Massachusetts: Harold Parker State Forest
With 35 miles of trails, this network can be difficult to navigate… yet for those who brave the unmarked trails, it can be very rewarding! MJB_MTB comments:
“There’s really not any sustained climbing or descending, just lots of punchy ups and downs, with no shortage of rock gardens, super technical sections, some drops, and lots of great trail layout utilizing the natural landscape of exposed ledge, rocks, and stone walls to help you hone your skills.”
Michigan: Copper Harbor
With massive amounts of woodwork, big drops, huge jumps, and all-you-can-ride shuttles for just a few bucks, there’s no question that Copper Harbor wins hands-down in Michigan. The quality of the trail building here is reportedly second to none–make the pilgrimage and go check it out!
Minnesota: Piedmont
Duluth is oh-so-hot in the Midwest mountain bike scene right now, and Piedmont epitomizes everything that is right with the area: technical, slabby slickrock; bridges and skinnies; and tons of roots. This in-town trail is nothing to sneer at!
If you’re looking for lift-served DH, Duluth has that as well: check out Spirit Mountain.
[see_also id=”207518″][/see_also]
Mississippi: Bayou Point
Beggars can’t be choosers, and Bayou Point is the only trail in the state of Mississippi to receive a black diamond rating in our database. Here you’ll find 6 miles of singletrack that is “somewhat tight and technical in areas,” according to Singletracks member Evan Murphy. You might also stumble across some manmade features and skinnies to keep things challenging.
[see_also id=”182432″][/see_also]
Missouri: Swope Park
With 13 miles of rocky singletrack, Swope Park receives accolades from seemingly everyone who’s ridden there. Portions of the trail network also provide “a series of progressive trail features including drops, jumps, and bermed turns,” according to vodvill.
[see_also id=’207520′][/see_also]
Montana: Line Creek Plateau
Line Creek Plateau offers up incredible views and epic high country riding, but it also provides 3,200 vertical feet of descending in just 4.5 miles! According to ctcarson24, “This is not a ride for the casual mountain biker.”
[see_also id=’207507′][/see_also]
Nebraska: Chadron State Park
“The topography here may make you forget you’re in Nebraska. Some of the hills are dramatic and there are bluffs and canyons everywhere,” according to John Fisch. The eroded trails, revealing plenty of rocks, have earned Chadron State Park a black diamond rating by reviewers.
Nevada: The Zipper
“Literally the trail is made of rocks,” wrote TheAngryTomato in The Zipper’s trail description. If that’s not a glowing endorsement for a tech trail, I don’t know what is! This is a short trail with 500 feet of drop in one mile, but there are plenty of other trails in the Reno area to connect to. One route in our database shows 9 miles of riding and 1,631 feet of elevation gain/loss.
Honorable mention: Bootleg Canyon. Despite being home to some rowdy, extremely unforgiving rocky singletrack, including a legit DH run, the Bootleg Canyon Trail System’s ratings in our database average out to an intermediate level.
New Hampshire: Highland Mountain Bike Park
Highland Mountain Bike Park is a legit lift-served bike park with the distinction of NOT being open for skiing in the winter, but rather, only serving mountain bikers. In fact, Highland is so good that it has led Phil Kmetz to ask, “Is Highland the best mountain bike park in the USA?”
[see_also id=’221591′][/see_also]
New Jersey: Ringwood Skylands Manor
“Ringwood by far is the hottest, roughest trail [in New Jersey],” according to one Singletracks contributor. “If you like difficult climbs, tricky obstacles, including riding across fallen trees, 5 feet in the air, 25 feet long, this is the place for you.”
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
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Aug 15, 2017