Missoula Lands in Top 10 for Beginner Mountain Biking – Here’s Why

Walking and hiking around Missoula, it isn't out of the ordinary to hear the sound of "on the right" as a mountain bike rider zips past. Parking lots are full of vehicles with bike racks on them, and walking downtown you can see bike racks being used all over the place.

Missoula has a vibrant mountain biking community and that is evident in a recent ranking by Bikemag.com that ranked the 10 Beginner Mountain Biker Destinations in the U.S. Missoula made the list, coming in at number 9, with 229 miles of trail, 33 of them rated easy, and 80 intermediate trails. It was the only Montana town to make the list.

I spoke with mountain biking enthusiast Eric Warren about Missoula's appeal to mountain bikers. Warren has occasionally worked in local bike shops and volunteers at Free Cycles. He had this to say about Missoula.

I have to say I'm not surprised that Missoula specifically showed up on that list. I would not be surprised if a bunch of other Montana towns showed up on the list. There is so much that Montana has to offer for not just beginners, but for every level of mountain biker. There are tons of mountains. 

But there's also a lot of places, even where there aren't a lot of mountains that have excellent mountain biking. 

Warren likes to bike up the Rattlesnake, and when it comes to trails being too crowded, it just depends on how far up the trails you go.

As soon as you get a mile in the crowding is less, I mean, you'll see other people on the trail and lots of opportunities to say 'hi' and pet some trail dogs, but there are less people as you get further out on the trail systems.

When it comes to riding the trails around Missoula, riders should be safe and be courteous to others on the trails. I asked Warren about trail etiquette and he had a pretty simple philosophy.

I think the biggest thing is just being friendly on the trail... Being really courteous to people on the trail is my best advice

Missoula doesn't have trails just for beginners. Being surrounded by mountains offers advanced riders lots of opportunities for biking some epic terrain. There is a vibrant community of biking enthusiasts and instructors available. Warren encourages bikers to take advantage of all Missoula has to offer.