My Favorite Mountain Bike Trails of 2018
With the 2018 mountain biking season coming to close, at least for me, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what was a fantastic year of riding. This year one of my main mountain biking goals was to explore more—which meant everything from visiting new trail systems to simply investigating new parts of well-traveled trail networks. With that in mind, here are my 5 favorite trails—in reverse order—that I rode for the first time this year.
Alpe d’Huez, Bear Brook. Riding Bear Brook with a friend this spring, I was surprised by the number of trails I had never noticed, or bothered to ride, despite visiting the park weekly the season before. Of those un-noticed trails, the smooth, switchbacks of Alpe d’Huez stand out among the rest. Easily the best climb in Bear Brook, the trail is so good that I changed where I normally park to more easily incorporate it into my rides. While Alp d’Huez is best enjoyed as an uphill, it’s also a spirited downhill as gravity begs you to pick up speed, but the sharp corners encourage a more thoughtful approach.
Fox Tail, FOMBA. While my preference in trails leans towards the three Fs (fast, flowy, and fun), I realize the need to keep my technical skills sharp—which led me to the rocky and rooty trails of FOMBA. Of all the trails in FOMBA’s network, my favorite is Fox Trail. Ridden in either direction, the roughly mile-long Fox Trail delivers enough tech to keep riders on their toes but has a rhythm not found in the area’s other trails. And despite the techy nature of the trail, there’s minimal elevation change, allowing riders to tackle the trail’s most difficult sections without having to worry about climbing.
Moose Duece, Kingdom Trails. I’ve been going to Kingdom Trails for over 15 years but until this year, I had ridden very little in around the White School and Moose Alley areas. Out the way when compared to Kingdom Trail’s more popular sections like Darling Hill, the only thing preventing Moose Duece from being higher on this list is the grind required to access this terrific trail. Moose Duece has everything modern trail riders are looking for—as it features berms, side hits, and even sports a large (for Kingdom Trails) drop at the trail’s entrance. And, thanks to its out-of-the-way location one thing you won’t find on Moose Duece is crowds.
Shock Therapy, Page Hill. Located just a short drive from one of my favorite mountain bike destinations, Franklin Falls, is Page Hill and its must-ride trail Shock Therapy. A slice of machine-built heaven for central New Hampshire mountain bikers, Shock Therapy is the type of trail you would expect to find in a bike park (not tucked off of a dirt road in Hill, New Hampshire), as it features bermed corners and a plethora of jumps. One of the most fun trails I have ever ridden, I often will only ride Shock Therapy when I visit Page Hill—breaking my self-imposed exploration mandate by running multiple laps on it. In fact, my only complaint about Shock Therapy is that it’s not longer.
Norris Hill Trail, Green Woodlands. What is happening with the trail building at Green Woodlands is incredible—this year Green Woodlands brought their total mileage of machine-built singletrack to 25 miles, and as testament to their building, every time I visited this summer and fall there seemed to be a new section of trail added. Of all the new trails, Norris Hill stands above the rest. Totaling three miles in length—all downhill—it’s the longest consistent downhill I can think of in the northeast. More than merely long, Norris Hill features a steep, rocky roll in before turning into fast, flowy singletrack packed with berms and jumps. Making this trail even better is the ease with one can ride laps, as it is easily shuttled using multiple vehicles or ridden taking advantage of a road.
Honorable Mention:
The Coldwater Mountain trails in Anniston, Alabama. For years my wife and I have been visiting Alabama to rock climb and this year, having heard rumors of good riding, felt compelled to bring our bikes along. The trails of Coldwater Mountain didn’t disappoint. All machine built and an IMBA Bronze-Level Ride Center, the trails of Coldwater Mountain deliver enjoyable climbs, fast descents, and enough technical challenges to keep your guard up. Most importantly they offer ear-to-ear smiles. Best of all, the weather! As we escaped temperatures in the low 30s at home (New Hampshire) to temps in the high 70s and spent two days riding in shorts and tee-shirts. If you’re looking to escape the northeast this winter to ride your bike, this is an awesome weekend destination.
By Tim Peck
