New Mexico: Angel Fire Resort
Angel Fire is renowned as one of the most hardcore DH resorts in the western US. Riders will find it all here: tech trails, jump lines, and wooden features.
“Great place! From what I’ve tried it’s the best lift-assisted trails so far. There are trails for everyone and one day isn’t enough to try it all.” -stumpyfsr
[see_also id=”207514″][/see_also]
New York: Windham Mountain Bike Park
Windham Mountain Bike Park offers true lift-served DH riding on trails designed and built by Gravity Logic–the builders behind the world-renowned trails at Whistler. Riders will find both jump trails and technical descents at Windham.
[see_also id=”201212″][/see_also]
North Carolina: Laurel Mountain
By any standard, Laurel Mountain is a challenging ride, but the true test comes when it’s time to descend Pilot Rocks’ seemingly-endless rock garden, dropping steeply into the valley below. Add in tight switchbacks, exposure, and frequent moisture from the temperate rain forest climate, and this is one of the very best technical mountain bike rides anywhere.
[see_also id=”27975″][/see_also]
North Dakota: Maah Daah Hey, North Unit
None of the North Dakota trails in the Singletracks database have received a black diamond rating, but I decided to double check by contacting the Magic City MTB Club. According to Andrew Kent, while the Maah Daah Hey trail averages out to intermediate difficulty overall, some sections exceed. Most notably, “the north unit is rugged and has steep washouts with exposure.”
[see_also id=”207522″][/see_also]
Ohio: Vultures Knob
Vultures Knob is Ohio’s oldest privately-owned, open to the public mountain bike trail system. Presumably, the private land ownership has provided the builders the latitude to build more technical trail features, making it the highest-rated black diamond trail in the state. Expect to find lots of wooden features, and some rocky sections.
Oklahoma: Lake Lawtonka
This 20-mile trail system is home to some easier trails, but the 20 trail reviews still assign it an average rating of black diamond. If you’re looking for the most challenging segments of singletrack, be sure to check out the orange, yellow, and black trails, which are reportedly very rocky.
Oregon: North Umpqua
At 79 miles in length, the North Umpqua trail in its entirety is a significant ride. However, bikepackers beware: the technical challenge means that these 79 miles are hard-won, and can be difficult to navigate with a fully-loaded bike.
Pennsylvania: Rothrock State Forest
This 100-mile network of singletrack is exceedingly technical, leading to the overall black diamond rating. Popular routes within this trail system include the IMBA Epic Cooper Gap and Tussey Ridge. Trails with the forest can be combined into a seemingly infinite variety of rocky, challenging rides. “Excellent singletrack, assuming you like rocks,” quipped Aaron Chamberlain in his review. “Rocks, rocks, rocks, everywhere.”
[see_also id=”201214″][/see_also]
Rhode Island: Diamond Hill State Park
This 10-mile trail gets accolades from all of the riders who’ve reviewed it. “Lots of jumps, drops, berms, kickers, rollers, and big stinky rock wall to help keep things interesting!” said schwei.
[see_also id=”65873″][/see_also]
South Carolina: Paris Mountain State Park
While the Paris Mountain trail system receives an intermediate rating overall, some trails, like the downhill race course, definitely exceed! As one of the only DH race courses in this area of the Southeast, Paris Mountain hosts a number of collegiate races.
[see_also id=”65120″][/see_also]
13 Comments
Aug 21, 2017
Aug 15, 2017
I just don't get it. So many better trails and 10-20 minute blistering, rocky, rooty descents in GA, but somehow the bunny slopes at Blankets creek are the "Best black diamond in GA"??? You have been stuck in CO too long brother!
Aug 16, 2017
Aug 15, 2017
But I'd also argue that if you can air out the big line in Quehl Holler, you're an advanced-level rider. Those doubles are huge! It's definitely a black diamond, just in a different way.
Aug 15, 2017
Aug 15, 2017
Aug 15, 2017
Aug 15, 2017
Aug 28, 2017
There are two major problems with this list. First the author claims it is based on the ratings. There are three black diamond trails rated higher on the list for Georgia 1. Pinhoti 3, 2. Whipper Snapper, 3. Voodoo. The second biggest problem with the list is it’s based on popularity and reviews are skewed by length of time the trail has been in existence.
If you are going to do a list like this you should actually review the trails for what they are. Instead you continue to create list based on singletracks rating criteria that is only a popularity contest. Once again giving love to Blankets Creek, do you guys get some kickback for continuing to make lists up that would benefit this mediocre trail system?
I guess the worst part of this list as it relates to Georgia is it showcases a flow/dirt jump line trail. Let’s think about the far superior flow/dirt jump trails that blow Quehl Holler out of the water: Every line at Big Creek free ride area, Medusa/Mo-flow/Knuckle Sandwich at Allatoona Creek.
Your rating system is a joke and questions the validity of Singletracks.com
Aug 16, 2017
Aug 21, 2017
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Aug 15, 2017