The Most Beautiful Bike Trails Across The US To Add Your To Bucket List

With the rise in distracted driving making biking on the roads increasingly unsafe, avid cyclists are taking to off-road paved trails where they can pedal with less risk. But choosing trail over road offers more than just safety; some of the nation's best recreational bike trails offer stunning scenery, from the Allegheny Mountains to the Gulf Coast. 

There are literally tens of thousands of miles of paved trails all over the United States, and a single trail can be hundreds of miles long. Some trails stand out above the rest, taking you through old-growth forests and wild coastline — sometimes several ecosystems in a day — and bringing you up close and personal with wildlife. So grab some friends, hitch up your bike, and get ready to check these top cycling destinations off your bucket list.

Just outside of Portland, Oregon, the Banks-Vernonia State Trail is a multi-use trail that extends 21 miles through Washington and Columbia counties. The 8-foot-wide paved bike trail is bordered by a 4-foot-wide gravel horse trail, so bikers and hikers should be prepared to share the road with equines and their owners. 

Starting from Banks at the south end, the trail maintains a gradual rise of only 2% to 5%, making it accessible for all levels of riders. The only exception is a small stretch at the Horseshoe Trestle bypass consisting of steep switchbacks. Ride through swathes of farmland and forest, catch beautiful mountain views, and traverse rivers and streams by way of more than a dozen bridges, including Buxton Trestle. The trail has five access points, each of which has parking and restrooms. Camping and other recreational activities can be found in the connecting L.L. Stub Stewart State Park.

If you're up for a challenge, go the distance on the Great Allegheny Passage trail — all 150 miles. Extending from Cumberland, Maryland to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the trail passes through many towns along the way. You'll never be far from a pit stop, a bite to eat, or overnight lodging. The trail surface is primarily crushed limestone, except for a few paved sections. It's an easy trail, gaining a maximum of 1,767 feet with a relatively gradual rise. 

For an even longer ride, the Great Allegheny Passage connects with the C&O Canal Towpath, taking you through several towns in Maryland and West Virginia before reaching Washington, D.C. Whether you do one or both trails, you can catch Amtrak's Capitol Limited train from several of the bigger towns along the way to take you and your bike back to your starting point.

Hawaiian for "the path that goes by the coast," Ke Ala Hele Makalae hugs Kauai's eastern coast from Ahihi Point to Lydgate Park for 7.3 paved miles of ocean views for lucky bikers, hikers, and joggers. A mixture of rocky shoreline, beaches, parks, and residential areas offer opportunities for exploration and a swim along this mostly flat trail. Whales can be seen off the coast in winter, and dolphin pods in summer. Interpretive signs at frequent intervals provide details on the area's history, including its old coconut groves and pineapple plantations. 

Lydgate Park has two protected lagoons for safe swimming and snorkeling, and there are campsites for sleeping under the stars. Shops in Kapaʻa Town rent bicycles, and restaurants and facilities can be found nearby many points on the trail.

The U.S. Government, the state of Idaho, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, and the Union Pacific Railroad came together to build the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, a spectacular 73-mile multi-use trail winding through northern Idaho. Connecting the city of Mullan near the Montana border and Plummer near the Washington state border, it passes through Silver Valley, the Chain Lakes and Lake Coeur d'Alene areas, Heyburn State Park, and the Palouse Prairie. Along the way, riders have the opportunity to explore several small towns, including historic Wallace and Harrison.

The trail is also a great place to spot some of Idaho's diverse wildlife, including moose, white-tailed deer, elk, coyotes, river otters, beavers, and muskrats. One of the most popular sections is between Harrison and Heyburn, where the trail traces the Lake Coeur d'Alene shoreline, then traverses the 3,100-foot-long historic Chatcolet Bridge constructed in 1921. The bridge ends at Heyburn State Park, where you can hike, boat, swim, and camp or rent a cottage or cabin.

Clocking in at just under 240 miles, the Katy Trail in Missouri is the longest recreational trail on our list. Spanning almost the entire state from Clinton in the west to Machens in the east, the Katy Trail primarily traces the Missouri River. The portion of the trail between Cooper County and St. Charles County is part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, and the Katy Trail connects with the American Discovery Trail in St. Charles.

With virtually no elevation gain and a surface of hard-packed crushed limestone, this is an easy trail for any level of rider. You'll want to make time for a lot of stops along the way, including the towns of Defiance, Augusta, Rocheport, and Sedalia, all of which offer opportunities for dining, lodging, and shopping. In Defiance, visit the Historic Daniel Boone Home, stop off at the Lake Creek Winery in Marthasville, and visit the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art in Sedalia.

The Presidio of San Francisco is a gem of the Bay Area located on the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula and part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The area encompasses 1,500 acres of beaches, forests, and a lake, as well as 25 miles of interconnected recreational biking and hiking trails taking you to important sites in San Francisco, one of the best U.S. cities for history buffs to add to their bucket list. Take a leisurely ride around Chrissy Field, which offers view upon view of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. You can stop to rest on the beach, have a picnic, or grab a coffee and a snack at the Warming Hut Park Store. 

Next, stop off at the Lettermen Digital Arts Center, the San Francisco National Cemetery, and the Fort Point National Historic Site. Get up close and personal with the Golden Gate Bridge by riding straight out to the tip of the peninsula. From there you can ride over the bridge and back, or you can continue on towards Sausalito where you can return via the Golden Gate Ferry.

Rock tunnels and dozens of railroad bridges are a highlight of the 109-mile George S. Mickelson Trail in South Dakota. Connecting the towns of Deadwood and Edgemont, the trail winds its way through the Black Hills, in and out of ponderosa pine forests, through high mountain meadows and vast prairies, and over creeks and streams.

Scenery changes from rugged mountains to open farmland provide a diversity of landscape and wildlife, including elk, turkey, mountain lions, foxes, and coyotes. Explore small trail towns along the way, where you can grab a bite, find a bed, or learn the unique history of the old railway communities. While most of the trail is relatively easy, be aware that there are portions that are more demanding, particularly the stretch between Deadwood to Dumont.