Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking

There are hundreds of miles of trails beckoning both the novice and hard-core mountain biking enthusiast. Most hiking trails and roads are open to mountain bikes. However, please remember that bikes are NOT allowed in Wilderness areas.

Expect to share the forest with others, including hikers, horseback riders, off-highway vehicle riders, timber cutters, hunters, and bird watchers, so learn to share the trail, Move off the trail for less mobile users. Always yield trail. Practice Trail Safety and Leave No Trace.

Stay on national forest land or public roads. Do not trespass on private land. It is your responsibility to be sure you are on national forest land. Avoid riding during the hunting seasons, if possible. If you do ride during hunting season, consider wearing blaze orange. If you see a hunter, alert him or her of your approach.

What to Expect

You may ride your bike on any open forest road or trail unless it is specifically closed to mountain bike use. Trails in the Wilderness Areas are always closed to mountain biking. Mountain bikes and other similar mechanical devices are prohibited by law in congressionally designated Wilderness Areas.

Even so, many diverse miles of roads and trails are open to mountain biking. Visitors may use any of these routes year round, as conditions on the ground allow. There are no permits, fees, or registration required for individuals and small groups.

Expect to share the forest with others, including hikers, horseback riders, off-highway vehicle riders, timber cutters, hunters, and bird watchers, so learn to share the trail, practice Trail Safety and Leave No Trace.

Expect to carry and walk your bike for considerable distances on most of the trails on the national forests. Most trails were constructed for hiking, and are not maintained for continuous mountain bike riding. Trails are narrow and sometimes steep and are always pretty rough due to rock.

Stay on national forest land or public roads. Do not trespass on private land. It is your responsibility to be sure you are on national forest land. Avoid riding during the hunting seasons, if possible. If you do ride during hunting season, consider wearing blaze orange. If you see a hunter, alert him or her of your approach.

Riding Opportunities

Most hiking trails and roads are open to mountain bikes. However, many trails were not designed for biking. Please remember, biking is  always prohibited in Wilderness Areas. There are a number of privately authored guides that describe national forest trails, and you can obtain information from others who use the trails. While information from private sources is not necessarily endorsed by the Forest Service, we recognize that riders often offer valuable insight and perspectives on trail opportunities and difficulty levels.

Biking Safety Tips

  • Wear a helmet.
  • Don't bike alone. Let others know your travel plans.
  • Plan your trip.
  • Carry plenty of food and water.
  • Protect yourself from the sun.
  • Stay on authorized trails.
  • Carry a small first aid kit, flashlight, compass, matches, and tire repair kit.
  • Ride to your ability.
  • If riding at night, have headlamps and reflectors.
  • Be prepared for and aware of rapidly changing weather conditions. 
  • Avoid bare ridge tops, exposed places, lone trees, streams, and rocks during lightning storms.
  • Cell phone coverage will vary.

Mountain Biking Areas

Recreation Areas

Recreation Activities