High in the Andes: where life expectancy struggles at just 35 years
Trail: Kingdom Trails, East Burke
Considered the best mountain bike trail network in the country, these trails range from beginner to expert and total about 35 miles (56 km).
Trail: Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville to Brevard
Stretching from Virginia to North Carolina, this entire 400-mile (643 km) route offers gorgeous scenery.
Trail: Virginia Creeper Trail, Abingdon to Whitetop
A beginner-friendly bike route, the Virginia Creeper Trail is a 35-mile (56 km) multipurpose rail trail.
Trail: Deep Step Trail, Clarks Hills
Tucked between the Savannah River and the Smoky Mountain Range, mountain bikers of all skill levels will love exploring this 37-mile (59 km) trail.
Trail: South Boundary Trail, Angel Fire to Taos
Topping out at over 10,000 feet (3,048 m), this challenging 23-mile (37 km) singletrack route offers scenic views of Taos and the surrounding mountains.
Trail: Going-to-the-Sun Road, West Glacier to St. Mary
With breathtaking views of mountains and glacial lakes, bikers share the road with cars on the 50-mile (80 km) stretch from the park's west entrance to Logan Pass.
Trail: Carriage Trails, Acadia National Park
With 46 miles (72 km) of hard-packed gravel roads, this car-free bike path has waterfalls, stone bridges, and coastal views.
Trail: Bald Mountain, Sun Valley
With nearly 400 miles (643 km) of singletrack trail, National Geographic named Sun Valley one of the best mountain biking towns. Plus, its 30 miles (48 km) of paved paths make it a great place for road cyclists, too.
Trail: High Trestle Trail
Famous for its High Trestle bridge, complete with a rail-trail art installation, this unique 25-mile (40 km) trail attracts lots of visitors.
Trail: Flint Hills Nature Trail, Osawatomie to Herrington
The longest rail-trial in Kansas, this 117-mile (188 km) route passes through five counties while crisscrossing the Flint Hills.
Trails: Bicycle Route 1, Montchanin to Fenwick Island
Bike from one end of the state to the other on this scenic route. The entire route stretches 150 miles (241 km) from the Pennsylvania border to Maryland.
Trail: Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail, Jacksonville to Baldwin
This popular 14.5-mile (23 km) paved asphalt trail gets you away from the noisy city and deep into the woods.
Trail: Trail 401, Crested Butte
The birthplace of mountain biking, the town of Crested Butte is truly a nature-lover's paradise.
Trail: Arkansas River Trail System, Little Rock area
A favorite amongst locals and tourists, this 88-mile (141 km) loop connects 38 parks, six museums, and countless gorgeous views of the Arkansas River.
Trail: Fantasy Island Mountain Bike Trail, Tucson
Small hills and varied terrain throughout this 20-plus mile (32km) trail make it great for all skill levels.
Trail: Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, Anchorage
This 11-mile (17 km) stretch of paved, car-free road takes you through scented forests with sweeping views of North America's highest peak, Mount Denali.
Trails: Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham
The park's 22-mile (35 km) Double Oak Trail is also known as the Red Tail. Its terrain is varied enough for any mountain biker, beginner or advanced.
Trail: Greenbrier River Trail, North Caldwell to Cass
One of the best ways to see the Appalachian Mountains, this 78-mile (125 km) rail trail runs along the picturesque Greenbrier River.
Trail: Rock Lake Epic, Namakagon area
Both intermediate and advanced bikers will enjoy this 27-mile (43 km) ride, filled with twists and turns, and pure wilderness.
Trail: Continental Divide Mountain Biking Trail, Pinedale area
This nearly 3,000-mile (4,828 km) trail runs from Canada to New Mexico, but according to many, the prettiest alpine ridge is in the Cowboy State. While the views are breathtaking, the trail is challenging and remote.
Sources: (Health) (Reader's Digest) (Business Insider)
See also: Cycling culture around the world
Trail: George S. Mickelson Trail, Deadwood to Edgemont
Featuring forests, prairie lands, and rugged mountain terrain, this 109-mile (175 km) rail trail passes near Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial.
Trail: Willow City Loop, Fredericksburg area
In the spring and early summer, the meadows are filled with colorful bluebonnets and other wildflowers along this popular 55-mile (88 km) loop.
Trail: Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, Athens to Nelsonville
Ride over more than 20 miles (32 km) of paved trails along the Hocking River, through woods and countryside.
Trail: Great Allegheny Passage, Pittsburgh to the Maryland border
Combined with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, this trail travels more than 330 miles (531 km) from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.
Trail: White Oak Mountain Biology Trails, Collegedale
Including amazing views of the Oolteway Valley, this 15-mile (25 km) system of mountain bike trails is located on the Southern Adventist University campus and maintained by the school's biology department.
Trail: Willamette River Loop, Portland
Often considered America's best biking town, Portland offers this 30-mile (48 km) loop, crossing several of the city's iconic bridges.
Trail: East Bay Bike Path, Providence to Bristol
With its gorgeous bay and river views, this 14-mile (22 km) path is car-free and easy to ride.
Trail: Oklahoma River Trails, Oklahoma City
One of the best bike trails in the country, this 13-mile (20 km) paved trail doesn't have a single stop sign or traffic light. In fact, it actually travels over or underneath all the cross streets.
Trail: The Whole Enchilada, Moab
This challenging 33-mile (53 km) route combines four popular trails, Burro Pass, Hazard Country, Kokopelli Trail, and Porcupine, and runs almost entirely downhill.
Trail: Erie Canalway Trail, Albany to Buffalo
Stretching for 360 miles (579 km), about a third of this trail is built on former railroad tracks offering a mostly smooth and level ride for cyclists of all levels
Trail: Maah Daah Hey Trail, Watford City to Medora
This 97-mile (156 km) multi-use trail showcases the true beauty of the state's badlands, buttes, and prairies.
Trail: Island Beach State Park
Located on a barrier island just south of Seaside, the park's eight-mile (12 km) road with bike lanes in both directions leads to views of the Barnegat Lighthouse, on the tip of Long Beach Island.
Trail: Tahoe Rim Trail, Lake Tahoe
With more than 4,000 feet (1,219 m) of elevation gain, this scenic and challenging trail has a 72-mile (115 km) or a 100-mile (160 km) loop.
Trail: Franconia Notch State Park, Franconia to Lincoln
The nine miles (14 km) of dedicated pedestrian-and-bike path in this state park are family-friendly and great for all bike types (and skill levels).
Trail: Cowboy Trail, Norfolk to Valentine
Generally considered a moderately challenging route, discover this nearly 200-mile (321 km) trail developed for bike use.
Trail: Natchez Trace Parkway, Natchez to Tupelo
The Natchez Trace Parkway travels 444 miles (714 km) from Mississippi to Tennessee, with the entire route being a National Park Service bike route.
Trail: Cape Ann Loop, Gloucester and Rockport
Less than an hour's drive from Boston, you'll find the coast of Massachusetts's North Shore. There, you can choose from a 10-mile, 14-mile, or 16-mile (16, 22, or 25 km) loop.
Trail: Katy Trail, Clinton to St. Charles
One of the longest rail-trails in the country, this route runs 225 miles (362 km) across the entire state.
Trail: Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, Empire to Port Oneida
Running about 20 miles (32 km), the paved, multi-use trail passes through Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and provides great views of Lake Michigan.
Trail: Land Between the Lakes Canal Loop, Golden Pond
On an inland peninsula wedged between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, bikers can take the Canal Loop Trail for an 11-mile (17 km) ride.
Trail: The Delmarva Peninsula, Easton area
One of the best cycling routes in America, this 50-mile (80 km) trail is filled with fields, small towns, coves, and beautiful rivers.
Trail: Root River State Trail, Fountain to Houston
Made for bikers, you'll cross dozens of bridges and pass six bike tune-up stations along this 42-mile (67 km) paved trail.
Trail: Mississippi River Trail, New Orleans to St. Charles Parish
Also known as the Levee-Top Trail, this 60-mile (96 km) system of car-free trails runs along both banks of the Mississippi River.
Trail: Cardinal Greenway, Marion to Richmond
The longest bike trail in Indiana, Cardinal Greenway spans 62 miles (99 km) through small towns, spacious skies, and fruited plains.
Trail: Illinois Prairie Path, Maywood to the Fox River
This 61-mile (98 km) multi-use trail takes you through prairies, ponds, wetlands, and forests. It also passes the towns of the towns of Elgin, Aurora, Geneva, and Batavia.
Trail: Old Mamaloa Highway to Waipio Valley Overlook, Big Island
This 40-mile (64 km) trail features views of the Mauna Kea volcano, the Kohala Mountains, and the Waipio Valley.
Trail: American River Bike Trail, Sacramento to Folsom
Running from Discovery Park in Old Sacramento to the historic Folsom Prison, this trail is one of the best car-free bike paths in the country.
Trail: Litchfield Hills B&B Bike Trails, North Canaan to Woodbury
Rated moderate to difficult, this is one of eight Connecticut B&B Bike Trails (all with bed-and-breakfasts along the way).
Trail: Jekyll Island
One of the country's best coastal bike trails, this 16-mile (25 km) loop runs beside the beach on a mostly paved, flat path.
Trail: San Juan Islands
This Pacific Northwest archipelago has something for every level of cyclist, such as the Lopez Island for beginners, or the Orcas Island for experienced cyclists.
The US is a remarkably huge country, with some parts being famous for their wide-open spaces, while others take pride in their mountains or coastal views. But no matter what a state's best features are, the best way to explore them is on a bike. Not only is biking a great way to see the sights, but it also presents incredible health benefits and a good workout. It's a form of aerobic activity that has been shown to boost heart health and cardiovascular function.
So, if you're looking for a new trail to explore, click on for the best bike trails in each US state.
The best bike trails in each US state
These are some of the top cycling routes in every state
TRAVEL United states
The US is a remarkably huge country, with some parts being famous for their wide-open spaces, while others take pride in their mountains or coastal views. But no matter what a state's best features are, the best way to explore them is on a bike. Not only is biking a great way to see the sights, but it also presents incredible health benefits and a good workout. It's a form of aerobic activity that has been shown to boost heart health and cardiovascular function.
So, if you're looking for a new trail to explore, click on for the best bike trails in each US state.