IMBA Epic

Photos by Stefan Eisend

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Photo: Big South Fork, image by Leslie Kehmeier.

The All 5 Ride IMBA Epic is made up of five trails the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (NRRA) in Tennessee: Collier Ridge, West Bandy, Duncan Hollow, Grand Gap and a section of the John Muir Trail. Deep forests, rocky faces and views into river gorges compliment the fun, moderate trails on this ride. The park is a prime example of the strong alliance that has been forged between the National Park Service and IMBA.

Douthat State Park (pronounced "doubt-that") is a gem in the Appalachian Mountains of south central Virginia. The park encompasses more than 4,500 acres and, in addition, is surrounded by the George Washington National Forest, offering many opportunities for backcountry exploration. Within the park boundaries, you will find over 40 miles of trails to match whatever level of challenge you choose.

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The Waldo Lake Trail is part of the Oakridge (OR) Area Ride Center. Circling its namesake lake, the beauty of the High Cascade Mountains await those who ride this challenging loop at 5,500 feet. The trails take you past rocky coves, quiet beaches, meadows, campsites and several smaller lakes and ponds.

Total Distance:
21.8 miles

Estimated Ride Time:
4-6 hours

Total Elevation Gain:
960 feet (5,440 ft to 5,700 ft)

Location:
Oakridge, OR, about 75 miles southeast of Eugene, OR

Photos by Chris Bernhardt.

One of the few iconic long-distance trails that allow mountain biking, the Colorado Trail does not disappoint. Breathtaking views (literally as the trail crests nearly 12,500’ above sea level) are secondary only to the variety of singletrack encountered — taxing passages at high altitudes are interspersed with pine-needle duff lines weaving through the sub-alpine splendor. An amazing backcountry adventure awaits the hardy souls who tackle this nearly 75-mile segment, which ends in Durango, a town with knobby-tired roots.

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For the Interstate-70 traveler, it is a 600-mile jaunt westward from Kansas City to Denver, from the edge of deciduous forest across grasslands to the base of the Rocky Mountains. Unexpectedly at about the 200-mile mark and just off the highway is a true backcountry mountain bike trail featuring diverse natural beauty and challenging trail features, complemented by lake views, sandstone formations and a trailhead with all the desirable amenities.

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Photo of Warner Lake and Tyax Air, by Jordan Manley

South Chilcotin Mountains Provincial Park (British Columbia) is a visually spectacular area with mid-elevation grasslands, sub alpine and alpine meadows, alpine lakes and mountain peaks. There are broad valleys and ridges with interconnecting trail systems. More than 120 miles of trails on 72,000 hectares weave through valleys and alpine meadows, over mountain passes and along exposed ridges, offering an excellent variety of loop trips of varying difficulty and distances for hikers, horse riders and mountain bikers.

Photo: Bangtail Divide Epic, image by BobAllenImages.

Built in 2003, the Bangtail Divide Trail (BDT) quickly became the local go-to trail for those looking for a long ride without a long drive. The BDT offers easy access to a ridgeline traverse with stellar views of multiple mountain ranges, fields of wildflowers and well-crafted singletrack sections guaranteed to satisfy.

Photo Courtesy of Dan Barham Photography.

Photo by Leslie Kehmeier.