Gravel bikes have been one of the best advancements in cycling this past decade. They have not only given us a completely new exciting style of riding, but we have the best do it all bikes bikes ever. We get asked many questions here at Gravel Biking, but one that comes up often is, “What are the best gravel bike trails in the USA?”
The USA is a huge place, and we all have different tastes in gravel riding. Some like the pebble trails, which are light and fast. Others like rock gardens and hills so steep you might as well be walking.
We have found a mix of some of the best gravel bike trails in the USA for you to enjoy, and we will also be answering some of your top questions. We will be discussing the following:
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Are Gravel Bikes Good For Trail Riding?
Gravel bikes are great fun when it comes to trail riding but don’t expect to be breaking records on the tougher terrain. It’s important to understand they are limited. They are amazing for light trails and road riding, but they are not mountain bikes.
The bigger the gravel bike tire, the more confident you can be on a trail, and having lots of tread is going to help. When it comes to bikepacking and long-distance trails, many riders opt for a gravel bike over a mountain bike because they are lighter and a much better all round option for multi terrain riding.
Related Reading: Best Tires for Gravel Bikes
Where Is The Biking Capital Of The U.S.?
The biking capital of the U.S. is often referred to as Portland, Oregon. It has a huge extensive network of cycle lanes and excellent cycling infrastructure. They have made a big effort to make cycling a popular form of transport, and there are loads of amazing bike shops.
As far as gravel cycling goes, the story is a little different. Although no place seems to be officially crowned, many consider Kansas the gravel cycling capital. This is due to the popularity of the epic gravel race, the Dirty Kanza, which recently changed its name to Unbound Gravel.
Best Gravel Bike Trails In The USA
Now for the fun bit, let’s talk about some of the best gravel bike trails in the USA. Here are some of our favorites:
Great Allegheny Passage
The first epic ride to speak about is the Great Allegheny Passage, GAP for short. Spanning 150 miles between Pittsburgh and Maryland, this epic trail runs through Pennsylvania and Cumberland. It’s part of a larger set of trail systems connecting all the way to Washington, D.C.
Running through the Appalachian Mountains, it’s incredibly popular with hikers and cyclists because of its natural beauty and many great local towns and attractions. What’s interesting about this trail is a lot of the surface is crushed limestone, and as far as elevation goes great for beginners but can also challenge experienced riders at speed.
Katy Trail State Park
The Katy Trail is one of the longest developed rail trails in the USA, spanning over 240 miles following the old route of the Katy Railroad. It offers amazing landscapes from river valleys, farmland, and quiet forests. Many riders choose this route for its historical significance and its well-preserved infrastructure.
Although the Katy Trails dirt roads may be long, there’s plenty of accommodation and resupply along the way. You pass through some great small towns such as St. Charles, Sedalia, and Jefferson City. It is perfect for a multi-day trip or, if you are feeling crazy, a single hit.
Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
The legendary Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is one of the most well-known off-road long-distance trails in the U.S. It’s a huge 2700-3000 miles long, and not only does it make a great long-distance tour, but it is also raced by bikepackers in the Tour Divide race, which is incredibly popular amongst adventure cyclists.
It starts in Montana and heads all the way down to New Mexico. It offers breathtaking scenery and takes riders into remote wilderness across high mountain passes. If you are looking for an incredible challenge and unforgettable journey, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is for you.
Black Canyon Trail
The Black Canyon Trail is 78 miles long and is in central Arizona. If there’s one place we can highly recommend to try some gravel riding, it’s in this state. The Black Canyon Trail offers a unique experience compared to other gravel trails with its stunning rock formations and desert vistas.
It’s a great trail to focus on completing in a day, but it’s worth mentioning there are points that will challenge beginner gravel cyclists, including very rocky sections, steep climbs, and some sketchy descents. Overall though, it’s a great ride showcasing Arizona’s beauty.
The Olympic Discovery Trail
Coming from Washington State, we have the Olympic Discovery Trail. This 130-mile route offers everything you might want from a gravel ride from coastal areas, mountains, and even some forest. The views are breathtaking, and the towns are very charming to ride through on the well-maintained trails.
As much as 90 miles of this trail has been made into paths and paved roads, so it’s great for cyclists who might feel they need more confidence when it comes to off-road riding. This is a great challenge to complete in a single day, but if you want to make the most of it, consider it over two. We hear amazing things about this trail for gravel bikes, and it had to be on this list.
Related Reading: Best States for Gravel Biking
Flint Hills Trail
The Flint Hills Nature Trail is 117 miles of the amazing Flint Hills of Kansas. It’s the eighth-longest rail trail in the U.S. and the longest in the Sunshine State. It is a great trail that takes you through some incredible landscapes rich in agricultural heritage. The trail takes you through lots of rolling hills and expansive prairies.
The terrain is some of the finest gravel that Kansas has to offer and will take you through quaint towns, and has a peaceful feel to it. Although it is not the longest trail on this list, it is still a great one to explore in a day or two days.
Kokopelli’s Trail
Kokopelli’s Trail is one for the gravel cyclist who likes a challenge. Not only is it a solid 140 miles long, but it is also designed with mountain bikes in mind. Although doable on a gravel bike, you will need some confidence, in my opinion. The trail is a mix of singletrack, rapid descents, and steep climbs.
It starts in Fruita, Colorado, and goes all the way to Moab, Utah. The landscape is incredible, and you get to enjoy a lot of diverse terrain. From the slick rock formations along the Colorado River to the stunning red rock cliffs, there’s always something to enjoy visually. It has a certain rugged beauty that other trails can’t offer, and that’s why we like it so much.
White Rim Road
The White Rim Road is a unique trail, unlike many others on this list. It’s a route that is used by not just cyclists but also 4x4s and motorbikes too. It’s very remote, and if you are taking on this challenge, we recommend having some experience riding off-road on hardpack gravel.
The White Rim Road is located in the Canyons National Park, Utah. It’s 100 miles long and is an incredible route for views. Towering cliffs and deep canyons alongside the Colorado River make this breathtaking for any gravel rider. You can get a day permit and enjoy it for a single day or a multi pay permit and camp if required.
Mckenzie River Trail
The Mckenzie River Trail is the perfect example of quality over quantity when it comes to miles. The Mckenzie Trail is for you if you are looking for a super challenging 26-mile bike ride with some of the best ever views possible on U.S. gravel riding. Voted in 2008 as one of the best U.S. trails by mountain bikers, it’s well renowned.
The trail follows the lush forests of the cascade range, incredible waterfalls, and features which are volcanic. It’s 26 miles of just picturesque scenery with lots of feet of climbing. There are many options for camping and lodging close, and we highly recommend exploring more of the area if you come to tackle this trail.
The Maah Daah Trail
144 miles of North Dakota’s finest trails make up the Maah Daah Trail. If you enjoy being away from it all and want to experience gravel biking in rugged badlands, then this is for you. There’s a lot of diverse terrain, from grasslands to canyons and beautiful vistas. It’s gravel bike riding unlike anywhere else.
As far as terrain goes, you get lots of gravel roads and some singletrack, the route is not shy of climbs and descents either. The trail is well marked, and there are many options for camping and lodging to cover this route in multiple days, or if you’re feeling crazy, try and do it in a single shot. The Maah Daah Trail is well worth a visit.
Where Is The Best Gravel Biking In The U.S.?
The U.S. is excellent for gravel rides, and you get something very different wherever you go. You can tell just by the huge variety of the best gravel bike trails in the USA we have spoken about in this article that the U.S. has so much to offer gravel riders.
As we mentioned before, one of the most popular places for gravel riding and often considered the best in Kansas, but many people will have differing views depending on their gravel biking style.
We hope this article gave you some great trail inspiration and you’re ready to pack that gravel bike up and go on an adventure on unpaved roads. Thanks for taking the time to read, and don’t forget to check out the rest of our blogs.
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