The year 2025 was a landmark year for an enthusiastic mountain biker, who not only shattered personal mileage records but also embarked on an epic journey across eight countries and twelve North American states/provinces. This extensive travel led to the discovery of numerous exceptional trails, pushing boundaries and redefining personal limits. Despite facing setbacks such as injuries, the dedication to exploring new terrain remained unwavering, culminating in a collection of unforgettable riding experiences that spanned technical challenges, flowing descents, and breathtaking natural beauty. This retrospective aims to inspire other riders by showcasing the pinnacle of these newly explored paths, alongside a nod to beloved routes revisited.
The year kicked off with a personal goal to cover 5,000 miles across various activities, a target that was impressively exceeded by mid-October, finishing with a grand total of 6,282 miles. A significant portion of this achievement, 2,413 miles, was dedicated to mountain biking, complemented by 2,535 miles on a gravel bike. This remarkable progress, an increase of over 2,000 miles from the previous year, truly embodied the spirit of overcoming perceived limitations. Even with physical challenges like a knee injury from backpacking in August and a subsequent knee strain from a fall in Moab in October, the rider maintained an impressive pace, making 2025 the most accomplished riding year to date.
Among the standout new trails, Sentiers du Moulin in Lac-Beauport, Quebec, offered a world-class experience, despite ending with a challenging crash. Its demanding rock slabs and technical features like the new Saga trail and the renowned Slab City, combined with flowing sections like Super G, established it as one of the finest trail systems ever ridden. Another highlight was Bear Creek in Silverton, Colorado, a remote and rugged descent in the San Juan Mountains, appreciated for its technical demands and stunning vistas, which the rider enjoyed twice.
New Zealand's Whakarewarewa Forest in Rotorua, initially approached with modest expectations, proved to be an unexpected treasure. The Tuteata segment, a grade-four technical descent, captivated with its mix of steep sections, root webs, drops, and natural jumps, offering an exhilarating blend of speed, flow, and challenge that warranted multiple returns. Similarly, the Octopus to Kraken combination in Vallee Bras-du-Nord, Saint-Raymond, Quebec, was heralded as potentially the best intermediate flow trail globally. Its emphasis on speed, flow, rollers, berms, and hips, rather than just jumps, provided an unparalleled riding experience.
Mount Peg in Woodstock, Vermont, stood out for its comprehensive network blending technical features with flowing trails. Specific segments like Schist Creek for technical prowess and Sir Bermsalot for flow and jumps offered a diverse riding environment. Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in Jasper, Arkansas, presented an incredible new development with challenging, rocky trails that felt like an engaging mountain biking video game. Dutch Creek in Durango, Colorado, another local gem, rewarded the climb up Jones Creek with black dirt and flowing singletrack, interspersed with technical features made even more challenging by moto traffic. Mount Nebo State Park in Russellville, Arkansas, though lacking a single dominant segment, collectively offered long downhills, excellent flow, technical rock features, expansive views, and convenient camp-and-ride facilities, making it a highly desirable destination.
Hiawatha Highlands in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, impressed with over 40 miles of purpose-built singletrack. Technical favorites included Mile High Club, Headbanger, and Slippery When Wet, characterized by steep rock slab rolls and root webs, while the flowy Soonami provided sheer fun. Pad Religion at Empire 47, Lac-Delage, Quebec, delivered maximum challenge with its black diamond technical downhill, featuring relentless rock gardens, slippery root webs, and steep rock slab rolls. Te Poaka, also in Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua, New Zealand, while an easier intermediate flow trail, charmed with its massive berms and engaging ride, proving that enjoyment doesn't always necessitate extreme difficulty. Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Little Rock, Arkansas, with its Twistflower and Turkey Tracks trails, offered an entertaining mix of lines through boulder fields, high-speed sections, and fun drops.
Further explorations included a 37-mile section of the Arizona Trail from Oak Tree Canyon to Casa Blanca, Patagonia, Arizona, lauded for its stunning terrain, well-constructed trail tread, and historical sites, with ongoing developments promising future enhancements. PJ Party, part of the new Cliffrose Trails in St. George, Utah, was celebrated for its diverse blend of demanding black diamond segments, speed, flow, and berms. Lastly, the Black Bear and Moose Haven trails at Kingdom Trails, Vermont, provided another intermediate flow trail experience filled with grins, offering small doubles, step-downs, and a rock drop for air. Even the objectively challenging Big Lick in Durango, Colorado, despite its remoteness and rough conditions, offered breathtaking scenery and the rewarding experience of completing a demanding backcountry loop, solidifying its place among the year's memorable rides.
This year's exploration underscores the profound satisfaction derived from discovering new trails and pushing personal limits, transforming challenging landscapes into exhilarating adventures.