Hawaii: Kealia Trail
The Kealia Trail is short, steep, and loaded with switchbacks. Technical features abound. According to mtbhawaii.com, “Kealia is switchback after switchback down the side of a cliff face. Steep, rocky, sharp corners with drop offs. Know your limits and walk if you need to. Kealia Trail is a gem, some of the best technical singletrack on the island.”
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Idaho: Rocky Creek Loop
As you can guess from the name, your distance doesn’t come easily on Rocky Creek Loop. According to chukt, Rocky Creek “may be called ‘primitive’ in an era when ‘flowy’ is the norm.”
For even more rugged backcountry trails in Idaho, check out the likes of Rocky Peak Via Spooky Trail, the Williams Summit Trails, and much, much more.
Illinois: Bullfrog Lake
Bullfrog Lake is listed in our database as a sub-trail of Palos Forest Preserve. Reviewers note that Bullfrog Lake is a “black diamond” ride with “lots of obstacles,” including roots, jumps, and berms.
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Indiana: Outback Trail at Imagination Glenn
The challenges on the Outback trail are myriad, including tight, techy sections; roots; a jump line; and manmade wooden features; all spread out over the course of at least 10 miles of riding. Reviewers remain impressed with these trails: they net a 4.71 average out of 5 stars, with 38 total reviews.
Iowa: Palisades Park
Palisades Park is listed as a sub-trail of the Decorah MTB Trail System in our database. According to Jared13, the trails here feature “twisty singletrack with rocks and roots,” technical log pile features, and downed trees as obstacles. You can score at least 5 miles of riding in Palisades Park, with more singletrack easily accessible in the greater Decorah area.
Kansas: Fancy Creek State Park
A rocky paradise where you’d least expect it! Here’s what Singletracks writer John Fisch had to say:
“Wow! What a shock to find this little gem on the Kansas Prairie! Rocks, rocks, and more rocks–usually at odd angles and laying before you a major challenge of just picking a line, let alone riding it all clean. The climbs are short but steep, and some of the quick descents run straight down the fall line. Not much flow in most places, more like a trials type ride, but all doable by a confident rider with good balance. Also adding to the fun is that this trail is in deep, dark woods, making you completely forget the hundreds of miles of flat, treeless prairie which surround you. Along with Switchgrass, this is one of Kansas’ two ‘must rides.'”
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Kentucky: Fort Duffield
At most, Fort Duffield is home to 10 miles of singletrack… but hidden in these hills you’ll find freeride features to challenge the most of aggressive of riders. Unfortunately, recent reviews indicate that some of these features could be in disrepair. If so, there is more Kentucky gnar to be found at Youngers Creek.
Louisiana: The Beast
“The Beast” appears aptly-named, with many Louisiana locals decrying this trail as way too difficult and not any fun at all. According to ignezio,
“The overall trail is very dangerous and not well maintained. The trail has to be the worst in LA next to Hooper trail. . . .they have dangerous drops on both sides of a single foot track that is deadly if you fall, along with roots [that are] very difficult to maneuver. The descents are also met with pot holes at the bottom that catch the front tire and have you [go OTB].”
However, to hear other reviewers weigh in, the fact that The Beast is radically more difficult and challenging than other trails in Louisiana is a good thing–and puts it a touch closer to trails in other states with true difficulty. Here’s how LynnTheAvatar puts it:
“Fortunately, to some, there is nothing like The Beast in Louisiana, nor in Mississippi. It most closely resembles the technical trails around the Austin and San Antonio areas of Texas, but instead of rocks, the roots provide technical challenges. If you haven’t ridden more challenging trails locally, you’re in for a rude awakening. However, The Beast is a lot of fun once you solve all of its technical puzzles. Just relax, take a deep breath, and drop in!”
Maine: Carrabassett Valley Trail System
Carrabassett Valley is one of the most highly-acclaimed trail systems in Maine, boasting around 100 miles of trail. While you can find singletrack ranging from easy to advanced, the overall trail system has received a black diamond rating–a relative rarity for most trail systems of this size, as the rankings generally average out to intermediate.
Maryland: Frederick Watershed
Singletracks writer John Fisch notes that Frederick Watershed is “unmarked and unmaintained, and a truly wild experience despite its proximity to civilization.” He goes on to comment that it is “rocky in the extreme,” which is really saying something coming from John!
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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
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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
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Aug 15, 2017