Much like hiking, mountain biking combines the enlivening effect of being in nature with the benefits of exercise. Mountain biking has a couple of other advantages too: it allows you to cover more ground and take in more sights in a shorter period of time than hiking, and depending on how you ride, it can be a fast-paced, heart-pounding thrill.
You don’t have to be a hard core mountain biker to enjoy mountain biking trails near you. Below ReserveAmerica highlights four areas around the country with trails of varying difficulty levels, from easy to expert:
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1. Harold Parker State Forest, Massachusetts
A haven of rolling hills, low lying swampy areas, rock outcrops, and several ponds, Harold Parker State Forest is a retreat just 20 miles north of Boston. There are over 3,000 acres of hardwood, hemlock, and white pine forest, and a 91-site campground. Recreational opportunities abound, including hiking, fishing, canoeing, hunting, horseback riding, and of course mountain biking its 35 miles of trails:
- 5 Mile FP Route – this 5 mile circular route takes nearly 2 hours to complete and climbs about 370 feet for the intermediate biker.
- Intermediate/Advanced HP Loop – at a distance of 9.7 miles, this loop begins intermediate, becomes hard and then gets much easier. Great for intermediate bikers who want to grow their skill set.
- HP/Ward 30 Miler – this loop covers 30.5 miles and offers nearly 2,000 feet of elevation gain. Rated as hard, the adventurer taking this route will see much of the lush forest.
2. Lake Corpus Christi State Park, Texas
An ecologically diverse park named after its famed lake, Lake Corpus Christi State Park is a mixture of brushlands, woodlands, and wetlands. The lake is over 18,000 acres and known for its largemouth and white bass, as well as catfish, crappie, and redear sunfish. Additionally, the area offers up some easy mountain biking alongside the lake:
- Longhorn Trail – this single-track easy trail is under a mile trail, taking bikers near a point by the lake shoreline.
- Catfish Point Trail – another easy single-track about one mile in length that does a loop along one of the peninsulas jutting into the lake
- Lake Corpus Christi Trail – this trail covers most of the park, including the two trails listed above and is about 4 miles in length.
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3. Hanging Rock State Park, North Carolina
Located under an hour’s drive from Winston-Salem, Hanging Rock State Park is an oasis of waterfalls and rock outcrops offering memorable views of the mountains. The lake is open for swimming, boating, and fishing, and there are plenty of camping options with over 90 campsites, including 10 family cabins. Campground amenities include restrooms, warm showers, and a bath house. For bikers, the multi-use trail system provides some great mountain biking opportunities:
- Land of the Lost Trail – this 1.7 mile loop is considered intermediate and climbs nearly 200 feet.
- Major Tom – a hard 1.3 mile single track takes bikers zig zagging up and down a 138 foot incline.
- Moore’s Springs Trail – a difficult trail, covering over 8 miles and climbing over 700 feet, allows bikers to see much of the park.
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4. Ainsworth State Park, Oregon
This park rests along the Columbia River Gorge and is located just outside of Portland. The gorge is characterized by waterfalls spilling from basalt cliffs among verdant forest. With nearly 1,000 miles of trails in the surrounding area, there are some great mountain biking opportunities:
- Easy Climb Trail – a smooth, flowy single track of 2.7 miles and easy-intermediate difficulty that has short descents and very little climbing to take you through the forest and alongside the river.
- Lacamas Lake Access Trail – an intermediate trail of 1.4 miles that twists and trunks back and forth across the river and around Round Lake.
- Cold Creek Trail – this 10.4 mile difficult trail takes riders to the top of Larch Mountain for a long and lively descent over varied terrain.
Are you ready for an outdoor adventure? Plan your camping trip!