The Skillz Loop at VASA (Traverse City, Michigan): The beginner-friendly Skillz Loop trail is about 2 miles long and is a great option for new riders and young shredders alike.
Oonah Hill (Zeehan, Tasmania): The island state of Tasmania in Australia is making a concerted effort to build new trails to attract tourism, and it seems they are not messing about. The Oonah Hill trails opened this month thanks to a quality build by Next Level Mountain Biking and a $500,000 grant.
Weed Patch at Brown County State Park (Nashville, Indiana): Already an IMBA Bronze-level Ride Center, Brown County State Park is revered among locals and tourists alike. This month, the 2.4-mile Weed Patch trail opened thanks to the efforts of the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association. From the sound of it, this is a fast, flowy trail with limited tech to worry new riders.
LINC Trail (Newnan, Georgia): MTB Atlanta, Bike Coweta, and the city of Newnan worked to get the LINC trails opened and from the looks of it, these trails are going to rip in dry conditions! The trail corridor is cleverly tucked in between residential and retail developments along a creek and close to I-85.
Young Gulch (Fort Collins, CO): Technically Young Gulch isn’t a new trail, but after being closed to bikes for 7 years, it certainly will feel new to a lot of riders. The trail was closed following the devastating High Park fire in 2012, and just as it was set to re-open after repairs, flooding in 2013 caused further significant damage, requiring another few years of work.
Chester Creek (Anchorage, AK): One would think there are more than enough trails to mountain bike in Alaska, but in cities like Anchorage locals still pine for in-town singletrack. This month new trail sections in the Chester Creek network opened, connecting new areas and neighborhoods with smooth, beginner- and kid-friendly tread.
Prairie Creek (Muncie, Indiana): The gravel and singletrack mountain bike trails at Prairie Creek haven’t had their official grand opening yet, but the work is complete. Unfortunately, winter has set in which means locals will need to wait until next year to enjoy the fruits of their labor. When opened, the trails should be suitable for beginner and intermediate riders.
St. Helens (St. Helens, Tasmania): When reading the news about the grand opening of the St. Helens trails, we thought the amount of trail dedicated — 110km — was a typo. But as we mentioned above, Tasmania is serious about mountain bike tourism and these new trails are sure to draw riders from all over the world. $3.2M was said to have been invested, which actually sounds like a bargain given the size of the trail system.
Do you know of any other new mountain bike trails that opened this month? See if they’re listed on Singletracks, and if not, add them using this form.
