New research reveals that Vermont is the best state for mountain biking. The research by bike experts icebike.org analyzed the 50 states based on a review of multiple factors related to mountain biking to establish the best state. The study looked at the number of trails, the percentage of hilly terrain, the number of national parks, the state’s “bikeability” score — a rating from the League of American Bicyclists that includes factors such as safety, infrastructure and policies — relating to cycling.and the number of top destinations per state.
The study revealed that Vermont ranks number one as the best state for mountain biking. Aptly named the ‘Green Mountain’ state, Vermont has a total of 2,520 bike trails which equates to 402 trails per 100,000 people, the highest of any state, and 80 percent of the state has hilly terrain, second to West Virginia with 88 percent.
Utah is the second-best state for mountain biking with a total of 6,036 trails which equates to 199 trails per 100,000 people. The five national parks, a bikeability score of 66, and 65 percent hilly terrain put Utah firmly in second place.
Colorado ranks as the third-best state for mountain biking, with 6,980 trails. There are 123 trails per 100,000 people, plenty of hilly terrains (66 percent) and four national parks. With a score of 70, Colorado has one of the highest scores for bikeability.
Massachusetts and Montana also make it into the top five states for mountain biking, taking fourth and fifth, respectively.
At the other end of the scale is Nebraska, which ranks as the worst state for mountain biking, as it has only 12 trails per 100,000 of the population. Even though it has 64 percent hilly terrain, it has the lowest bikeability score of all the states at 27 and has no national parks.
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Top 10 best states for mountain biking: |
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State |
Trails per 100,000 people |
Bike-ability |
Hilly Terrain (%) |
Number of National Parks |
Number of Top Destinations |
|
1. |
Vermont |
402 |
53 |
80 |
0 |
1 |
|
2. |
Utah |
199 |
66 |
65 |
5 |
5 |
|
3. |
Colorado |
123 |
70 |
66 |
4 |
8 |
|
4. |
Massachusetts |
228 |
75 |
75 |
0 |
0 |
|
5. |
Montana |
385 |
34 |
72 |
2 |
0 |
|
6. |
New Hampshire |
269 |
40 |
80 |
0 |
1 |
|
7. |
California |
35 |
72 |
65 |
8 |
4 |
|
8. |
Oregon |
71 |
74 |
72 |
1 |
3 |
|
9. |
Washington |
93 |
73 |
75 |
3 |
0 |
|
10. |
Alaska |
145 |
35 |
67 |
8 |
0 |
A spokesperson for icebike.org said, “According to research carried out by Harvard Medical School, of all activities, cycling burns the most calories. Mountain biking, in particular, burns the same number of calories as cross-country running, so it’s a fantastic way to experience nature and stay fit and healthy.
“As a complete beginner or a seasoned pro, this research provides a comprehensive guide on which states offer the best mountain biking experience with the western US states dominating, in comparison to their more eastern neighbors.”
