Chasing Hero Dirt:A Guide to America’s Year-Round MTB Hotspots

The days are getting shorter, and that first hint of autumn is in the air. The smart rider knows the end of the season isn't a surprise, it's an opportunity. Instead of dreading the inevitable, it's time to plan the next adventure. What if the end of the season was just the beginning of a new adventure? For riders willing to chase the dirt, there are zones across the U.S. where the singletrack stays prime all year long.

It’s hard to beat the scene in Sedona. You’re ripping through iconic red rock landscapes that look like they’re straight off a postcard. The mild winter temps make it a go-to for anyone escaping the snow. This is the perfect time to tackle bucket-list trails like the technically demanding Hiline or the ridiculously exposed Hangover trail without battling scorching summer heat. The grippy slickrock is a unique experience, giving you traction you can trust while you focus on the line through some of the most stunning terrain on earth.

Moab gets all the hype, but the real ones know that southwestern Utah is where it’s at in the winter. Hurricane, home to the Redbull Rampage, is a full-on paradise with jaw-dropping views of Zion National Park in the distance. The must-ride here is Gooseberry Mesa, a maze of world-class slickrock that will test your line-finding skills and reward you with unreal vistas. If you’re looking for something with a bit more flow, the JEM Trails offer miles of fast, ripping singletrack that will have you grinning from ear to ear.

Explore the full men's roster for the 2025 Red Bull Rampage here.

If classic, rugged desert riding is what you're after, the Sonoran Desert is your sanctuary. Both Phoenix and Tucson are stacked with trails that weave through seas of iconic saguaro cacti and over chunky, rock-armored terrain. In Phoenix, South Mountain Park is a sprawling playground with everything from technical, leg-burning climbs to full-throttle descents. Down in Tucson, the 50-Year Trail serves up a mix of everything that makes desert riding great. The mild, sunny winters are a lock for perfect conditions when the rest of the country is frozen solid.

Yeah, you read that right, Arkansas. Bentonville has blown up to become the self-proclaimed "Mountain Biking Capital of the World," and for good reason. They’ve poured a staggering amount of resources into building a world-class, year-round trail network. While it gets chilly, the dirt is often good to go. You can find everything here, from the machine-built flow and features of Slaughter Pen right in town to the massive jump lines and technical rock sections at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. This place is a testament to what a community dedicated to bikes can build.

Looking to get your gravity fix in January? Head to Texas. The Hill Country offers a completely different vibe, and its crown jewel is Spider Mountain Bike Park. It’s the only year-round, lift-serviced bike park in the country, meaning you can hammer out downhill laps while your buddies back home are shoveling snow. It's a game-changer for anyone who lives for the descent. Beyond the park, the region’s network of cross-country trails is constantly expanding, giving you plenty of options to earn your turns in the mild Texas winter.

While the Sierras are buried under feet of snow, the California coast is a rider’s dream. The temperate climate means you can legitimately ride in shorts and a t-shirt in the middle of February. From the legendary redwood forests of Santa Cruz, with its loamy soil and steep chutes, down to the dry, chaparral-covered hills of Southern California, the options are endless. There's nothing quite like ripping a tacky trail with a view of the Pacific Ocean to make you forget winter even exists.

So before you surrender to winter and hang up the helmet for the year, load up the rig and point it towards one of these year-round MTB hotspots. The end of your local season is the perfect excuse to explore new dirt, dial in your skills, and keep the ride going. The season is only over if you let it be.