Hey Guy's - Started building my new mountain bike. Planning some weekend getaways for some camping and biking adventures. Ideally, I'd like to be able to land, setup camp, and go explore on the bike. I fly out of Denver. Moab is obviously on the list (the airport is closed there for a while, so any alternates).

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Jim

Escalante comes to mind first. Best airport camping in Utah.

Rich

Nod to stol_iceland on instagram.

-DP

Mckenzie Bridge in Central Oregon is a great little state maintained strip with decent underwing camping and access to some of the finest singletrack in existence.

The Mckenzie River Trail is world class riding. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/212960 ... -trail-mrt

If you are ambitious, you can also ride the Oleary loop. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/338706 ... -imba-epic

King's Castle is also an incredible ride. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/598986 ... ock-summit

The territory in which these rides exist is very scenic as well.

The latter two rides will require some pavement time, but there are local shuttles that you could arrange to pick you up.

This is my back yard, so let me know if you make it out this way and I'll fly over and meet up for a ride.

I'm going to toot my local horn here-- not only do we have some amazing flying, Squamish has world-class mountain biking. Like Moab, but very different terrain. Enduro/X-country is our local specialty but Whistler Mountain is only 30 miles away and they have some pretty insane downhill stuff plus a plethora of good enduro/xc riding.

Lots of it on Youtube. Google 'Half Nelson, Squamish' and go for a ridealong, that is our backyard ride.

It is worth crossing the border. Super friendly airport and great destinations nearby.

Send a PM if you are coming, we'd love to host.

2O3. Angwin-Parrett . Quite a few options from easy to strenuous and great scenery.


1Q5 - Gravelly Valley easy riding, good camping & a lake to boot!

Right on Guy's! This is exactly what I was looking for! Please keep the ideas coming!

Jim

Jim,
World class riding in your own back yard. Google "Del Norte Mountain biking" you will see what I mean.
Find the BLM Penitente map. The Southernmost trails end up at La Garita Creek Ranch (5CO6). Fly in, camp or rent a cabin from Mike.
For the other trails South of Del Norte, fly into RCV and use the new airport van, keys above the visor.
Kristi Mountain sports new in town to cater to the MTB crowd. You can rent bikes there by the day if not enough room in the airplane.
Holler if you want to go check it out.
Tom

Check out 4S2 Hood River. We've got some awesome mountain biking here. Post Canyon being one of the many great trails



You could technically ride your bike from the airport to the trail head in about 20 minutes, or take the courtesy car.

Great thread!

I also appreciate the suggestions!

Doc will be following this thread for sure.

Scolopax wrote:Mckenzie Bridge in Central Oregon is a great little state maintained strip with decent underwing camping and access to some of the finest singletrack in existence.

The Mckenzie River Trail is world class riding. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/212960 ... -trail-mrt

If you are ambitious, you can also ride the Oleary loop. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/338706 ... -imba-epic

King's Castle is also an incredible ride. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/598986 ... ock-summit

The territory in which these rides exist is very scenic as well.

The latter two rides will require some pavement time, but there are local shuttles that you could arrange to pick you up.

This is my back yard, so let me know if you make it out this way and I'll fly over and meet up for a ride.

Those looik like great rides and semi close to where I live.

I see they are all out and back, even the 'loop'

How far are the start points from the airstrip?

What's camping on the field like?

What's the strip like?

Mountain Doctor wrote:

Scolopax wrote:Mckenzie Bridge in Central Oregon is a great little state maintained strip with decent underwing camping and access to some of the finest singletrack in existence.

The Mckenzie River Trail is world class riding. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/212960 ... -trail-mrt

If you are ambitious, you can also ride the Oleary loop. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/338706 ... -imba-epic

King's Castle is also an incredible ride. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/598986 ... ock-summit

The territory in which these rides exist is very scenic as well.

The latter two rides will require some pavement time, but there are local shuttles that you could arrange to pick you up.

This is my back yard, so let me know if you make it out this way and I'll fly over and meet up for a ride.

Those looik like great rides and semi close to where I live.

I see they are all out and back, even the 'loop'

How far are the start points from the airstrip?

What's camping on the field like?

What's the strip like?

You can get on the Mckenzie river trail about 1/4 mile from the strip. The other two rides require about 4-5 miles on pavement each way, and are already big rides without the pavement. There are shuttle companies in the area.

The camping at the strip is not much more than your tent next to your plane and a pit toilet. There is a really nice drive in campground several hundred yards away with improved sites right on the river. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willame ... recid=4380

There are also hot springs in the area, both improved and unimproved.

The strip is a one way grass strip that is plenty long, but the surface is not very smooth. I think that there are rodents that have burrowed tunnels through the ground which causes some roughness. I saw a guy land a Bonanza in there once and he said that he wouldn't have landed there if he knew that it was that rough. I would think that an aft loaded 172/182 would do fine, but not sure.

J:

I am kind of partial, but lots of choice in NM:

1. Gila National Forest. Pic above is Negrito (0NM7). Also have Me Own (1NM0) and Beaverhead (13NM) and Double Circle (Z66). Double Circle is just over the border in AZ and is in the Tonto National Forest. All strips are great strips with lots of forest service roads and trails to keep you busy. I especially like Negrito as it gets very little visitors, has tremendous wildlife and visually really beautiful!!

2. Grant Besley Airfield (NM03). That is real close to some of the southern Colo strips mentioned above, so would be good addon if you are going there. Real close to the Rio Grand Gorge. If you are a fisherman, there is a trail from the rim to the river below. Long hike but great fishing if you go!

Good Luck!! L

I think it really depends on what you like to do on a bike. I lived in Garden Valley, ID for about ten years and it was some of the finest mountain biking I've ever experienced...abandoned logging roads that you could easily make a 100 mile loop out of, and a different one the next day, and the next, and the next...

On the other hand I think the mountain biking in Moab sucks. It's great hiking, but I'd rather go to work than bike any of it.

Obviously a few people feel otherwise...so what do you like to do on a bike?

flynbeekeeper wrote:Jim,
World class riding in your own back yard. Google "Del Norte Mountain biking" you will see what I mean.
Find the BLM Penitente map. The Southernmost trails end up at La Garita Creek Ranch (5CO6). Fly in, camp or rent a cabin from Mike.
For the other trails South of Del Norte, fly into RCV and use the new airport van, keys above the visor.
Kristi Mountain sports new in town to cater to the MTB crowd. You can rent bikes there by the day if not enough room in the airplane.
Holler if you want to go check it out.
Tom

Hey Tom - I've ridden that whole area and love it! Mike's a great guy (His son and I used to work together). Just looking for some new places!

Jim

Logan UT, Pocatello, ID, Helena MT, all have established trail systems near the airport.

For more off the beaten path dirt road rides: Copper Basin, Mackay (old mine area west of town) Upper Loon Creek (pictured), and just about any small Idaho town near a mountain range you can find interesting trails and roads. I rode 26 miles at Loon and saw one pickup truck the entire ride.

I should mention McCall, ID has an excellent network of trails for road biking and mountain biking close to the airport. Not back country flying but nice place nontheless.

They have bikes you can borrow/rent. Not the usual BSO drek either, there were some carbon fiber 5200 class Treks in there.

Not an epic loop there is some riding at the SW end of the Hubbard Airstrip I've been thinking about checking out some time
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/7018127

The (now private) airport in Crested Butte is an option. There's a separate thread about access but last time I called the owner he was alright with anyone landing there but asked for a landing fee. His number is on airnav. There are few VRBO's nearby all within range of great riding. The bus is close and there are Mtn Bike shuttle companies too.

South of Creede:
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/964239

Tons of great rides next to the airports in Aspen and Telluride.

As for backcountry strips with great riding in Colorado I'd love to hear more ideas...

scottnt wrote:Check out 4S2 Hood River. We've got some awesome mountain biking here. Post Canyon being one of the many great trails

You could technically ride your bike from the airport to the trail head in about 20 minutes, or take the courtesy car.

Ok when are we going
Need to go ride those trails and its not far from me.

Also Mackenzie river.

To the OP
Telluride has some nice riding, also lake Tahoe, one of the best riding I have ever experienced.
Washington has some great fly and rides
Ranger Creek, strip 300 meters from 25 miles of great single track, Anacortes/Orcas islands/Bremerton/Tieton/Bellingham all those places great riding and you can fly to/

Here is one trip I did last year, flying to ride is awesome.

BazzLow wrote:As for backcountry strips with great riding in Colorado I'd love to hear more ideas...

La Garita Creek Ranch (http://flycolorado.org/index.php/airstr ... ita-creek/) boarders BLM and Penitente Canyon which has some great mtb trails.
https://www.singletracks.com/bike-trail ... anyon.html

Mack Mesa is has plenty of singletrack options in the area.

Marble is another one that comes to mind with lots of FS roads east of town. Not sure about singletrack options.