but riding end to end is a great experience. I recommend North to South.

Some of the Wasatch Mountain trails can be linked together, but there are too many dips into the urban landscape for it to be great. Epic Ride: Wasatch Traverse - Crankjoy This is a route I rode with a friend about 8 years ago.

Those are just a few.

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1829 posts
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Joined 2015

Michaux State Forest and lots of the stuff around State College, PA. You can put together some very long XC rides at both locations.

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2949 posts
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Joined 2004

Oooh, here's one. A few year ago I would've kept it secret but cat's outta the bag these days. Don't go on a holiday weekend. Some of the best views I've had while riding a bike.

### Good Water Rim Trail - Utah Mountain Biking

Good Water Rim - Editor's Pick!!! Absolutely fabulous 15-mile singletrack in the San Rafael 40 miles south of Price. Loop w dirt road 21 miles. Killer views. One of Utah's best rides. Season late May through October.

utahmountainbiking.com
utahmountainbiking.com

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17020 posts
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Joined 2010

Looks like Colorado is pretty well covered.

Grueling, epic, scenic as could be...

The dark divide in WA.

Bunchgrass is another one, OR.

Not epic per se but some of the most fun and pretty XC stuff I've ridden was in the UP.

It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.

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2564 posts
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Joined 2006

Agreed.

There's enough trail that something Epic can be strung together in Marquette - Negaunee - Ishpeming (i.e. MG100 route). The connectors are close, but could use a little bit of development.

Copper Harbor is finally getting enough trail mileage with the extension of the point trail to put together an epic XC day.

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9700 posts
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Joined 2005

The old Laramie Endurance race course was a great 67 mile loop with a ton of singletrack. In recent years, trails have been added to allow for riders to ride from the town of Laramie up to the Happy Jack area and Vedauwoo area where the races were held. The trrails in Curt Gowdy State park just a short distance away can add quite a bit more singletrack with the addition of a short paved ride.

Another reasonably short paved pedal away, the city of Cheyenne is planning to develop the Belvore Ranch property on the border with Colorado and that will connect to several miles of trails in the Red Mountain and Soapstone open spaces on the Colorado side of the state line. The potential for big rides in the area is increasing.

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696 posts
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Joined 2004

I havent ridden it, but Ive heard the Oregon Timber Trail is supposed to be awesome. Its 650ish miles of trail all the way accross Oregon.



26718 posts
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Joined 1999

I've ridden bits of it. Runs North/South from the CA border to WA border.

oregontimbertrail.org

### Oregon Timber Trail

oregontimbertrail.org
oregontimbertrail.org

=sParty

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We get old because we quit riding.​

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