Bike the Parks

Ride types

Gravel riding in the national parks

Dirt roads, carriage roads, towpaths and backcountry roads open to bikes in the national parks.

Gravel rides in these parks

  • Eagle Lake Loop

    • Acadia
    • 5.9 mi loop
    • Moderate

    Circles the whole of Eagle Lake, with flat running on the east and north shores and a real climb and descent on the west and south sides. NPS estimates 30 to 40 minutes on a non-electric bike, and the high point at signpost 8 links to longer loops.

  • Witch Hole Pond Loop

    • Acadia
    • 4.7 mi loop
    • Easy

    The gentlest carriage road loop and the usual pick for beginners and kids, passing several small ponds and Duck Brook Bridge. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes at an easy pace.

  • Jordan Pond Loop

    • Acadia
    • 8.6 mi loop
    • Moderate

    Runs along the west side of Jordan Pond, swings past Day Mountain, and returns by Bubble Pond and the south end of Eagle Lake, crossing four carriage road bridges. Bubble Pond is nearly flat but the rest rolls, so allow roughly an hour or more.

  • Schoodic Bike Paths

    • Acadia
    • 8.3 mi total length of the path network
    • Moderate

    A quieter network of wide gravel paths on the Schoodic Peninsula, the park's mainland section east of Mount Desert Island. Most of it is approachable, though a few stretches are tough for anyone but experienced riders.

  • Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail

    • Cuyahoga Valley
    • 20 mi within the park (101 miles total)
    • Easy

    Flat, car-free riding past locks, wetlands and villages, shared with walkers, runners and horses. Mind the speed limit.

  • Antelope Flats and Mormon Row

    • Grand Teton
    • Easy

    Flat riding across sagebrush flats to the historic Mormon Row barns, with the Tetons behind.

  • Old Fall River Road

    • Rocky Mountain
    • 9 mi one way, uphill
    • Hard

    A one-way dirt road to Fall River Pass (11,796 ft). Before it opens to cars you can ride up and back down; once open, ride up and descend Trail Ridge Road.

  • Old Maverick Road

    • Big Bend
    • 13 mi one way
    • Easy

    An easy dirt road across open desert to Santa Elena Canyon; NPS suggests riding it north to south.

  • Old Ore Road

    • Big Bend
    • 26 mi one way
    • Hard

    A rugged, remote road along the eastern foothills, best ridden north to south. Allow 4 to 6 hours.

  • Twenty Mule Team Canyon

    • Death Valley
    • 2.7 mi one way
    • Easy

    A short one-way dirt road through pale badlands.

  • Denali Park Road: Savage River and beyond

    • Denali
    • Hard

    Into the car-free part of the road, shared with buses and equipment. Check in at Savage River if you're heading to Kantishna.

  • Escape Road

    • Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
    • Moderate

    A quiet gravel link through rainforest, away from traffic.

  • Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike & Hike Trail

    • Mammoth Cave
    • 9 mi one way
    • Easy

    An old railroad route through forest, connecting Park City to the visitor center area.

  • Bajada Loop Drive

    • Saguaro
    • 6 mi loop
    • Easy

    A gravel loop through the densest saguaro stands in the Tucson Mountains.

  • Golden Gate Multi-use Trail

    • Saguaro
    • Easy

    A former road, now closed to cars.

  • Sage Creek Loop

    • Badlands
    • 23 mi loop (12 paved, 11 unpaved)
    • Moderate

    A mixed loop onto the gravel rim road above the Sage Creek wilderness.

  • Northeast Loop

    • Badlands
    • 17 mi loop (9 paved, 8 unpaved)
    • Moderate

    A shorter mixed-surface loop in the park's northeast.

  • Northeast–Big Foot Loop

    • Badlands
    • 27 mi loop (11 paved, 16 unpaved)
    • Moderate

    The longest of the suggested loops, mostly on gravel.

  • Gatlinburg Trail

    • Great Smoky Mountains
    • 4 mi approximate round trip
    • Easy

    One of the few park trails open to both bikes and leashed dogs, following the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River from Sugarlands toward town. It is mostly a wide graded path with a couple of short steeper pitches and some rooty spots. A good warm-up or family spin near Gatlinburg.

  • Oconaluftee River Trail

    • Great Smoky Mountains
    • 3 mi round trip
    • Easy

    A flat, wide riverside path on the North Carolina side that runs from the visitor centre to the park boundary at Cherokee. Elk often graze in the fields nearby. Bikes and leashed pets are both allowed, making it an easy outing for families.

  • Lower Deep Creek Trail

    • Great Smoky Mountains
    • Easy

    The lower stretch of Deep Creek is one of only three trails in the park where bikes are allowed, passing waterfalls in a popular tubing and picnic area. It is an out-and-back ride, not a loop, and it gets busy with walkers in summer. Ride slowly and yield.

  • Calumet Bike Trail

    • Indiana Dunes
    • 10 mi one way
    • Easy

    A flat off-road trail behind the dunes, run by Porter County Parks.

  • Marquette Trail

    • Indiana Dunes
    • 2 mi one way
    • Easy

    A short, flat multi-use trail from West Beach to Grand Boulevard.

  • Queen Valley roads

    • Joshua Tree
    • Easy

    A web of dirt roads through Joshua tree forest in the middle of the park, with a bike rack at Echo T.

  • Westside Road

    • Mount Rainier
    • 9.25 mi Dry Creek to Klapatche Point
    • 2,100 ft climbing
    • Moderate

    A mostly car-free gravel road into the park's quiet west side. Rockfall danger near the start; park south of the barricade and don't linger.

  • Old Route 66 alignment

    • Petrified Forest
    • Easy

    A short ride along the old highway's path, one of the few places to ride historic Route 66 in a national park.

  • Dunes Drive

    • White Sands
    • 16 mi round trip (8 miles each way)
    • Easy

    Out-and-back into the heart of the dunefield. The sand section has washboard, potholes and drifts; skinny road tires are not recommended.

  • McCarthy Road

    • Wrangell–St. Elias
    • Hard

    A long gravel road on an old railroad grade, with old spikes still turning up. Leads to McCarthy and Kennecott.

  • Nabesna Road

    • Wrangell–St. Elias
    • Moderate

    A remote gravel road into the park's north side, with mountain views and few vehicles.

  • Towers Trail

    • Glacier Bay
    • Easy

    A long, straight old roadbed through forest. Bikes must stay on it and stop at the end of the old tower road.

  • Baker Creek Road

    • Great Basin
    • Moderate

    A graded gravel road up a quiet canyon to campgrounds and trailheads.

  • Snake Creek Road

    • Great Basin
    • Moderate

    A remote gravel canyon road in the park's southern section.

  • NPS 5 and NPS 6

    • Wind Cave
    • Moderate

    Gravel roads across the park's backcountry, linking to Custer State Park's Wildlife Loop. Steep in places and washed out after storms.

Other ride types