Top 10 Cycling Trips (Take Your Bike, or Literally Take a Hike)

If a traveler were to follow the popular baseball rule, “three strikes, you’re out,” it would be pretty easy to imagine the three strikes against driving a car. Expensive gas — strike. Traffic — strike. Possible car trouble — strike.

So, what is the alternative? Take a bike across the country. From California down to Texas and up to Maine, the country is full of beauty that is better enjoyed on two wheels. Here’s a rundown of the top 10 trails, going from north to south and west to east. For more trails, visit trails.com.

1. Black Diamond, WA (34.3 miles southeast of Seattle). Black Diamond Coal Mine Path. A quest for a coal mine tour leads to a windy trip around the mountain at the south end of Lake Sawyer, Frog Lake and Ravensdale Creek. Going through both forest and clear paths, the ride is full of picturesque scenery. A ride for wide-open spaces and sightseeing that has more than beauty — it has a story as well.
2. Sacramento, CA. American River Bike Path. Ready for a 32-mile (one-way!) ride along the American River and almost completely away from the sight of cars? This trail isn’t for the faint of heart; it goes all the way from downtown Sacramento to Folsom Dam. Fun tourist sidenote: The trail’s other alias is Jedediah Smith National Recreation Trail.
3. Telluride, CO (330 miles southwest of Denver). Telluride to Moab Hut to Hut Path. As long as peaks and valleys and over 100 miles of biking don’t make a rider steer clear, the strong of heart and health will enjoy spectacular views. From the peaks of the 14,000-foot San Juans, to the 100-mile-long Uncompahgre Plateau, to the canyons of Dolores River Valley, it is hard to name all of the changes in climates, sights and beauty that surround the path, which also includes desert to a backdrop of the mountains above.
4. Bismarck, ND. The Lewis and Clark Trail. If the scenery doesn’t leave visitors breathless, the people will. According to Cambridge University, North Dakota is officially the friendliest of the 50 states. Forging new trails during a short visit, riders will follow in the footsteps of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who passed through this area 200 years ago. The path celebrates that small but magnificently beautiful part of their journey. Celebrating one segment of the trip filled with historic sites, parks, museums, restaurants, breweries and more, the attractions for many types of travelers makes the trail worth exploring.
5. Bottineau, ND (190 miles north of Bismarck). Turtle Mountain State Forest Mountain Bike Trails. A bit off the beaten path, Turtle Mountain is made for anything but the slow and steady bike rider who might prefer not to have to look at the trail. An older path, it is comprised of old double-tracks, snowmobile and cross-country ski trails. Also, it forks off several times. But, if the rider stays on course, the spectacular views just below the Canadian border are said to be worth any trouble. Hey, paradise can’t be perfect, but it sure can be worth the inevitable backfires from Mother Nature, or so riders say.
6. Flower Mound, TX (25.1 miles northwest of Dallas). Northshore Trail. Known as the Lake Grapevine trail to some locals and as the Mecca of bike trails to others, it seems that the only two agreements riders have is that the sand in the eastern area can get you stuck, and that this is the place to go in north Texas for breathtaking views of everything that nature has to offer. Now that’s a trail to pick up.
7. Milwaukee, WI. Milwaukee Lakefront Trails. Known by some as the Oak Leaf Trail, this path is actually made up of several paths that go through the city, one of which goes by Lake Michigan. So, what makes these trails of note? The rich history behind the simple paths. With the best parking available at the Milwaukee Art Museum near Veterans Park, the Milwaukee Lakefront Trail was fittingly renamed Milwaukee 76 Trail for the centennial, but the name didn’t quite stick. However, the natural beauty of the trail does.
8. Mammoth Cave, KY (92 miles south of Louisville). Mammoth Cave Bike Trails. With 32 miles of trails that cross two ferries at one point, and cross gravel for 6 miles at another, this trail is for all skill levels and a strong sense of adventure. Pick a part, or the whole thing, and the rider will see how much they can take before they jump ship. It isn’t a trail for those afraid of uncertainty and adventure.
9. Mount Dora, FL (26.5 miles northwest of Orlando). Road Bike Rides. Sugar Loaf Mountain Challenge. Don’t be fooled by the name, this ride is no peace of cake. Florida, known for its flatlands, surprises with an elevation reaching 310 feet. From atop that vantage point, reviewers rave about the about the panoramic view of Apopka and other small lakes in the area. Other notable wonders include citrus groves full of oranges and grapefruits. Oh yeah, and sprawling ranch houses are great on the eyes, too.
10. Woodbury, NY (34.2 miles east of New York City). Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail. The location of this trail is what sets it apart to Long Islanders and bike enthusiasts, or so it’s said. The hike length averages 8 miles each way, but there is no challenging one fact: It is a calm oasis in the middle of hectic chaos. It cuts through wooded protected wilderness in the middle of Long Island, which is a literal breath of fresh air.

While outdoor beauty abounds, there are other reasons to ride a bike. IBike.org decided to make a list of benefits, from serious to silly. From “reduces greenhouse gas emissions,” to “bike commuting is a license to dress weird and still feel smug,” it’s fun to see what positive impact bike-centric lifestyles can have. Ready for vacation, yet? Ride on!