Mountain Bike Festivals 2020
This week I am going to share with you some of the top Mountain Bike Festivals across the U.S. Of course, there's always a debate about which festival is better, and each region/state and mountain biker will have their own opinion. For me, the best festival events have epic trails with rideable options for all skill levels, great camping, other activities for family members or non MTBers, and great food and beer. So, let’s get to it.
Let's start with DirtFest in PA, one of my favorite festivals hosted by Dirt Rag Magazine. This event takes place at Raystown Lake in Central PA and brings together an amazing set of trails, camping options on the lake, skills clinics for all ages and genders, pump track, and pretty decent food options. One of the best parts of DirtFest is the 40 miles of trails. They are fast, flowy, and fun. The venue offers lots of test ride options from the top name brands, group rides, live music, lots of local beer options, and some great deals on swag and accessories. For those who want to explore outside the main venue, there are plenty of ride options you can hit on the way in or heading out from DirtFest weekend. This year DirtFest will be held May 15–17, 2020. If you hope to camp, I’d sign up soon as the spots fill up quickly. See you there!
Ozark Mountain Bike Festival, AK
The Ozark Mountain Bike Festival is held at Devil's Den State Park and offers a blend of double and single track trails that flow through the Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains — and are considered by many to be the best MTB trails in the state (though the folks in Bentonville may disagree). For three decades, riders have gathered at Devil’s Den to ride the famous Fossil Flats Trail. There are night rides on Friday and a Saturday evening cookout with camping available at the state park for festival goers. Expect the event to be held over the first weekend in April this year.
Piney Hills Classic Mountain Bike Festival, LA
Keeping on the southern theme, if you want to see what Louisiana has to offer in the way of MTB riding, check out the 28th annual Piney Hills Classic Mountain Bike Festival held in Ruston, LA. The trails in Northern Louisiana, once designated a “NORBA Classic” years ago, are home to a XC race over the festival weekend. If you are not into the race scene, the variety and quality of trails are worth your time. Piney Hills is scheduled for September 19–20 this year.
For those who want a taste of the best that central Colorado has to offer, there's the Salida Bike Fest. This festival is a bit different than the others because the area offers several companion events held over the same weekend. There’s the Banana Belt Mountain Bike Race, a 25-mile course that starts in Salida, heads up the mountain hitting some of the best single track around, and finishes just across the F Street bridge in Salida. For those not in the race mode, you have the option of the Monarch Crest Crank, a 25 mile ride up the famed Monarch Crest Trail. Held on the last day of the Salida Bike Fest, this fundraising event costs $85 and includes shuttle, guide, and a post-ride party with all proceeds going to The Alliance. The festival also hosts a Soul Ride, where riders bike through the Soulcraft Brewery and downtown to the local bike shops to collect tokens to exchange later for free beer and live music. The Salida MTB Fest is September 19–20 this year.
NEMBAfest, VT
In its 12th year, the NEMBAfest is a locals delight. It features all the things we love about MTB festivals: trails, food, music, and it is held at New England’s famous Kingdom trail. NEMBAFest is the largest MTB festival in the Northeast, and the Kingdom trails boast more than 100+ miles of diverse trails for all skill levels. Bike Magazine considers this to be the best trail network in North America. Featuring group rides, skills clinics, and shuttles to the best trails, you won’t need your car or to constantly refer to a map (unless you venture out solo), so those from out of town will have a chance to see what the locals love about the Vermont summer — mountain biking these amazing trails (though many Vermonters MTB year around). Camping is available adjacent the expo area, and the entire expo area is a beer garden! NEMBAfest is June 26–28 this year.
Tahoe Mountain Bike and Brew Festival, CA
For you West Coasters or those who enjoy traveling to a festival, the Tahoe Mountain Bike and Brew Festival will not disappoint. Most are already familiar with Lake Tahoe as a great place to ski (hosting the 1960 Winter Olympics), and Lake Tahoe is also a great place to ride with lots of terrain and trail options. There’s the epic 165-mile loop trail around the lake that feature some of the more scenic views you can find on an epic ride. Tahoe Mountain Bike and Brew Festival will be held in Meyers, CA June 22–23. Depending on the snowpack melt, the festival plans to again feature the Tahoe Triple Crown ride option the day prior where you can ride 30 miles along Lake Tahoe’s South Shore, climb 3 peaks and 5200’ of elevation. On Sunday, they are offering shuttles and group rides at the Corral Trail, which has a variety of trails for all ability levels.
Virginia Trail Festival, VA
If you’re looking for something to do over Memorial Day Weekend, you must check out the Virginia Mountain Bike Festival held at the Stokesville Campground, just outside of Harrisonburg, VA. The campsite is also the venue for the Shenandoah 100, held every year over Labor Day weekend. Owned and operated by a local rider, the campground is the perfect location to host a MTB event. Extensive trail building over the last few years has given festival goers easy access to the amazing 150+ miles of trails in the George Washington National Forest. Fun and challenging climbs and descents like the Narrowback loop will not disappoint. The event features a potluck dinner, night rides, and star gazing at the onsite Observatory. For those who want a mellow, family friendly MTB weekend in the mountains, this event might be just for you. Note: There's also a Shenandoah Mountain Bike Festival in mid-October, also held at Stokesville.
The Sedona MTB Festival is a great early season event (March 6–8) that offers riders some of the most majestic views of the Southwest and the distinctive red soil. As one of the early season events, the expo includes all the top brands so festival goers can see the latest gear and ride demo bikes. The early season also allows many of the top pro riders to lead group rides on behalf of their sponsors, so if you want to rub elbows and ride with the best, this might be your chance. The Sedona Festival has a packed schedule of events and includes shuttle rides to the best trails in the area. And of course, Sedona offers clear, sunny skies with highs in the mid-60s when much of the country is still pushing through their winter riding season.
Up in the Pacific Northwest the festival to attend is Mountain Bike Oregon. Called one of the best MTB festivals by Outside Magazine, MTB Oregon takes place in the foothills of the central Cascade Mountains, an area filled with old growth forests, mountain meadows, creeks, and waterfalls. Camping is available along the banks of the beautiful Willamette River, and the hundreds of miles of single track will have you wanting more. Registration includes free local beer and wine, breakfast, and lunch. MTB Oregon is scheduled for July 17–19.
Finally, for those ladies who only want to ride with other ladies, check out the two options provided by RoamFest: Brevard, NC in early May and Sedona, AZ in Nov. Roam Fest 2020 is touted as the world's biggest woman's MTB festival and offers festival goers demo rides, catered dinner Saturday night, Screening of an all-ladies film festival, and of course, access to some of the greatest MTB trails around.
2020 has lots of options when it comes to MTB Festivals, I hope your calendar wish list is getting full. See you on the trails!
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