Hit the Dirt

Every month mountain bike magazines breathlessly turn out articles entitled "The 10 Best Trails." But the reality is that there are great trails in every corner of the country, from in-city rides to the most solitary treks through national forest land. Do a little research at your local bike store and you'll find plenty of great rides close to home. The www.mtbr.com website offers a good ride guide with 13,000 trail reviews on 3,300 trails around the world. Here are a few good rides to get you started:

Trail #403, Crested Butte, Colorado

Don't let the name fool you, this trail offers spectacular alpine scenery, ghostly old mining towns and lots of wildflowers along its 26-mile loop, which starts right out of town. Be prepared for a long 2,500-foot climb soon after you start, and wild switchbacks on the way back. It's worth braving the thin air for the amazing views of Avery Peak from the top of Washington Gulch, a major drainage for the area.

Ride north out of town on Gothic Road. Turn left on Washington Gulch, the second dirt road on your left. The road soon turns uphill; climb past the Meridan Lake development and through the old mining town of Elkton. The road gets steeper, but after a sharp switchback to the left, the road begins to top out; look for a single-track trail to your right - this is #403. The twisting single-track will snake back down the valley, through the Gothic Campground and onto Gothic Road; turn right and head back toward the town of Gothic and Crested Butte for an easy nine-mile downhill spin.

Adjust to the thin air, or warm up with an easy ride along the 15-mile Slate River Road, a mostly flat ride that twists through meadows and reaches incredible views of the Paradise Divide. For more details: call The Alpineer (mountain bike shop) in Crested Butte at 800-223-4655.

Fisher Creek Trail, Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho

Just outside of Ketchum, Idaho, the snow-capped Sawtooth Range juts into the clouds, and five rolling rivers host native runs of salmon and steelhead. The mountain biking on single and double tracks offer plenty of breathtaking scenery and good climbs.

From Twin Falls, Idaho, drive north on Highway 75 past Ketchum, and over Galena Summit. Continue north to Fisher Creek Road and park in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area lot. The 18-mile loop trail gets going with a stiff climb up Fisher Creek Road from the parking area; the twisting single-track and great scenery at the top is well worth the 1,500-foot elevation gain. Find good camping along the Big Wood River, and visit the nearby natural hot springs for post-ride relaxation. For more details: call the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in Ketchum at 208-774-3000.

Edge Loop Ride, Fruita, Colorado

Fruita offers drastically different riding terrain than Crested Butte, with dry trails that slink along through canyons, cliffs, and ridges - all offering amazing views. From the parking lot this 30-mile loop ride takes riders past huge bookcliffs and hits single-track, double-track, fire roads, rolling, steep downhill terrain, and a roped waterfall - in short, a bit of everything in southwest Colorado.

This trail has lots of technical single-track and elevation gain (2,500 feet), so plan on a five-hour ride. Riders converge on Fruita every April for the annual Fat Tire Festival. Note: This ride is complicated and shouldn't be attempted without a trail map, which is available at Over the Edge Sports.

Take Exit 19 off I-70 into Fruita and turn right on Aspen; turn left on Maple (which becomes 17.5 Rd once you pass the Mormon church). Go right on N.3 Rd, left on 18 Rd and follow it to the Bookcliffs and the parking area - where you can pick up the trail on the local map, or find a riding partner. For more details: call Over the Edge Sports at 800-873-3068, or visit their website - www.gj.net/~edge.

Fletcher Creek/ Trace Ridge Trail, Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina

Mossy banks slope down to gurgling creeks, and giant ferns brush your legs as you negotiate trails shaded by a thick tree canopy overhead, one that will burst into color in the fall. Although the Blue Ridge Mountains aren't as steep or sharp as mountains out west, the riding is still spectacular and the trails varied. The mild southern climate means that most areas are accessible year-round, up to 6,000-foot elevations.

Mountainside openings offer views of the rolling Blue Ridge Range, and the Great Smoky Mountains to the north; and the single-track goes on and on in the Pisgah National Forest. The riding is so great that titanium bike manufacturer Litespeed borrowed the name Pisgah for one of their mountain bike models. Asheville is the closest town, tucked into the hills on the edge of the Pisgah National Forest. Make sure to scout out the excellent brew pub and pizza place after your ride.

From Asheville, take I-26 to Exit 9. Head west on State Road 280 to State Road 1345. Turn right and drive approximately five miles to the North Mills River Campground and park. Ride up Wash Creek Road; from the Trace Ridge parking lot, take the double-track to the right. At the top of the steep climb, catch the Spencer Branch trail on the left - a long, technical descent. Ride down until you hit the Fletcher Creek Trail, then take Forest Road 142 back to the Trace Ridge trailhead. Pisgah National Forest has lots of trails, most of which are clearly marked. For more details: call Liberty Bikes in Asheville at 800-YO-BIKES, or visit their website - www.libertybikes.com.