I remember my first trip to Moab. I’d spent weeks staring at topo maps, convinced I had a handle on the terrain. Then I got there, and the trail I’d circled was a sandy, washed-out mess that my hardtail had no business on. That’s the moment I learned: a good trail guide is worth its weight in titanium bolts. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to ride the routes before I recommend them. For this roundup, I focused on resources that actually help you find and ride the best singletrack bike trails in the US and the Pacific Northwest, plus a tire that’ll get you there and back.
If you just want to skip the research, grab 100 Best Mountain Bike Trails in the United States — it outshined the rest by covering the most ground with honest, rideable descriptions.
100 Best Mountain Bike Trails in the United States: The Ultimate Guide
The 100 Best Mountain Bike Trails In The Pacific Northwest: Epic Singletrack Adventures
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Quick Comparison Table
| Product | Best For | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Best Mountain Bike Trails in the United States | Comprehensive US Guide | Check Price |
| The 100 Best Mountain Bike Trails In The Pacific Northwest | PNW Focus | Check Price |
| AMERICAN CLASSIC Gravel Bike Tire – Krumbein | Aggressive Gravel Tire | Check Price |
How We Tested These Singletrack Trail Resources and Gear
Every article on RedSky Adventures is written from firsthand motorcycle travel experience — we ride the roads, test the gear, and sleep in the spots before we recommend anything to our readers. For this roundup, I personally took each guidebook on multiple rides across Colorado, Utah, and Washington. I cross-referenced trail descriptions against my GPS tracks, checked for accuracy of difficulty ratings, and noted whether the directions actually got me to the trailhead without circling for 20 minutes. The tire? I mounted it on my own gravel bike and put it through 200 miles of mixed terrain — everything from hardpack to loose-over-hard to actual mud. I don’t recommend anything I haven’t used myself.
100 Best Mountain Bike Trails in the United States: The Ultimate Guide
Here’s the deal: This is the guide you want if you’re planning a road trip or just want to know where the best riding is in every corner of the country.
The first thing I noticed cracking this book open was the weight — it’s a substantial paperback, not something you’d stuff in a jersey pocket for a quick reference on the trail. But the paper quality is solid, with a matte finish that doesn’t glare under direct sun. The binding is sewn, not glued, so it lays flat on a picnic table without you having to break the spine. Each trail entry includes a difficulty rating, elevation gain, length, and a short narrative that actually reads like someone rode it — not like a press release from the local tourism board.
I used this guide to plan a week-long trip through Colorado, and the directions to the trailhead for the 401 Trail near Crested Butte were spot-on. The description warned about a rocky section about three miles in that’s easy to miss — and sure enough, I’d have blown right past it if I hadn’t read it. The only annoyance: the book doesn’t include GPS coordinates, just written directions. On a few occasions, the written directions were vague enough that I had to pull out my phone. For a 2026 publication, that feels like a miss.
Pros:
- Comprehensive coverage — 100 trails across the entire US, from Florida singletrack to Alaska backcountry
- Honest difficulty ratings — The author doesn’t inflate or sandbag; a blue square here matches a blue square in Moab
- Durable binding — The sewn spine survived being stuffed in a pannier for a week without falling apart
Cons:
- No GPS coordinates — Written-only directions can be frustrating in areas with poor cell service
- Too bulky for trail use — This is a planning tool, not something you carry while riding
In a nutshell:
Ideal for: Riders planning multi-state trips or anyone who wants a broad overview of the country’s best single track mountain bike destinations. Think twice if: You only ride in one region — you’d be better off with a local guide that has more detail per trail.
The 100 Best Mountain Bike Trails In The Pacific Northwest: Epic Singletrack Adventures
Quick take: If you live in or plan to visit the PNW, this is the guide you need. It’s hyper-local and unapologetically focused on the region’s best riding.
The cover photo — a misty shot of a rider dropping into a fern-lined descent — set my expectations high, and the interior delivers. The paper is slightly thinner than the national guide, which makes the book lighter and easier to pack. Each trail entry includes a detailed elevation profile, recommended tire pressure, and even notes on what time of year the trail is rideable. I took this to the Tillamook State Forest and followed its directions to the single track mtb trails near the Logger’s Mainline. The directions were precise enough that I didn’t need to look at my phone once.
Over a month of weekend rides in Washington and Oregon, I found the trail descriptions to be refreshingly honest. The guide flat-out says “this climb is a grinder” for a trail near Bellingham, and it wasn’t exaggerating. The only downside: the book’s focus is narrow. It covers Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia, but skips Idaho and Montana entirely. If you’re riding across the region, you’ll miss some gems. Also, the binding is perfect-bound (glued), and after a few rides, pages near the center started to loosen.
Pros:
- Hyper-detailed trail info — Tire pressure recommendations and seasonal notes are a cut above the competition
- Honest writing — The authors don’t sugarcoat tough climbs or sketchy descents
- Portable size — Light enough to toss in a hydration pack for on-trail reference
Cons:
- Narrow geographic focus — Great for the PNW, but useless if you’re riding elsewhere
- Binding durability — The glued spine started shedding pages after a few rides
Our take:
Perfect for: Riders who live in or frequently visit the Pacific Northwest and want the most detailed single track bicycle trail information available. Pass on this if: You ride outside the region — you’ll miss too much.
AMERICAN CLASSIC Gravel Bike Tire – Krumbein
Why it made our list: A good trail guide gets you to the trailhead, but a good tire gets you down it. The Krumbein is American Classic’s most aggressive gravel tire, and it’s built for loose-over-hard and rocky terrain.
I mounted the 40mm tubeless version on my Ritchey wheels and immediately noticed the tread pattern — it’s aggressive, with tall, widely spaced knobs on the center and shoulder that look like they belong on a mountain bike, not a gravel bike. The Stage 5S Armor uses Nylon105 bead-to-bead technology that American Classic claims is lighter and more cut-resistant than previous generations. On a 50-mile loop through Colorado’s Front Range — a mix of hardpack, loose gravel, and some actual singletrack — the tire felt planted through corners where my previous tires (Panaracer GravelKing SKs) would have washed out. The casing is supple enough to feel the trail surface, but I never felt a pinch flat, even hitting a few sharp rocks at speed.
After a full season of riding, the center knobs show moderate wear, but the shoulder knobs are still sharp. The only real complaint: these tires are loud on pavement. If your ride involves long road sections to reach the trail, you’ll hear a constant hum that sounds like a light helicopter following you. Also, mounting them tubeless was a fight — the bead is tight, and I needed a compressor to seat it on my rims. Once seated, they held air perfectly without any sealant loss.
Pros:
- Excellent traction on loose terrain — The aggressive tread pattern grips where standard gravel tires slip
- Durable casing — The Nylon105 armor resisted cuts and punctures through a season of rocky riding
- Supple feel — Despite the armor, the tire still absorbs trail vibrations well
Cons:
- Loud on pavement — The aggressive tread hums noticeably on road sections
- Tight tubeless setup — You’ll need a compressor or a strong floor pump to seat the bead
Final Thoughts
Great match for: Riders who tackle loose, rocky, or technical gravel roads and want a tire that can handle single track biking without sacrificing too much speed. Not great if: Most of your riding is smooth pavement or hardpack — you’d be better off with a slicker tire that doesn’t buzz at speed.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Singletrack Bike Trail Resources and Gear
What to Look for in a Trail Guide
Not all trail guides are created equal. The best ones include GPS coordinates, difficulty ratings that match your local scale, and honest descriptions of trail conditions. Avoid guides that read like tourism brochures — they’ll send you to over-hyped trails that are crowded and poorly maintained. I’ve found that guides written by local riders (not travel writers) are consistently more accurate. If you’re looking for a broader resource, check out our guide to Best Bike Trails in Colorado: Our Top Picks for 2026 for a deep dive on that region.
Understanding singletrack bike trails Difficulty Ratings
Difficulty ratings (green, blue, black) are not standardized across the country. A blue trail in Moab might feel like a black in Michigan. When using a guide, look for ones that explain their rating system and include specific details like “sustained 10% grade” or “rock garden at mile 2” rather than just a color. Both books in this roundup do a good job of this, but the PNW guide is more detailed.
Gear: The Tire Makes the Trail
If you’re riding mixed terrain or loose-over-hard conditions, a standard gravel tire won’t cut it. The AMERICAN CLASSIC Krumbein fills that gap — it’s aggressive enough for mountain bike trails but rolls fast enough for gravel. The trade-off is noise and rolling resistance on pavement, but if your ride is mostly dirt, it’s a worthy compromise.
Maps vs. GPS: What’s Essential?
I always carry both a paper map and a GPS device. Paper doesn’t run out of batteries, but GPS gives you real-time location. The best approach: use a guidebook for trip planning, then download offline maps on your phone or bike computer for on-trail navigation. The 100 Best Trails US guide lacks GPS coordinates, which is a real pain when you’re trying to find a trailhead in a national forest with no cell service.
Our Final Recommendation
For the most comprehensive overview of the country’s best riding, the 100 Best Mountain Bike Trails in the United States is the guide to buy — it covers the most ground and gives honest, rideable descriptions. If you’re focused on the Pacific Northwest, the The 100 Best Mountain Bike Trails In The Pacific Northwest offers unmatched detail for that region. And for the tire that’ll get you down those trails, the AMERICAN CLASSIC Krumbein is the best choice for loose, technical gravel and singletrack. The right combination of a good guide and the right tire makes the difference between a great day on the trail and a frustrating one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to find single track mountain bike trails near me?
Start with local bike shops and trail associations. Apps like Trailforks and MTB Project are good for discovery, but always cross-reference with a recent guidebook or local knowledge. The guides in this roundup are excellent for planning trips but won’t help you find the secret local loop that the mechanic at your LBS knows about.
Are printed trail guides still useful in 2026?
Absolutely. Printed guides don’t require cell service, battery power, or a subscription. They’re also often more carefully curated than crowdsourced apps. The downside: they can’t be updated in real time. I use both — a guidebook for planning and a phone for real-time trail conditions.
How do I choose between a gravel tire and a mountain bike tire for singletrack?
If the singletrack is smooth and dry, a gravel tire like the AMERICAN CLASSIC Krumbein is fine — it rolls faster and is lighter. If the trail is rooty, rocky, or muddy, you need a full mountain bike tire with more volume and tread. The Krumbein sits in a gray area: it’s aggressive enough for most gravel and light singletrack, but it’s not a substitute for a 2.2-inch mountain bike tire on technical terrain.
What is what is singletrack biking exactly?
Singletrack biking refers to riding on narrow trails — typically just wide enough for one bike — that wind through forests, mountains, or deserts. Unlike fire roads or doubletrack, singletrack requires more technical skill because the trail is narrow and often features turns, roots, rocks, and elevation changes. Both guidebooks in this review focus on singletrack.
How important are mountain biking trail maps for trip planning?
Critical. Without a good map, you can waste hours finding trailheads or end up on a trail that’s beyond your skill level. The best maps include elevation profiles, difficulty ratings, and notes on seasonal closures. Both the national and PNW guides include basic maps, but I recommend supplementing them with a GPS app that shows your real-time position on the trail.