How to Find The World's Best Mountain Bike Trails

Whether you are a mountain bike beginner or a long time trail rider, it’s time to make a biking bucket list of must-see trails worldwide that every serious biker should ride. For many mountain bikers, riding their best mountain bike through the natural beauty of a great trail is more than just a hobby or a sport. Mountain bike riding can be a way of life, and the best mountain bike trails are what can make that life worth living. According to SingleTracks, riding the trails offers many valuable life lessons.

Mountain bike buffs who have made getting back to the beauty of nature — while also staying active and fit in a sport that can sometimes be grueling — share some of the best bike trails to be found in the world.

Lake Tahoe, California, and Nevada

On the border of California and Nevada, you’ll find one of the clearest lakes in the world. Lake Tahoe has an excellent and devoted mountain bike community that is dedicated to maintaining some of the most beautifully scenic trails in the US, including the Tahoe Rim Trail. This is a loop of 165 miles of trail circling the ridgelines of the lake, with about half of the trail dedicated to the best mountain bike trails, along with hiking and trail running. The Tahoe Rim Trails allows for stunning scenic views as well as challenging terrain.

On Lake Tahoe, you will also find the scenic Flume Trail bordering the lake’s eastern shore, and the very rocky but rideable Bench Trail for experienced bikers who wish to enjoy spectacular views.

Dachstein Tour, Austria

Numerous mountain bike trails weave their way through the stunning natural landscapes at many elevations in Schladming-Dachstein, Austria. On these gorgeous, and well-maintained trails you can experience challenging vigorous rides through scenic mountain forests, glades, and meadows, as well as the cold, crystalline waters of mountain tarns. Many trails are bordered by scenic mountain huts serving locals and tourists alike some of the iconic foods of the region.

This beautiful glacier mountain region offers 930 Km of winding trails for mountain bikers of all skill levels.

Kingdom Trails, East Burke, Vermont

Nestled in the hollows below Burke Mountain’s ski resort, is the small town of East Burke, Vermont, about an hour and a half from Burlington. The Kingdom Trails network near the Canadian border offers trail riding for any ability level. Darling Hill Trail, Dead Moose Alley, and Burke Mountain itself offer savvy cyclists beautiful and challenging trails through the cool, shadowy woods of the Northeast Kingdom. You’ll enjoy the scenic mountain views and the piney woodlands lining the rocky Passumpsic River.

While off the bike, be sure to sample some real Vermont maple sugar candy while you enjoy the small town’s general store at the base of the mountain.

Visiting this area in the fall is a leaf-peeper’s favorite as you’ll be treated to the most gorgeously colorful fall scenery in the world, as well as the best mountain bike trails in the Northern United States.

Ticknock Mountain Bike Trails Near Dublin, Ireland

Just thirty minutes from Dublin, the Ticknock Mountain Bike Trail area offers the best mountain bike riders views of the Dublin Bay and the capital city below, while also treating riders to some of the most scenic countrysides in the world in a loop of networked trails for every ability level. Nestled in the foothills of Three Rock Mountain, the trail summit is 444 meters above sea level. Nearby, you’ll find more trails on Two Rock Mountain where you can enjoy your ride, and you can also get off your bike to visit the famous Fairy Castle ruins.

This area offers not only extraordinary views but also enjoyable technical features and high-speed action for the cycling savvy.

Pupukea Bike Trail, Oahu, Hawaii

This trail offers a 14-mile climb up from the oceanfront through the lush vegetation of Hawaii on both single track and older double track trails riddled with challenging tropical root systems. Many opportunities to explore are offered through trail forks marked with hand-painted signs. View the stunning Hawaiian coastline of Pupukea beach below as you explore the scenic mountain trail and bike through a lush tropical paradise with beautiful mountain wildflowers and wildlife and trails carpeted with pine needles. These trails offer something for everyone as they view Hawaii in a way seldom seen by tourists.

While the world offers an endless variety of scenic rides, the four listed here are some of the most beautiful and challenging mountain bike riders’ dream trails, and each is a must-ride for the best mountain bike bucket list.

Resources— SacredRides, WanderLust, Outsider

Coleen Figner (1302 Articles Published)

I am a mother of four and a freelance writer. I'm also the author of the novel, "The Harbinger," by Coleen Figner, now available on Kindle eBook. I have spent most of my life in the historical town of Micanopy, Florida. I spend quality time engaged in social media and I've used online research platforms extensively both for writing and for shopping research. Unlike most women, I hate malls and department stores. I do the bulk of my shopping online. I love the idea of a platform doing the research and comparison work to make online shopping easier for consumers. ReviewThis has given me the opportunity to engage in online shopping research even when I'm not doing the buying! (Though I've been known to splurge on some of the top-rated products for myself.)

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