Best mountain towns for mountain biking

Across the West’s mountain towns, here’s where the mountain biking scene runs deepest — ranked by the recurring groups, clubs, and meetups we track. Tap a town to see who’s out there and when.

  1. BoiseIdaho’s capital — the Ridge to Rivers foothills, the Boise River & Bogus Basin.7 groups
  2. Gallatin ValleyBozeman & Big Sky — the Bridger, Gallatin & Madison ranges.5 groups
  3. LaramieHome of UW — Vedauwoo, the Snowy Range & the Laramie Plains.5 groups
  4. MissoulaUniversity of Montana town — the Rattlesnake, Bitterroot & Clark Fork.5 groups
  5. MoabArches & Canyonlands — slickrock, the Colorado River & the desert.5 groups
  6. SalidaThe Arkansas River Valley — whitewater, the Collegiate Peaks & Browns Canyon.5 groups
  7. Teton ValleyThe quiet side of the Tetons — Grand Targhee, the Big Holes & the Teton River.5 groups
  8. BendCentral Oregon — Phil’s trails, Mt. Bachelor, Smith Rock & the Deschutes.4 groups
  9. ButteThe Mining City — the Continental Divide, the Highlands & Discovery Basin.4 groups
  10. Fort CollinsColorado State University — the Poudre River & canyon, Horsetooth & Lory.4 groups
  11. Grand JunctionColorado Mesa University — the Lunch Loops, the Colorado River & Grand Mesa.4 groups
  12. JacksonThe Tetons — Grand Teton, Snow King & the Snake River.4 groups
  13. LanderThe Wind River Range — Sinks Canyon, Wild Iris & NOLS.4 groups
  14. McCallPayette Lake — Brundage, Tamarack, Ponderosa State Park & Central Idaho.4 groups
  15. Park CityThe Wasatch Back — Mountain Trails singletrack, the Utah Olympic Park & world-class Nordic.4 groups

The 15 towns where we track the most recurring mountain biking groups (of 62 with any) — a proxy for how active the local scene is, not a verdict on the terrain or trails. New towns and groups are added regularly, and many listings still need a verification pass.