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Alabama -

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. 

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Alaska -

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.

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Arizona -

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. 

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Arkansas -

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.

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California -

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. 

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Colorado -

Trail: Trail 401, Crested Butte

The birthplace of mountain biking, the town of Crested Butte is truly a nature-lover's paradise.  

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Connecticut -

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). 

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Delaware -

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.

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Florida -

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.

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Georgia -

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.

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Hawaii -

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. 

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Idaho -

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.

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Illinois -

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.

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Indiana -

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. 

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Iowa -

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. 

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Kansas -

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.

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Kentucky -

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.

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Louisiana -

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. 

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Maine -

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.

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Maryland -

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.

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Massachusetts -

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. 

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Michigan -

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.

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Minnesota -

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.

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Mississippi -

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. 

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Missouri -

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.

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Montana -

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.

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Nebraska -

Trail: Cowboy Trail, Norfolk to Valentine

Generally considered a moderately challenging route, discover this nearly 200-mile (321 km) trail developed for bike use.

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Nevada -

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. 

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New Hampshire -

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).

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New Jersey -

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.

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New Mexico -

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.

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New York -

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

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North Carolina -

Trail: Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville to Brevard

Stretching from Virginia to North Carolina, this entire 400-mile (643 km) route offers gorgeous scenery.

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North Dakota -

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.

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Ohio -

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. 

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Oklahoma -

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.

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Oregon -

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. 

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Pennsylvania -

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. 

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Rhode Island -

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. 

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South Carolina -

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.

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South Dakota -

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. 

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Tennessee -

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.

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Texas -

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. 

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Utah -

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. 

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Vermont -

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).

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Virginia -

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. 

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Washington -

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. 

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West Virginia -

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. 

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Wisconsin -

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. 

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Wyoming -

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

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