Mountain Biking
Virginia has some incredible terrain and is rapidly becoming a hot spot for those who love to hit the dirt on two wheels. A July 2018 article published by Bicycling Magazine titled “The Top 6 Secret Mountain Bike Destinations in the US,” it calls out Roanoke, Virginia as one of the top mountain bike destinations. Why – because with 320 miles of trails (and even more planned) within 45 minutes of its downtown, Virginia’s Blue Ridge won’t stay under the radar much longer. In 2018, Virginia’s Blue Ridge was also designated as a Silver-Level Ride Center by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. It’s the first destination in the eastern half of the country to earn Silver-Level Ride Center status. Virginia’s Blue Ridge is now emerging as America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capital. However, the Blue Ridge is not the only place to find trails. There are a number of unique mountain bike trails all over Virginia.
Regional Mountain Bike Information
Augusta County’s Sherando Lake Recreation Area– Sherando Lake Loop is part of both the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and the place to go for almost 20 miles of single track trails, gravel and paved roads.
Bryce Resort Mountain Bike Park features lift-accessed trails ranging from beginner to learner to advanced difficulty terrain. Some trails are more than two miles long. This mountain is built for progression. If you need a little guidance during your trip, you can sign up for a lesson with Take Aim Cycling and one of its PMBIA certified instructors or enroll in a multi-day camp.
Fluvanna County – Pleasant Grove Park located near the town of Palmyra along the Rivanna River and forests and fields. There are 24 mountain bike trails covering 18 miles suited for beginner to intermediate riders.
Harrisonburg Area has something for every mountain bike rider including Hillendale Park, Hone Quarry, Montgomery Hall Park, National Forest Trails and Stokesville. There is something for everyone from beginners to experienced riders looking to hone their skills. There are over 100 miles of backcountry trails within George Washington National Forest, challenging riders with rocky, remote terrain.
Massanutten Resort Mountain Bike Park offers an exciting experience for veteran riders while also featuring a beginner-friendly introduction to downhill mountain biking. The park features a lower lift that will provide access to beginner and intermediate trails for newcomers while also offering advanced trails, jumps and singletrack trails accessible from the upper lift that makes a day for thrill seekers.
Northern Virginia Mountain Biking has over 456 miles of trails in the region. Some of the more popular include Fountain Head Regional Park, Meadowood Grand Tour, Laurel Hill, Lake Fairfax, Quarry Ridgeline and more.
Richmond Regional Ride Center is made up of several parks around the capital, including Pocahontas State Park and James River Park. In the past few years, the Richmond Regional Ride Center has grown to include over 70 miles of mountain biking trails for people of all skill levels and abilities. The Richmond Regional Ride Center is unique in that it includes facilities that cater to individuals with disabilities.
Southside Virginia & Danville Mountain Bike Trails – there are over 37 miles in two areas Angler’s Park and Dan Daniel Memorial Park . Come out to Pittsylvania County and Danville for your next adventure.
Southwestern Virginia – the Town of Norton and the Flag Rock Recreation Area offer some steep and challenging ride areas. Legion Park is a 1 mile moderately popular double black diamond singletrack trail located near Norton, VA. There are 10 miles in the trail system and more are being added for riders of varying skills.
Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountain Biking Maps – the region features over 400 miles of trails for mountain biking, ranging from designated bike parks, easy downhill rides to challenging cross country treks. There are several single-track trail systems, including 46 miles in Carvin’s Cove, 10 miles on Roanoke’s Mill Mountain, and 34 miles in Jefferson National Forest’s North Mountain.
Finding Other Places to Ride
Trailforks – is a mountain biking trail database & management system. It is a platform for riding associations to keep track of trail conditions, builders to log work & riders to share and plan their rides. There is a video demonstration of how to use the Trailforks map and its many features and you can download the Trailforks Mobil App to your Apple or Android phone.
The Mountain Bike Project is a comprehensive mountain biking guide to the trails you want to ride – with offline maps, full GPS route info, elevation profiles, interactive features, photos, and more. You can download the MTB Project Mobile App to your Apple or Android phone.
How to use the map – before jumping to the Mountain Bike Project map know this – when you get to the Virginia Map (yes, you will be on the Virginia site even though you will see other states and lots of dots and numbers), you can do the following:
- Scroll down below the map and you will see a list of featured trails in Virginia; or
- In the left hand corner type the nearest city you want to ride and a list of trails will appear on the left hand side of the map. You can then select a trail for more detailed information; or
- If you don’t know the city, click and zoom into an area on the Virginia map you think you want to go and a list will be generated on the left side of the map. You can then select a trail for more detailed information.
Mountain Bike Clubs
There are a number of bicycle clubs throughout Virginia that ride year-round and are active in road, mountain, cyclocross, and gravel biking. Visit the Clubs and Local Rides page to find a Mountain Bike club near you.
Mountain Bike Events
If you don’t see an event listed that you know about, go to the List an Event page to request a free posting.