Recently, I’ve been bitten by the mountain biking bug. I love getting away from everything and having an adventure, not to mention not worrying about being hit by a car. My son joined a local mountain biking club ignited this recent interest in mountain biking. He has been having so much fun. It has been a perfect bonding opportunity.
What I like most about mountain biking is the adventure and being in the center of nature. So, I thought, why not make this adventure a part of my family’s lives? What an excuse to travel 🙂
When evaluating a mountain bike destination, I have the following three criteria:
- Variety of skill levels: I’m primarily interested in a cross-country (XC) trail system that would be family-friendly and a good challenge. My goal is not to do backflips off the highest drop or pass out trying to conquer the steep climbs. I want to have fun with the family designed for intermediate riders and do independent riding to challenge myself designed for more advanced riders.
- Amazing views: Since mountain biking is all about adventure, I look for places that make it worth it to break a sweat. I love exploring the beauty of Mother Nature.
- There are plenty of activities beyond biking: I want the ride to be epic, and I love traveling to cool places with other opportunities for more family adventures.
Below is a list of the best places for a mountain biking vacation that I’m putting on my travel list that meet my criteria.
Crested Butte, CO
Crested Butte trails are a series of over 750 miles of mountain bike trails within the Elk Mountain Range of the Colorado Rockies. These trails make Crested Butte a great place for an epic mountain biking vacation. Wherever you ride, you’ll see panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains as you travel through the Aspen forests and over some rock gardens. With so many miles of trails, you can’t go wrong. There are easier trails for the family and expert rides for your endorphin junkies but be ready for the high altitude. The town of Crested Butte near the trails sits just under 9,000 feet, so be prepared for some huffing and puffing.
Beyond biking, Crested Butte offers opportunities for whitewater rafting, paddle boarding, and riding ATVs. It has all of the ingredients for a mountainous family vacation.
Lake Tahoe, NV
The Tahoe National Forest is another epic place for riding and vacation but get ready to huff and puff again because some rides are near 9,000 feet above sea level. The forest is around the Sierra Nevada mountains, so amazing views are a given. Interestingly, Lake Tahoe isn’t part of the Tahoe National Forest, but there are plenty of clear lakes to see when riding.
One of the famous rides is the Tahoe Rim Trail. The trail is a 165-mile loop that travels through California and Nevada. It’s challenging, so save this ride for a day when you’re well-rested. If you’re not up to the Tahoe Rim Trail, the Tahoe Flume Trail offers epic views without the technicality. An excellent ride for the family. After you’re done riding, go sailing at Lake Tahoe or whitewater rafting on the Truckee River.
Sun Valley, ID
Get ready for expansive views as you zoom on the singletrack around this ski town. Between May and October, the Sun Valley Resort and the surrounding area trade in skis and snowboards for bikes. With over 400 miles of trails, you can’t go wrong.
My son loves what he calls rollercoaster rides when biking. He is a fan of controlled speed, lots of switchbacks, and rollers. However, he’s not always into the climbs and sweat. I would love to take him up the Gondola and ride the Broadway trail. It’s a green trail with a 550 ft cumulative descent. The trail is a little over one mile and connects with other fun trails. While riding, you have a perfect view of Bald Mountain. Lots of epic family fun. After riding, there are plenty of opportunities to play on the water and hike.
Dupont State Forest and Pisgah National Forest, NC
The Dupont State Forest and Pisgah National Forest on the east coast have little of everything for everyone. Get ready for lots of rocks and roots. Dupont has over 90 miles of trails, and Pisgah is home to some of the biggest mountains you’ll find east of the Mississippi.
Brevard is a perfect place to stay to enjoy the epic trails. It’s a small town that embraces art but has a flare for adventure from rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and paddle boarding. You can also travel north for one hour to visit Asheville and the Biltmore Estate. I highly recommend visiting the Biltmore. Even my pre-teen son loved it 🙂
As a bonus, before traveling to Brevard, I recommend stopping in and staying at Eagles Nest in Banner Elk. Eagles’ Nest is a community on top of a mountain. My family and I recently rented a cabin. The cabin was incredibly nice and just what we needed to get away. Conveniently, you can walk to an archery range, play pickleball or basketball, or rent a side-by-side to explore the trails on the mountain. Peace and adventure all mixed together. A few mountain biking trails within Eagles Nest are also appropriate for the family. If you want to tackle a bike park, take a short ride to Boone, NC, and have fun at the Rocky Knob bike park. If you need some downtime, I highly recommend Eagles’ Nest. It was a perfect trip for my family.
Great Zion, UT
Years ago, Jody and I backcountry camped at Zion National Park. It was one of the most memorable camping trips I’ve ever experienced. We started hiking in the barren desert-like terrain and eventually ended up in the pines of the high elevation. I would love to go back with my entire family to hike through the different ecosystems.
Near Zion National Park, there is a trail called Wire Mesa. It’s a perfect seven-mile loop for the family. Biking through the mesas and experiencing the beautiful colors and striations of the rock would be incredible. I’m usually a fan of the green, but there’s something to be said about the beauty of the riding in the west. After biking, head out to Hurricane, UT, for food and ride some ATVs at Sand Hollow State Park.
Park City, UT
As you’re in Utah, you may want to extend your biking experience by traveling four hours north to Park City, Utah. Park City is a ski town in the rugged and jagged Wasatch Mountains. With over 450 trails, it’s the third most trails in terms of mileage within the United States. You have bike park and backcountry riding options, so you can’t go wrong but be alert because many of the trails are multi-use. After the ride, have some fun perusing the town, getting some water time on the Weber River, and rock climbing in the Uinta Mountains and Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler is an all-season adventure mecca. When the slopes are closed for skiing, it’s time to get out that mountain bike. You have options from the Whistler Bike Park to backcountry trails for you XC enthusiasts, such as myself. According to Trailforks, there are 789 trails from beginner to expert level, with over 150 miles just in the bike park. Perfect for pushing your limits and having a fun family experience. Depending on your timing, you would have the opportunity to check out the Crankworx festival of cycling in the summer.
Beyond biking, as with all my travel choices, you can hang out at the lake and hike, making Whistler a beautiful mountainous vacation for everyone.
Torridon, Scotland
The Northwest Highlands of Scotland is all about adventure riding. So far, my go-to places have been centered around bike parks at a ski resort or easy-to-get-to get to towns to chill with the family. Torridon is an exception to this rule but well worth the adventure. The scenery is gorgeous, with incredible views of the mountains and lakes. Speckled along the miles of singletrack are older buildings that date back to the early 1900s.
If your family is up for a long, challenging ride with breathtaking views, then Torridon is a perfect place. I’ll put this on my travel list for when my son gets a little older so he can enjoy the scenery and not get frustrated with the required endurance.
Beyond the bike, there are many cool things to do. I’ll put the Dunrobin Castle, the Duncraig Castle, and a sailing tour in Shieldaig as part of the trip. Of course, you can’t skip the beautiful castles and history while in Scotland.
Highlands of Iceland
Another adventure mountain biking ride I would love to try is at the Highlands of Iceland. Amazing views filled with massive glaciers and ragged peaks covered with lush, vibrant fauna. Riding in Iceland would be a memorable adventure. To get the most out of this adventure, I would rent a sprinter van for the family with bike-carrying capabilities. Of course, I would have to wait until my son is a little older for this trip, so he has a bigger endurance tank, but it would be worth it.
Beyond the bike, I would love to take the sprinter to the colorful rhyolite mountains in Landmannalaugar. I would then check out the active volcano, Askja in the Vatnajökull National Park, swing by the hot springs of Hveravellir Nature Reserve, and take a detour to the red mountains of Kerlingarfjöll. An Iceland trip would be one of the ultimate scenic adventures.
Queenstown, New Zealand
New Zealand’s South Island is another ideal mountainous place for adventure. You have a variety of rides to pick from, including a gondola-lifted bike park, heli-biking, and several backcountry rides. Staying in Queenstown gives you perfect access to Skyline Mountain Bike Park, and a shuttle ride can take you to the Rude Rock Trail giving you access to the beautiful sharp mountain peaks and grasslands. Finally, take the Millennium Track along the beautiful Lake Wanaka to add a little variety to the trip.
Of course, this wouldn’t be an epic, adventurous family vacation without trying out jet boating, enjoying a scenic flight, taking a 4WD tour, and any other outdoor activity your heart desires.
Conclusion
I love to dream and make it a reality. These ten places are only the start of my research to create my bucket list for a mountain biking destination. I couldn’t have done an in-depth analysis without the help of Scotty Laughland, Pinkbike, Flow Mountain Biking, and Global Mountain Biking Network (GMBN). I appreciate the hard work and great content that groups put together. Big thanks to them!
So, what place is on your ideal mountain biking adventure vacation?